Page 45 of Pitcher Us
“Damn straight.” Walking out the door, we enter a dark alleyway where some of the employees are smoking off to the side. “Okay, the main sidewalk is just up that way and you’re home free, my girl.”
Unable to help myself, I give her a quick hug. “You’re a lifesaver. Here let me give you cash for my drink and a tip. Goodness knows that dickwad is a horrible tipper.” I start to rifle through my purse but Jensen smacks at my hand.
“No way, this is tip enough.”
“Well, I need to give you something.” I pull my coat on and it comes to me. “Oh, here.” Pulling out one of the business cards Shannon made me order, I hand it to her.
“If you ever want some tickets to one of the Blues games let me know.”
“Wow, I definitely will! Have a good night, Calliope.”
“Call me Callie!” I shout back as I head down the alley. It’s really quite sad that this dark alley feels safer than sitting at the bar. That should really tell Kyle something, but he wouldn’t be able to understand that even if I got the frat house president to explain it to him.
When I get back to the sidewalk I’m not entirely sure what to do next. I could call a car and head back home, but I’d rather not wait out in front of the restaurant. I glance at the front ofthe building and note the number of windows. Yup, I want zero chance of Kyle seeing me in my escape, so heading left it is.
After a block or two I think I’m in the clear, so I pull out my phone to call a car, but I can’t help but overhear a group of girls dropping names that make my ears perk up.
“I’m telling you, that’s Beck Daines!”
“Holy shit, and Tripp Pierce!”
“I think the whole team is here! I’ve been dying to introduce myself to the new players.”
And with that last one, I march my butt right in the bar they are standing outside of. I truly have no reason to be jealous right now. I was just trying to move on—unsuccessfully, might I add—and I have no claim on Will. As much as I wish I did, I don’t…and can’t.
Skidding to a stop in the middle of the bar, that reality hits me hard. Those girls have every right to want to talk to him, which sucks but it’s true. We’rejustfriends. We’re only allowed tobe friends.
Maybe I should just turn around.
“Ahh, look who it is!” Beck says way too loud. “Callie’s here!”
Welp, no turning back now. I guess this is some sort of punishment from the universe for me being so dumb tonight. I make my way over slowly and more of the players start to greet me…but I don’t see Will.
“Hey, guys,” I say and pull out the empty seat next to Beck. “I barely made it through a glass of wine, and it looks like you’ve already lost some players.”
Beck pats my head, clearly teetering from buzzed to drunk. “Don’t fret, Callie Bear, everyone’s here. Some of the guys are just in the back playing darts.” And as if I can actually see the thought entering his head, he exclaims, “How was your date?”
“Callie was on a date?” Mateo chimes in next.
“No, Cals, you were supposed to be with me.” Tripp places his hand over his heart dramatically.
Oh, great they’re all walking that line.
Rolling my eyes, I sigh. “It wasn’t a date; I just went out. But I did have to make friends with a bartender to sneak out the back from a pushy asshat.”
“You ditched your date?” Mateo asks, too drunk to hear me say “wasn’t a date.” Clearly, I’m going to have to stick to shorter sentences.
“Yes, I ditched a guy. Don’t judge me.”
The table erupts in laughter.
“Shut up, this is great,” Beck chokes out while laughing.
“What’s great?” I hear my brother say over my shoulder and as I turn, I see Will’s a step behind. An involuntary sigh comes out when I don’t see any girls on his side.
Adam’s eyes get wider as he realizes I’m here. “Hey, little sister. What are you doing here?”
He gives me a bear hug from behind in my chair. “Okay, I see you’re at about the same level as the rest.”
