by Skye Turner
I’ve talked to Cally a few times, but she seems really busy and we only talk for a few minutes before she or I has to go off to do something or another.
I even went out to Love & Paws yesterday for a couple of hours, just hoping to see her, but she wasn’t there. Evie said she had some important meeting about the fundraisers… with Bradi, my sister-in-law, of all people. My sister in law was spending the time I’m desperate for with my girlfriend… Go figure. Drew was there though and he stopped me as I was leaving the medical center. What followed was a very weird and unexpected conversation where he told me he could clearly see that I cared for Cally and that she cared for me. He said he was sorry for giving me the cold shoulder and that he genuinely thought I was a good guy. He said he wanted Cally to be happy and that apparently meant me. I thanked him and he shook my hand.
I spent time with the dogs and went to see Whisper and the puppies. She’s doing so much better and was just moved into the main building though she’s still in her own room. Her tail actually wagged when I was in there with her… sweet girl.
I did manage to tell Evie that I had left two tickets for tonight’s game on Cally’s desk. I asked her to make sure Cally got them and said I hoped to see them both at the game.
I’m hoping I can spend some time with Cally tonight.
I miss her.
It feels like she’s pushing me away. Maybe she is…
Maybe the idea of dating me once I leave isn’t something she’s interested in and this is her way of letting me down gently.
If that’s the damn case though, I wish she’d just tell me.
Everyone knows that you should just rip off a Band-Aid.
I’m going fucking crazy here.
“Earth to Stevens… Come in, Stevens!”
I blink and see Adam waving his hand right in front of my face. Shoving him, I step back. “Personal space, asshole.”
He smirks at me as he straddles the bench beside me. “Where were you? Dreaming about the big leagues and leaving all of us behind?” Bending his knee, he ties his cleat before dropping his foot and tying the other one.
Glancing at my phone to see if Cally responded to my text, I frown when I see she hasn’t. Setting it on the bench, I stand and slip my jersey on over the moisture removing shirt I wear underneath it. I grunt. “I’m finishing the season. I didn’t leave y’all high and dry.”
He slaps his knee and stands. As he does, he bumps my shoulder with his. “I know. You’re a good dude. Me, I’d tell all of y’all mother fuckers to have a nice life and not even blink.” He smirks. “But, then again, you’re a better man than I am. And a better player.”
Reaching into his locker, he grabs his cap and slips it on. He messes with the bill as he checks himself out in the small mirror mounted to the back. He winks at himself and glances over at me. “I’m happy for you, Jase. Seriously.” My phone goes off and Adam looks down. “And jealous as fuck… that chick is a babe!”
I grab it before he can touch it. I stole a pic from the center the other day. Well, not stole. Evie took it and I might have emailed a copy to myself, then saved it, and uploaded it as my background. It’s of Cally, Percy, and me. Swiping the screen, I open the text and grin ear to ear as I read it.
“Cally
We’re here. Just sat down. Evie is already scanning the crowd for her next boyfriend. These are great seats.
See you in a few and I’m looking forward to spending time with you tonight.
I’ve missed you.”
Leaning over, I slap Adam on the shoulder. “Let’s go kick ass.”
He groans. “Careful, fucktard. You break my damn arm, I can’t catch your fucking balls!”
Winking at him, I retort. “Aw, I didn’t realize you were interested in my balls. Too bad, they’re already spoken for… along with the rest of me. And you should be jealous.”
Whistling, I toss my phone into my locker and call over my shoulder, “Come on already. We have a game to win.”
Breathe…
Just breathe… Inhale… Exhale.
There’s no one here… it’s just you and me, buddy.
Watching Adam’s hands, I shake my head.
No, not that one.
Not that one either…
YES… let’s do that one.
One sharp nod lets him know to get ready for what’s coming.
It’s the bottom of the ninth and we have runners on first and second. We’re up by one, but if I don’t strike this guy out, we lose.
I’m not losing this game.
This is all you, Jase. You can do this…
Focus.
