“Alright, tell her I liked the tea she brought me last week and I need some more.”
Will shakes his head. “You know I made it, right?”
Motherfucker.
“Lucie loved that one too, by the way,” Dex says, stepping back to let Will throw.
“You figure something out, Will. I’m busy planning her engagement party.”
I can spot Will’s four-seam fastball grip the moment he gets in place. I make small adjustments then catch the ball in my glove. Hell, switching back and forth between Will’s right-handed pitches and Dex’s left is a good mental exercise.
“Come on, man, she’s worried you’re lonely. I know you made peace with your parents a while ago, but she’s still processing it. Humor me and give me something to make her feel better.”
Shit. I can’t decide if that was a low blow on his part, or if it hurts because of the reality of it. Learning that my leaving caused Callie such turmoil to deal with killed me.
Mia’s words run through my head about Callie not needing a knight in shining armor, but that doesn’t mean she still didn’t need her older brother.
Fuck, I don’t know what to tell her to make her know I’m truly good, but with Mia’s voice in my head, the next words out of my mouth aren’t exactly the smartest.
“Tell her I have a date later this week.”
Will raises an eyebrow. He knows I’m lying, but beggars can’t be choosers here.
“Have any follow-up questions?” I stand up, needing to be done with this extra practice.
Will shakes his head. “Nope. Be prepared, though. Callie most definitely will.”
Yeah, I’m well fucking aware.
“Hi,” Callie chimes as she climbs in the passenger’s seat of my SUV. “Sorry we’re late.”
The back door opens and Will slides in. “No need to apologize to him, Blaze. I’m sure he told us to meet him down here ten minutes ahead of when he actually wanted us to leave anyway.”
Callie scoffs. “Adam, I rushed out the door, and we’re still going to be early?”
“I don’t know why you’re shocked right now. Being late is my biggest pet peeve. Even when we’re just doing game night, so buckle up.”
Callie mutters several mocks under her breath that she knows I can still hear, but I don’t really care. Sue me for liking to be on time.
“Oh,” Callie says, clapping her hands together. “Will said you had a date later this week. Wanna tell me who it’s with?”
Shit. I’ve barely made it on the damn road and she’s bringing this up.
I don’t have to look in my rearview mirror to know Will’s got atold you soshit-eating grin on his face.
Oddly enough, Mia’s name is on the tip of my tongue. I was definitely going to hold on to the lie of a date to simply appease Callie, and it’s not that asking Mia would be my cover—I genuinely think a date with her could be fun.
Still don’t plan on telling Callie that, though.
“Nah, I don’t actually.”
“Wanna tell me it’s a lie like I already know it is?”
Dammit. I could try to stick to my guns on this pointless lie but it’s better to rip the fucking Band-Aid off. Maybe she’ll take my answer of being perfectly fine as opposed to Will.
“Did you really think having Will try to pass that lie off was a good idea?”
This time I do send a glare back in the rearview mirror at Will. “Well, I thoughtmyfriend might cover for me.”
