Page 10 of Pitcher Us
“I think I might say hi to a couple other players,” I say, sliding my chair back.
Adam’s eyebrows pinch together. I know he expected me to sit my ass in this chair all night until I left, and I’m tempted to, but I’ve got my limits on socializing. Even if this attraction to Callie made tonight’s outing a little more appealing, I’m not sure I should feed into it.
Forcing myself to interact for another hour, I get mostly hung up with the other pitchers on the team. The Blues have been known for having great pitchers, but with their starter, Dex Larsen, retiring this year and the general manager change, I’m curious how our lineup will play out. Starting pitcher was discussed with my agent during the trade but I know not to hold much weight in anything I don’t see in writing.
Feeling like I’ve made enough of an effort I decide to call it a night. Glancing around the bar, I can’t help but look for a certain redhead. I tell myself it’s just to make sure she’s okay and to see that she’s having fun, but she’s not to be seen.
I know I’m not overlooking her because I easily spotted her multiple times tonight. Part of me wants to check in with Adam to make sure he at least knows where she is buthe’sher brother. I just need to let him do his job of taking care of her.
Weaving through the crowd a couple people stop me, asking about the season and the trade. I keep my answers light and short. My social battery is beyond dead, and I can’t get caught up in a drunken fan's strategy for a new pitch.
Keeping my head low, I walk out the door and reach for my keys in my pocket. Finally outside, I look up and come to an abrupt stop at the redhead shivering in front of me. “Callie? What are you doing out here?”
Turning around slowly, she’s got her phone in her hands. “Escaping,” she replies under her breath.
“Escaping from what?”
“My brother.” She shrugs as she shakes from the cold. “I’m exhausted and maxed out on socializing. Please don’t rat out my attempt at the Irish goodbye. I swear I’ll text him once I’m in an Uber home. That is if I can ever get one to show up.”
She looks down at her phone again before letting out a small curse under her breath.
I should tell her to go back inside and wait for one to pick her up. For her to tell her fucking brother that she wants to go home, and he should go with her so she doesn’t have to take an Uber by herself. Those should be the words out of my mouth, not, “Come on, you can ride with me.”
“I can wait for a ride,” Callie clips, but runs her hand against her arm to try to warm up.
“Okay, you have two options: ride with me or get your butt back inside where it’s warm and tell your brother to take you home.”
Fidgeting again, she slides her phone in her back pocket. “No, I have three options. I can not ride with you, not tell my brother I’m leaving, and just walk home. It’s what, ten blocks or so? I can do that.”
“Callie.” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. If living with three women my entire life taught me one thing, it’s that if she’s made up her mind, me telling her what to do will only make it worse. “I’m going to ask you one time. Will you let me take you home? We’re both going to the same place, and this way you can avoid telling your brother you want to leave and freezing to death while waiting for a ride.” And for good measure I add, “Please?”
She bites at her lower lip while still rubbing her hands up and down her arms. When a cool breeze comes through, she caves. “Alright, fine.”
“Thank you, now come on.” I lead her over to my bike and pull my sweatshirt over my head.
“What the hell is this?” Callie stammers a good five feet away from my bike.
“Your ride,” I say as I walk up to her and with no hesitation, pull the sweatshirt over her head.
“Will!” She tries to fight me on it, but this is nonnegotiable. Pulling it down, she refuses to stick her arms through and if looks could kill, this one would do me in.
“Go ahead, leave your arms in there if you want to be stubborn about it, but you’re going to have to hold on somehow.”
Callie narrows her eyes at me. “You know most guys try to get the girl’s clothes off. I don’t think I’ve ever been forcibly clothed.”
“Yeah, well, it’s the only thing I’d forcibly do.” I chuckle with a small smirk. She’s wittier than I thought, but then the implication of what she says registers. “Hold on. Care to expand on that for me, Callie? Has anyone forcibly done something to you?”
Swallowing, she mumbles, “No, just an observation.” She slinks her arms through the sleeves. “I also didn’t see why it’s necessary.”
She finally takes a few steps closer as I get my extra helmet off the back. “It’s necessary because you’re cold and it will be colder on the bike.”
I motion, asking for silent permission to put the helmet on her and she nods. “What about you?”
“I have another helmet.”
“No, about your sweatshirt. Aren’t you cold?”
“I’ll be fine. It’s like you said, only ten blocks.” It’s very much not ten blocks, but I’m not about to tell her that. “There’s comms in your helmet, so I can hear you when we get going.”