Keep your eyes on the edge of the plate.
Winding my arm, I crank it and let the ball fly…
It whizzes and barely stays over the plate, just as I planned.
The batter swings with all of his might… and misses.
The umpire jumps up and screams, “STRIKE THREE. YOU’RE OUT!”
Adam jumps up and flings his face mask backwards, knocking his hat to the ground. He yells, “WHOO! Hell yeah!”
The rest of the team floods the mound. Hands are clapping on my back. Yanking off my cap, I wipe my face and look to the left. I see her. Cally and Evie are jumping up and screaming along with the rest of the crowd. Some man grabs Cally and swings her around in a bear hug before setting her back on her feet. She throws her head back and laughs. Her eyes find me and she grins. Her hands make a heart and she blows me a kiss.
My heart races and without even realizing what I’m doing, I cross the field. As I reach her, she’s staring at me wide-eyed. Evie is squealing and clutching her chest. Reaching up, I grab Cally’s waist and pull her down to me. As her body slides down my drenched with sweat one, her arms close around my neck and she slants her mouth to mine. The crowd erupts with more cheers.
The only reason I stop kissing her is the jab to my ribs. Pulling back, I grin down at a very rumpled looking Cally before glaring at the interruption. Adam is standing there grinning like a fool. “Yeah, thanks for making the rest of us look like schmucks, Stevens.” He looks at Cally, “Hi, I’m Adam and we need your boyfriend back.” He points behind him. “We have to be sportsmanlike and shake their hands and then he can hop into the shower and come back to you… not smelling like a goat farm. Sound good?”
Cally laughs and shoves against me. Her nose wrinkles. “You do kind of stink, Jase.”
My eyes widen and I smirk. “That didn’t seem to matter when you just kissed the shit out of me in front of everyone in this park.”
She bats her eyes as I set het on her feet. “That’s only because you’re so sexy.”
A groan comes from the stands. We both look up and see Evie acting like she’s going to puke. Adam’s eyes widen and he gives her the smile. “Hey… I’m Adam.”
I slap him in the back of the head and mutter, “Oh, hell no… She’s seventeen and that is a HELL NO.”
He looks at her and back at me incredulously. “Seventeen?”
She smiles and calls out to him. “Eighteen next week!”
Cally mutters, “So help me…”
Adam winks at her. She twirls her hair and says saucily, “So, call me next week?!”
Grabbing his arm, I yank him back toward the mound where everyone is watching us. I call to Cally. “Meet me outside the locker room in half an hour!” Then, I pin Adam with a glare. “No, don’t even think about it.”
Cally
That was insanely exciting! Baseball is such an awesome sport to watch. How did I never know this before?!
The adrenaline racing through my body has me ready to attack Jase. He was brilliant! No wonder the Braves signed him.
I’m standing outside the locker room, leaning against the wall as I wait for him to come out. Women and some men are everywhere. I smirk as I watch the women check their hair and makeup in compacts while they adjust their cleavage and try to make as much skin as possible show at their midriff and legs.
Seriously?! Thi
s is what they have to deal with?
Some woman settles in next to me on the wall. Turning my head, I glance at her. She’s pretty. She’s one of the only other women out here that doesn’t have on piles of melting make-up. It’s the beginning of August in Louisiana… why the hell would you wear anything on your face that could melt!? She smiles at me. “So, you’re with Jase?”
I nod. “I am.”
She looks me over and sighs. “Figures. You’re so naturally pretty and he’s such a good guy.” She nods around at the crowd. “He’s never picked any of these,” she waggles her fingers at the crowd, “girls up and lord knows… they’ve tried.”
My brows arch as I look around. There are a lot of really pretty girls out here. I mean, he told me that he’d never gone home with any of them, but I guess I didn’t think that he literally had never gone home with any.
The girl smiles and holds out her hand. “I’m Tee. My boyfriend is the short-stop.”
My hand closes around her and I shake it. “Nice to meet you, Tee. I’m Cally.”
