Page 22 of Pitcher Us
“What was he supposed to say? We were both stuck at those miserable parties. At least he would actually tell me ‘Happy birthday,’ but there was nothing else he could have done.”
That’s the part I don’t get. I would never let my sister’s birthdays pass without doing something. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”
Letting out a breath, Callie pulls out one whole strand from the pile in her lap with a smile. “I could look at it that way, I guess. Adam had his own stuff with our parents, and it affects him more than he lets on. But I can’t change what happened. What I can do is decorate my living room in the tackiest Christmas-slash-birthday party combo you’ve ever seen.”
“And I’ll help.”
Chapter 11
Will
I should have said no to working out with Adam today. In theory, it seemed like a good plan, but after learning new information about Callie’s family, I kind of want to punch him.
I guess it’s the brother in me. I didn’t know much of what happened between them, but to leave Callie to suffer there alone after he left… Callie might not be holding it against him, but I can’t seem to understand how he left her without a second thought.
“Beck says we’re getting a new pitching coach this season,” Adam says as he puts some of the weights back up. “Supposedly it’s Dex. Have you heard from him yet?”
“No.” I’ve heard the rumors that Dexter Larsen will be joining our coaching staff. It seems a little surprising considering he just retired, but that’s not really my business.
“Dude, calm down. Your excitement is overwhelming.”
“I’m just not in the mood to chat.” I shrug. It’s not a complete lie. I can’t say that I don’t want to ask him why he left Callie like that, but I don’t, because then I would have to explain that I’ve been hanging out with his sister and that might lead to questions I don’t know how to answer.
We hang out and kind of flirt with each other, but don’t worry, we’re just friends.
“Clearly.” Adam grabs his water then tosses me mine. “Look, one last thing and you can grunt back in response if you feel like it, but it’s Callie’s birthday on Christmas. I know you’ll probably be with your family on Christmas day, but if you happen to run into her could you possibly manage the words ‘Happy birthday, Callie’?”
Oh, I could manage that. “Uh, yeah, I’ll tell her.”
“Thanks. Our parents never really did anything, so I was going to try to get her a cake or something, but it’s three days away, and every bakery I’ve called is either closed for the holidays or won’t take last-minute orders this close to Christmas.”
“Why don’t you and Callie come to Rowley with me?” Fuck me, the thought entered my brain and just decided to come out. This is Callie’s doing. I’m not usually one to say whatever I’m thinking, but here we are. Now Adam’s looking at me like I have two heads.
“I…my…um…” I clear my throat. Dear Lord, this recovery is going terribly. “One of my sisters loves to bake. I’m sure she could throw a cake together, and Christmas isn’t really a big deal at the house anyway. Just my mom and sisters will be there.”
“Okay, you’ve said a total of twenty words max to me this morning and now you're inviting me and my sister over to your family’s house for a major holiday?”
“I could uninvite you?” If it were up to me, I would just ask Callie to come but I know that this will only work if I invite Adam too. From the look he’s giving me, I know he feels something is off. “Look, Callie and my sisters would get along great. Lucie could easily bake her a birthday cake and Reagan’s creative and shit, so she could do some birthday decorations or something.”
“So, you’re inviting us for Callie’s birthday?”
Fucking hell. “I?—”
“Because that would be great, actually. Callie’s never really got to celebrate it, so if you’re serious about this, I’m going to take you up on it.”
Well, this morning has done a complete one-eighty. I don’t know how to respond to him.Am I serious?I started out that way. Of course I want to do something for Callie’s birthday, but I wasn’t expecting Adam to straight up agree with this idea so quickly.
“Uh, yeah. I’m serious.” There’s this tightening in my chest that I don’t really understand. Maybe it’s the fact that this will be the first girl I’ve brought home—ever. Reagan and Lucie are going to have a fucking field day.
“Okay, man. Thanks!” Adam reaches for his duffle bag to leave. “Callie will love this.”
The tightening intensifies. “She will?”
“Her first birthday party? Yeah. I know you haven’t been around her much, but Cals can be a little emotional. She’s going to fucking lose it, in a good way.” He shrugs casually, where I feel like I’m having a heart attack.
Adam cocks his head at me unintentionally rubbing my chest. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” I sputter, dropping my hand. “I’ll call my sisters and they’ll handle the bulk of it, I’m sure.”
