Page 25 of Pitcher Us
“Thank you. Love you big.”
The moment I hang up Adam jumps over the back, crashing beside me on the couch. “Nice, pajamas. You know it’s like noon, right?”
“Okay, one—leave my Christmas jammies out of this. Two—I thought our plan was to have another sad sibling dinner.”
“Not this time, Cals. Go get ready. We’re going to actually celebrate this holiday properly.”
Properly? “What the hell does that mean?”
“It means go get dressed before Will leaves to go have Christmas with his family without us.”
Will? Wait, Will’s family? Damn, that shouldn’t make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but it does. However, knowing that Adam has been invited too kind of helps dull those feelings. He probably remembered how sad our Thanksgiving was and felt bad for us.
“We don’t really have time, but can we talk about the absolute chaos that is your living room?” Adam looks around at my half-Christmas, half-birthday decorations.
The warm and fuzzy feeling comes back as I look around. My Christmas tree is full of warm lights and colorful ornaments. My Christmas pillows make it officially annoying to try and sit on my couch now. On the far wall I have the colorful lights worked in with the old curtains I ripped to shreds to make fun streamers with balloons tied in on the ends.
All of it Will helped me put together.
Chapter 13
Will
I wasn’t entirely sure how this day was going to go. My sisters have hounded me incessantly, asking questions about Callie and begging for there to be something more than a friendship there—much to their disappointment when I insisted there wasn’t. My mom didn’t ask any questions, which is even more annoying because I know what she’s doing—she’s waiting to see Callie and I in person before assuming anything. I guarantee I won’t even make it to the kitchen before she stops to ask me questions.
I get their curiosity, I do. I’ve never brought a girl home. But what they fail to remember is that my teammate, said girl’s brother, is also joining us, so I feel like that should really cover the whole “do you like her” question that they keep asking me.
Even though it doesn’t really answer it for me.
My old teammate always said he fell in love with his girl the moment he saw her, but I know this isn’t that. I would have to be a complete idiot not to find her attractive, but now it’s like I’ve added endearing and intriguing to that list.
Waiting outside on the curb for them in my new Audi SUV, I turn up the heat knowing Callie will likely be cold. Back in Seattle I didn’t have much need for a car. I had my bikeand when I couldn’t drive it, I would use rideshare because off-season was spent back at my mom’s, and during season I didn’t really care to do anything but play. It wasn’t a necessary purchase there, but here I know I’ll be driving back and forth to Rowley a lot, and my bike definitely isn’t suitable in this snow.
Without warning, my back door opens and Callie slides into the back seat. Her long red hair is down in loose waves and her cheeks are rosy from the walk from the building to the sidewalk.
“Hi,” she greets with that soft smile.
“Hi,” I parrot back, taking her in through the rearview mirror.
I don’t get to look long because as quick as Adam shuts her door, he hops in the front. “I almost didn’t believe you when you said you bought a new car.”
“And yet it’s true. Are you guys ready to go?” I click my seatbelt and wait for them to follow before pulling out on the road.
“Um, Will?” Callie’s voice travels up from the back. When I glance at her from the mirror, she has the tea I got her in her hands. “Is this for me? It’s hot, but I don’t want to assume.”
“Uh, yeah. I went by Spilled Tea and got their holiday special.” Picking mine up from my cup holder, I gesture to the other one for Adam. “Spiced cranberry green tea, I think. I just ordered three of them.”
Adam raises his eyebrow at the cup. “They were open on Christmas?”
Well, shit. I was really hoping they wouldn’t question it. “Yeah, half a day or something,” I lie, hoping Callie doesn’t pay close attention to their signs inside.
The truth is I went in yesterday before they closed and talked the owner into letting me get the tea bags so I could make their holiday special. My only intention was to get Callie a tea, but thefact that I actually made this tea for her is something I can’t let Adam know, so I got enough for all of us.
With a simple nod, she sits back in her seat, taking a sip of the drink. “Oh, thank you.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but I also want Callie to know that I got this special for her. “It should be low in caffeine. They said they mark that on their cups somewhere.”
Picking up her cup she turns it slowly, and I try my best to keep my eyes on the road, but I want to see the look on her face.
