Page 41 of Pitcher Us
I move my workspace to my small dining table, telling myself a change in scenery will help. I have to keep going. I’ll feel so much better if I can check this off my to-do list for today. I set a timer on my phone for another hour. One more hour, then I can treat myself.
Looking at my screen, I groan and shake out my hands. “Just focus, Callie. For all that’s holy, focus.”
As soon as my hand clicks on my mouse pad, my phone rings. “Oh, thank God.” Reaching for my phone I see Wyla’s name at the top.
I answer so fast it’s silly. “Could you sense my cry for help all the way down in South Carolina?”
Wyla snorts. “Eh, it’s more Jett took Stevie with him to the gym today and I so desperately needed some adult conversation that doesn’t involve any mention of or a sound from a child. So maybe we were both sending vibes.”
Gladly scooting my laptop to the side I prop Wyla’s FaceTime up against my now empty mug. “You overstimulated, Momma? I’ll be there to help in a few days. I could definitely use the distraction.”
If pictures of Will are enough to get me this worked up, I’m a little worried about us having to spend almost every day together when the season starts.
Wyla dances her eyebrows. “Oh, a distraction from what? Please, let it be interesting. My soul is dying for some super dramatic girl talk! I’ll even take gossip about people I don’t know.”
I laugh. “Gossip about people you don’t know is the best gossip.”
“Right! Okay, so tell me. What’s distracting you?” Wyla settles in on her couch, wrapping a throw around her shoulders. “Please don’t spare any details!”
I glance at my computer knowing I should give her the quick version and get back to it…but once I open my mouth, I know this is about to be a short story told long.
About twenty minutes in, I’m finally nearing the end. “And now I have to edit all these pictures of him, all gorgeous and sweaty. It’s not fair.” I pull my laptop over, clicking it on to check the numbers I haven’t wanted to see. “I’ve sorted roughly five hundred photos. On average, each player right now has about fifteen to twenty pictures in their folder…Will’s has over fifty.”
I can see Wyla trying to hide her laugh.
“Don’t laugh at me! Wyla, I even had to skip over of the branding photos because the number of pictures with him in it were overwhelming!”
Wyla tries to stifle her laugh again.
“Wyla!”
“Hey, I get it. I’m partial to the pitchers myself. They’re very good with their hands.”
I’d bet good money that Will’s fantastic with his hands. If he isn’t, I know how he listens, and he’d be great at taking directions. Fuck. “You’re not helping! Did you miss the part where I said we’re not allowed to date?”
Wyla rolls her eyes and waves me off. “Yes, I heard you. That’s a stupid rule. You clearly like him, Callie.”
“Of course I do! But it doesn’t change anything. We’re not allowed to date and even if we were, he agreed that we were friends.”
This time Wyla actually does laugh. “That man does not want to be your friend.”
Her response, much to my chagrin, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside.
“It doesn’t really matter. Even if I wanted to call his friend bluff, we couldn’t have anything more than a secret fling.” And I don’t think that’s something I could handle with Will. I have one too many emotions involved already, and Wyla can clearly see that.
“Okay, well, babes, what are you going to do? I’m not saying you can’t wallow in your crush a little bit longer, but you still have to live your life.”
“Says the girl whose boyfriend fell in love with her after one night.”
“Okay, but that’s my point! Thank you for proving it. Yeah, everything worked out, but we lost a lot of time because I was scared. Whatever you do next, Cals, is up to you. Take the risk and try a fling with Will or move on. You never know, maybe your one-night stand will fall madly in love with you too. Just make sure you use protection.”
I snort a laugh. “Says you.”
“Shut up.” Wyla rolls her eyes and settles deeper into her couch. “Maybe Will’s not your Jett and maybe he is, but as your best friend, I can’t let you trap yourself in your apartment to be sad over a man.”
Ugh, Wyla’s tough love hits me deep. Is she right? Should I move on? Things with Will seem like a dead end, even though I wish they weren’t…
“I’m sorry.” Wyla’s tone softens. “I just love you and want you to be happy.”