The door opens and the girls rush it. I straighten as if to try to fight my way through the throng of women but Tee stops me with a hand on my arm. “No, don’t go in there. You’re good right here. Jase will sign a few autographs, take a few photos, politely refuse a few come-ons, and make his way to you. Trust me.” She grins and winks. “This is the best place to be.”
She’s right. Within ten minutes, Jase and the guy who was at short stop on the field during the game, break through the crowd. The short stop makes his way to Tee and Jase smiles as he walks toward me. As he reaches me, he leans down and presses a quick kiss to my lips. His hair is still wet and the scent of his shampoo tickles my nose. My heart pitter patters in my chest.
He wraps his arm around my waist and leans over to whisper in my ear, “Do I smell better now?”
Laughing, I nod. “Much.”
The short-stop winks at me. “Hi, you must be Cally. I’m Chet.”
I nod. “Hi, Chet, I am Cally. Nice to meet you.”
Tee smiles. “Hey we’re about to go grab some food. Do y’all want to come with us?”
Jase looks down at me and I can see the flames in his eyes. Mine flare. He shakes his head. “Thanks, but we’re going to head back and have a quiet night at home. Next time?”
Tee laughs. “No worries. Something tells me that while you might be at home it will most definitely not be quiet.” She pulls Chet and they start walking to the parking lot. “We’ll hang out soon. Night, guys.”
My face burns and Jase laughs. “I see you met, Tee. She’s great. She and Chet have been together for years.” He glances around and asks, “Where’s Evie?”
Smirking, I shake my head. “She drove. She got some text about meeting friends to swim. I told her to go and that’d I’d ride with you. Hope that’s ok.”
He grins and takes my hands. We head to his car as he says, “Well, in that case, let’s go. I’ve missed you these past few days and selfishly want you all to myself.”
Same here, Jase!
He helps me into the car and after sliding in, leans over to kiss me until I’m lightheaded. I sigh and mutter, “Your kiss should be considered a dangerous weapon.”
Pulling back, he smiles down at me. “So, my place or yours? Should we pick up some food on the way?”
We’re lying together in Jase’s bed after making slow, languid love. The moonlight is filtering through the window and casting spears of light across the bed. My head is settled on Jase’s chest as his arms are wrapped around me, holding me into the curve of his body. My fingers are lightly tracing the ridges of muscle on his stomach as he breathes into my hair. The only sounds in the room are our breaths and the beat of his heart under my cheek.
Finally, he sighs. My head turns and I look up at him. He’s looking down at me and my breath catches at what I think I see on his face.
If I’m reading that correctly…
Turning slightly, he angles himself so he can prop his head on his palm, but he keeps ahold of me. He smiles slightly and his hand trails up my hip, over my side, and down my arm so he can link his fingers with mine. Lifting our joined hands, he presses a kiss to them. “Cally…” His voice is husky. “I love you.”
He loves me…
Oh my word, he LOVES me.
My breath hitches and a tear leaks from my eye. I sniffle and he frowns. “It’s ok if you don’t feel the same, Cally. I just wanted you to know what I’m feeling. I love you. I know things are about to get insane and I don’t exactly know how to handle it, but I know that I can’t lose you. I’m not sure what the solution is, but if you even feel a fraction of what I feel for you… I’ll do whatever I need to so this works out…”
I can’t speak… I don’t even know what to say.
I’m completely speechless.
Jase sits up and his hands weave into his hair. He looks at me. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve freaked you out. We can pretend I didn’t say it if that makes it better…”
Tears leak from both eyes and splash on my chest as I sit up and grasp both sides of his face. Shaking my head, I lean in and whisper, “I’m not forgetting anything. I’m not freaked out. I’m just shocked. I never expected this to happen, Jase.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but my fingers stop him. “No, stop… I love you, too, Jase.”
