Chapter 6
The date is set!
Saturday afternoon, I’ll be taking Callie on our first date, and I hope she likes what I have planned. The downside is, I have to wait all fucking week until it’s time. All that time of sitting next to her in class, watching her, I never thought we would be where we are now. I see her about every day between class, tutoring, and when I walk her home from work. I didn’t anticipate the strong hold she would have over me, and I didn’t think I would grow such an intense want for her. My chest tightens almost unbearably when my brown eyes land on her.
I’m starting to see the little changes in her, like the fact that her pale skin is getting some color back in it, her empty green eyes are coming back to life, and she’s feeling more confident in the fitted black jeans and tight white top she wears to work. She’s starting to wear a little makeup; it’s just on her eyes, but it’s a start, and I’d like to think I have something to do with these changes in her. I want Callie, I want her like I’ve never wanted anything before. My only problem is I have a secret, and I don’t know how she is going to feel about me after she finds out.
The week has passed by at a fucking snail’s pace! At least, that’s what it feels like to me, with the impending date with Callie tomorrow. We had a week off with no games, so the guys and I decided to hang out at The Dugout for a while. It’s nice to catch up with my roommates since I don’t see much of them anymore, outside of ball practice and the couple classes we have together. I’m always busy with tutoring and they’re out doing what they do.
“Dex!” Maverick yells in the packed bar, bringing me away from my thoughts of Callie.
“Yeah, man?” I answer with a dumbfounded look.
“Where the hell did you go? I was talking to you about tutor girl and how things are going.” He’s been concerned ever since Coach Rivers talked to me. And I get it, but I’m not trying to discuss Callie with him just yet.
“Her name is Callie, and it’s fine; my grade is slowly getting better. Let’s just enjoy our beers and watch the game.”
Mav’s lips form into a shit-eating grin. “All I’m saying is she’s taking up a lot of your time these days. Maybe you’re getting a little tutoring of a different kind.” He downs the rest of his beer before calling over the waitress.
“Even if that was the case, it wouldn’t be any of your fucking business.” He’s trying to get a rise out of me and it’s starting to work. One thing about Mav is he can be an asshole at times.
“Ohhh and he’s defensive! I’d say Dex here has feelings for tutor girl.” Mav laughs, but Zac and I don’t join in.
“I said enough!” I stare at my best friend across the table, giving him my do not fuck with me look.
Mav puts his hands in front of his chest in a stopping motion. “I was just fucking around and giving you a hard time. Chill, dude.”
As usual, the ever-so-funny Zac butts in, breaking the growing tension. “So…you know that hot little TA that I was trying to get with?”
“Yeah,” Mav and I reply at the same time. Zac’s been trying to get in this chick’s pants since the first day of class and she hasn’t paid him any attention.
“I thought she was about to break the other day and give into all of this.” Zac runs his finger from his head to below the table. “So…right when I thought I had her, in walks this freaking bodybuilder chick. Seriously I’m a big guy, but she could have broken me with one arm.” His bottom lip pokes out in a pout. “The chick walks up to the TA and says, ‘Hey, babe! Are you ready to go,’ then proceeds to grip the back of her neck and kiss her like them alpha fantasy men the ladies be reading in those books.”
Mav and I bust out laughing. “I don’t know what’s worse, you knowing what kind of men are in those books or the fact that you actually thought you had a chance with her all this time,” I tell him.
Zac’s eyes narrow in an accusatory way. “What do you mean I actually thought? Did you know she was into chicks?”
“Dude, come on, everyone knows that,” Mav responds while still laughing.
Zac throws his arms in the air. “Then why the fuck didn’t you guys tell me?” His voice raises a few octaves.
“We bet on how long it would take you to figure it out.” I let the cat out of the bag. We tried once telling him it was pointless, but he didn’t listen.
“Fuck you, douchebags!” Now Zac finally joins in the laughter. We go back to watching the game.
When the game is over, we order one more beer. It’s about time for me to walk Callie home. “Do you think the three of us will be ready when the MLB scouts come looking?” I ask the guys, because we’re getting close to that time in our college careers, and we all want to go pro.
Of course, Mav is the first to answer. “You bet your sweet ass we will be.”
Then the laughter from Zac comes, and I’m just waiting for it. “How the fuck do you know his ass is sweet?”
“Fuck you, asshole, you know damn well it’s you that knows his ass tastes sweet.” Mav and Zac bust out laughing at me being the butt of the joke. No pun intended.
We take another pull from our beers. “You fuckers need to shut your pie holes.” Even though they can be smartasses, they’re my brothers both on the field and off, because they’re more than teammates, they’re my family, and right now they’re the only one I got. “I gotta head out, are you guys coming?” I ask as I finish off the last of the Bud.
“Yeah.” They down the rest of theirs and we head back to the apartment.
We get off the elevator, start heading down the hall, and we see something in front of our door, sitting on the ground.
“What the…” Zac stammers.
Mav rips a piece of paper off the door. “It’s for you, Dex.”
“Oh, fuck!”