Page 76 of Pitcher Us
He’s probably in the locker room changing. Man, I really want to see him in his new uniform. It’s been entirely too long since I’ve seen him in baseball pants. Goodness, probably since they won the World Series back in Seattle. But now, I don’t have to feel guilty about appreciating his ass in God’s gift to women—baseball pants. I just have to be secretive about it.
“Hey, Callie Bear,” Beck says as he comes up behind me and hangs his arm around my shoulder. “How was your morning?”
I roll my eyes. I do trust Beck to keep our secret, but I knew the moment he said he was a romantic that he was about to be up in our business any chance he could get.
“It was fine, how was your morning?”
“Only fine? Anderson not fulfilling you already?” Beck whispers, then slows us down to a stop before we make it over to the group on the field. Taking his arm off my shoulder he turns to me. “Listen, I’m really sorry about this morning. I didn’t mean to?—”
I chuckle. “Beck, you’re fine. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know, it was your idiot boyfriend’s. But still, I saw the worry in your eyes, Cals. I promise your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you, I appreciate that.”
“But, I do have to say one thing. I gotta put it out there.”
I can tell by the mischievous smirk on Beck’s face that this is not at all about to be serious.
“If this does blow up in y’all’s face, I'm lobbying for you to keep your job. Will can manage just fine, and I know he’ll agree with me.” Beck puts his hands on my shoulders. “So, no matter what happens, I got your back, okay?”
Well, I was wrong. “Damn it, Beck, don’t make me cry on a baseball field right now.”
Beck starts to laugh, but it’s cut off.
“Daines, hands off,” Will barks as he walks up beside us. “You’re going to make this fucking hard on me, aren’t you?”
“Oh yeah.” Beck winks at me then removes his hands before turning to Will. “That’s a non-negotiable, but you can relax since apparently Callie has doomed me in the brother-zone. Friendzone is clearly escapable, but a sibling label? I’ll never recover from that.”
I snort a laugh. “I said you look like my brother, not that you are my brother.”
“Eh, I’ll take the role anyway.” Beck shrugs before walking off to the group ahead, leaving Will and I alone for a moment.
“Am I crying? Will you make fun of me if I start?”
“Damn fucker. Just tell me my chances of keeping you if he dyes his hair.”
I roll my eyes. He thinks after last night some sweet words and box dye would sway me? Magic eight ball says “not likely.”
“I’m not going anywhere, Will.” I give him a small smile before walking away to get started, but I don’t make it very far before I’m interrupted again.
“Callie!” Miles shouts as he races toward me on the field. “Can I help you take pictures again today?”
I chuckle as he bounces up and down in front of me with such vigor. Dex comes up behind him and places his hands softly on his shoulders.
“Before she even answers, what are we not going to do if she says no?”
Miles looks up at his dad with such confusion on his little face. “She’s not going to say no.”
Suddenly, I see the same look I’ve seen on Wyla’s face a million times—theI won’t be a smart ass back to my childlook, and it’s usually accompanied with a deep breath.
When Dex exhales, I cut in. “He’s really fine, I promise.”
“See!” Miles yells.
Poor Dex’s shoulders slump. “Callie, I’m serious, you don’t have to?—”
“I know I don’t. And if it helps…” I reach into my bag and pull out my shot list. “I put him to work. Don’t I, Miles? We’re hard workers, aren’t we?”
