Page 36 of Pitcher Us
“I’m her brother, she’ll take the best pictures of me.”
“Can we hire her for personal sessions?”
I try to tune out the guys and start rifling through my bag pulling out my things, so I’m not exactly sure who’s saying what at this point. I know they are all just messing with Adam and the comments aren’t necessarily making me uncomfortable, but I would be lying if I didn’t say this was a little overwhelming. I came over here to get ready and get my nerves under control, but now I’m drowning in testosterone.
I feel a tap on my shoulder, and I turn to see Shannon. Oh great, am I getting another “you can’t sleep with any of them” speech?
“Callie, there’s a delivery guy here with a drink for you.”
A delivery guy? “I…I didn’t order a drink?”
“He said your name.” Shannon shrugs.
I turn back to the guys for a second and they’re all still talking away. Pushing off the ground to stand up, I start walking toward the front where Alex, the delivery guy from Spilled Tea, stands with a sealed bag in his hand.
“Hey, Callie. Got your lavender tea with honey.”
He holds out the bag and I reach for it slowly with creased brows. “Thanks. Don’t judge me, but I don’t think I ordered this. If I did, I don’t remember and if that’s the case, don’t tell me.”
Alex gives me a small chuckle. “No, you didn’t?—”
“Hey, Alex,” Will says casually as he walks up to us.
“Hey, Will!” Alex looks elated. He even gives Will that weird handshake-hug thing guys do. What is going on? “I put yours in the same bag. I think it killed my mom a little to ice your green tea. She won’t admit it, but I’m pretty sure she froze green tea ice cubes last night because she couldn’t bear the thought of it being watered down.”
Will smiles while he laughs and then if things weren’t weird enough, he starts asking Alex how his changeup is going. What is happening right now? Has he been giving pointers to the teenage delivery guy at the tea shop?
I watch this interaction with complete amazement because Will doesn’t socialize. This man was just standing ten feet away from his teammates two minutes ago.
“Listen, thanks for bringing these. I know this was out of your delivery range.” Will hands the kid some cash, but he doesn’t take it. Alex is downright starstruck right now.
“Are you kidding? The team is literally right there! This was a freaking dream come true. Please, call the shop anytime and I’ll bring whatever, wherever.”
“I will. I’ll see you Thursday.” Will holds the tip out again for Alex to actually take this time. Alex nods eagerly and looks around again like a kid in a candy shop before walking out.
Will turns to me shaking his head, reaching for the bag with our drinks.
I move it out of his reach. “Oh, I havesooomany questions right now.”
Will takes his focus off the bag and his warm brown eyes meet mine with a small smirk on his face. “I know you can talk fast, so rapid fire them, Callie. I think Olsson just got here and I want some of my drink before we start.”
Ugh, why is this man—who I can’t date even if he did want to date me—so cute? Maybe some of his answers to my questions will help bring down my need to beg this man to put a ring on my finger.
“How are you on a first name basis with the delivery guy at Spilled Tea?”
Will shrugs. “I go there. A lot. Alex’s mom owns the tea shop. She talks while I wait, and she said her son pitched for the high school team.”
Okay, nothing too crazy there. “Why will you see him Thursday?”
“I offered to help him one-on-one with some of his pitches before the season starts.” Will tries reaching for the bag again, but I pull it out of reach again.
“You’re coaching him?” I’m swooning. This is a real-life swoon.
Will sighs like he’s annoyed but there’s a small smile there. “You can call it that if you want. Can I have my drink now?”
“One more question. Why did he say one of the drinks was mine?”
Will pinches his eyebrows. “Because one is yours. You love their tea, you’re the one who got me hooked on the damn place to begin with. I thought you might not have time to get one this morning, and lavender tea has no caffeine and it’s good for nerves.”