Smiling, I remove my fingers. “I love you. I want to be with you and the rest… well, we’ll just have to figure it out…”
His eyes light up and he captures my lips in a passionate kiss. When he pulls back to look at me, the love on his face is unmistakable.
We’ll figure it out. We have to.
Chapter Eighteen
Jase
Four months later
It’s been a crazy few months. Cally and I are doing amazing and we spend almost every night at one or the other’s house. The only exceptions to that was when I had out of town games. Sometimes, the only thing we’d do was sleep. I’d show up at her house and fall into bed or she’d already be at my house and I’d change and fall into bed there before passing out next to her. It’s been grueling, but it’s worked. When we could, we’d go out or have dinner together. We’ve balanced brunches and family dinners with both of our families and both welcomed us with open arms. A few times, she’d come out with the team after the games and we’d stay a bit before heading home to crash.
The past couple of months, other than doing a few commercials for some endorsements, doing interviews with sports journalists, and looking for places in Atlanta, I’ve spent the majority of my time at Love & Paws. I did a few commercials for the center and in most of my interviews, Love & Paws was mentioned. The center is doing great and they’re adopting out more animals than ever. Several of the guys from the Gris Gris have been volunteering here when they can since it’s the off season and a lot of them have even adopted pets for their families, including Bandit, Noche, and Professor Snape.
I’m outside with the dogs, letting them run around in the brisk December air while Cally finishes something up in the office. She’s been extremely busy since the silent auction / celebrity dinner fundraiser is this weekend and there are tons of amazing items that people can bid on for perfect Christmas gifts. Bradi has been here almost every day ironing out details.
I’m not ashamed to admit, I’m a little jealous that Bradi is spending more time with Cally than I am lately. Especially since I’m leaving for Atlanta in two weeks. I want to be settled there before the New Year. Training camp starts in February and it’s in Florida, so if I’m not settled by then, I’ll pretty much be screwed and living out of boxes.
Percy and Whisper are out here with me and they’re having a blast with the stick he found. They’re taking turns having me throw it for them. I’ve done it about a hundred times already. I toss it again after play fighting with Percy to have him give it to me while Whisper sits patiently and waits for her turn. They love this game. Whisper wasn’t adopted o
ut because of her special needs so Cally, with no hesitation, took her in. She and Percy are a nice little team now and as long as he’s near her, she’s comfortable and calm. She’s turned into an amazingly loveable girl who loves to sit with us and she really loves me. The four of us have created a little family.
All of the other dogs are rolling in the leaves or playing chase in the cool weather with some extra spring in their steps. There are only eight of them here right now that are ready for adoption. The adoption rate is at an all-time high and I feel a sense of pride that I’m partly responsible for that.
I’m lost in my head and focused on playing with Percy and Whisper, while keeping one eye on the dogs, when an amused voice breaks into my thoughts. Turning slightly, I see my gorgeous sister-in-law standing next to me. “Where are you, Jase? I’ve been calling your name for five minutes.”
Smirking at her, I shake my head and shrug. “Sorry. Just thinking about moving and all. I didn’t hear you.”
She chuckles and squats down. “Are you starting to freak out about leaving Cally?”
I sigh and nod as I stare into the distance. “Yeah. I am. We’re good. We’re great. But I’ve been here.” My head turns and I look at her. Her blonde waves are pulled back into a ponytail, but it looks elegant along with her cropped jacket, pink button up, fitted jeans, and heeled knee boots. She’s screams class and oozes sex appeal. She always has. She and my brother are perfect for each other. He’s mister calm, cool, and collected and she’s the life of the party that no one can ignore. They balance and their love story has had me wanting what they have since I was a teenager. I frown. “What if it’s too much when I leave?”
She sighs and sits next to me on the grass. I arch my brows and say. “You might get those pants dirty.”
Tossing her head back, she laughs and hugs my arm. Her head leans on my shoulder. “Eh, that’s why God invented man who invented a washing machine and a stain stick.” Angling her head, she looks at me. “Jase, you and Cally have something special. You’re the real deal. You love her, right?”
