“Will do. Thanks. Bye.” I hung up with shaking hands. My adrenaline roared. I already knew Nicole meant business and had a hell of a reputation, but the authority in her tone and the aura around her confirmed it. I wanted to start learning from her right now. My phone vibrated in my hands and I thought it was Nicole, but no, Zade.
Zade: Dinner and a movie?
Callie: Almost strike three, we’ll say foul.
I grinned like a damn goon at my phone. I’m surprised people around didn’t stare at me.
Zade: Fancy dinner?
Callie: Foul ball.
Zade: Taco Bell?
Callie: Ugh. Taco Bell is worse than watching the third strike go by.
Zade: Shit. Okay. Damn. But, you’re forgetting I’m the pitcher and that’s my job.
Callie: Yeah, yeah, yeah. You and your amazing arm. Yawn.
I loved messing with him and considered it one of my favorite activities. Bored, annoy Zade. Happy, annoy Zade. It didn’t matter.
Zade: Do you trust me?
Callie: With my heart? No. But generally, yes.
Zade: I don’t like that answer, but I’ll work on it. I want to surprise you. Can I?
Callie: Sure.
Zade: THANK GOD. I’ll be at your place at seven. Dress casual.
Before I had time to react, Greta texted me saying the coast was clear and I ran home. I needed girl advice and who better than Greta?
* * * *
“Girl, you look perfect. You rock casual like it’s your damn job.” She fixed my hair, somehow creating awesome braids. I’d told her he complimented them and her eyes had grown wide with ideas. I admit, they did look good. They began at the top of my head and fell loosely down my back. Greta had gotten the girly genes and I had gotten the tomboy DNA.
“What does casual even mean?” I eyed my black skinny jeans with rips in them, black booties Greta had let me borrow and a skintight green tank top that hugged every curve I had. “Am I trying too hard?”
“Try harder.” She clucked her tongue at me and put her hand over her heart. “Part of me wants to take a picture of you, like I’m sending you off to prom.”
“I’ll murder you in your sleep if you do that.”
She pointed her finger at my mouth. “Right, strict instructions not to ruin the lip stuff. Unless it’s with Zade’s mouth, understood?” She patted my face like a mother hen and fixed my hair one more time. “I’m freaking excited for you. Enjoy this. And if you’re wondering, I’ll be home, in my room, pretending I don’t exist.”
“Did you just quote Harry Potter at me?”
“Sure did, boo boo. I’m saying that, although I deserve it, I won’t be in here being a cock block.”
“We need a system like the sock or something. I still can see his ass in my eyes. Will I ever see his face?”
“Probably not.” She shrugged, completely at ease with her freedom. “He was fun. We get along really well and both like each other’s bodies. I’m guessing a solid friends-with-benefits situation. But enough about that.He’sgoing to be here soon.”
“Ugh. Yeah. I shouldn’t be this nervous.” I pulled the end of my shirt down because it was small. It left a little bit of my midriff bare, which was the plan, but still. My boldness from earlier had left me in a pile of nerves. A car door slammed. “Shit.”
“You kill me, Cal. I love you.” She pressed a kiss on my cheek and went to stand behind the counter. “If you ask me to leave, I won’t. I want to see the look on his face.”
“This is crazy. Insane. All sorts of wrong.” I went to the door, ready to open it when he knocked.
