“Coming!” She waltzed through my bedroom door and waved to my laptop. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Williams!”
“Greta, good lord. We’ve known you for years. Call us Glenn and Emily,” my mom replied, waving back at her. Where my dad could be intense, my mom could be sweet. Right now, she was being sweet.
“It feels too weird. But I can try…Glenn and Emily. Nope, can’t do it.” She frowned, muttering “nope” over and over. We all chuckled and she joined me on my bed. “How’s Chicago?”
“Beautiful right now. Weather has been perfect, not too hot and not too humid. But enough about us—how is it going? Are you going to take care of our girl, Greta?” My dad.Of course.I stuck my tongue out at them because I wasthatmature. My maturity had always been an issue, especially with me being an only child. ‘You won’t survive on your own, Callie. You’ve never even held down a job, Callie. You can’t just move away for school, Callie. You need to earn the right, Callie.’
Greta’s voice brought me back to the present, the awkwardness of the call with my parents hitting me hard. “I mean, I won’t leave her in dark alleys every night.” she replied without missing a beat.
“Oh good. Once or twice is good for her, but any more than that…” my mom joked, perhaps sensing my tension. She’d always had a sixth sense when it came to my emotions.
“You assholes. I’m right here. I make good decisions.” I gritted my teeth, knowing damn well I’d worked hard to save for the year.
“Of course you do, honey,” my mom cooed, always the cheerleader and motivator in the family. I could be anything in the world and she would support me. Well, except the career path I wanted, because it wasn’t consistent enough. It was a ‘gamble’ to get into sports medicine.Ugh, hypocrite.“Do you like the new apartment?”
“It’s super nice. I can’t believe Greta managed to get such a hell of a deal.” I nudged her with my shoulder. “It’s close to campus, has a pool and has parking.”
“We like it thus far. She cooks, I clean. We’re a nice couple,” Greta joked and my parents laughed on cue. I knew how lucky I was, having such an amazing best friend. I don’t think I would’ve worked as extremely hard as I had to go to my dream college if it wasn’t for her. My parents had wanted me to attend a community college, get a job to prove I could be responsible and save enough for my first year. After having met all their requirements, I would have a trial shot at the university.My damn trial year is going to be the death of me.
“Perfect. I’m glad you called. We wanted to check in with you before school starts.” My dad’s authoritative voice carried through the speakers.
“Wait, Mr. Williams—”
“Glenn,” my dad interrupted her.
“Glenn. Guess who Callie ran into and is now friends with?”
I glared at her. My dad knew everything about Zade Williams. “It’s no one, ignore her. I try to.” I moved to end the call, but my dad didn’t back down.
“Who, Callie?” His sharp eyes met mine.
“Zade Williams,” I said the name, Greta grinning like a fool.
“Holy shit.TheZade Williams? Z-man? Left-handed pitching, up-and-coming hotshot? No way.” My dad’s face lit up and my mom lifted her cup of coffee, knowing the conversation was far from over.
“Yes, father. Him.” I elbowed Greta. Hard. She knew my parents and I were not on the best terms and yet she still smiled as though everything was rainbows and shit.
“Tell me everything.” He crossed his arms and settled into the chair. Knowing him, I had no choice. Baseball was his life.
* * * *
“I’m going to get you back for that.” I yelled at Greta,hourslater after I finally got off the phone with my parents.Damn her and her sneak attacks.
“I’m sure you will, but I’ll be ready. Your dad already in love with him?” She raised an eyebrow, a smirk on her face.
“Head over heels,” I snorted and opened the fridge. “What you feeling?”
“Options, please,” she teased her own personal chef.
“Beer-battered chicken, cashew chicken, or the classic tacos.”
“Tacos are for Tuesdays. Tequila Taco Tuesdays.” She gave me a stare that made me feel stupid for not knowing. I pulled out the chicken and showed her my middle finger.
“You’re crazy. I love crazy, but you are a whole different type.”
“Just remember that.”
She bit her lip, giving me a sheepish look.
