“At what?” Tears fill my eyes.
She really does know me.
All the times I’ve felt second best in my life. The “rebound girl” was what my friends referred to me as in college. Just date Callie, then you’ll meet the one for you. She’s like a cleansing bath. Hang around her because she’s so fun, have sex with her, and then you’re ready to meet your one and only. They all meant it as a joke, but at some point, it didn’t feel that way. Probably because that was exactly what kept happening. So I learned to laugh it off as though I didn’t care, even though it burrowed under my skin, and I carried it with me everywhere.
“I don’t need to spell it out for you, but I am wondering if Foster isn’t who we think he is. I mean, he moved you in, right?” Leighton says.
If she only knew how adamant he was about it. How protective he seems to be. I can’t lie, the desire still courses between us every time we’re in the same room, but I refuse to allow it to ruin any kind of good co-parenting relationship we might have.
“We made a deal.”
“A deal? Was it something sexual?”
I balk. “No. Jesus, Leighton. He’s going to get me my five big-time guests in exchange for me living here.”
She doesn’t say anything for a moment.
I grow paranoid when she remains silent. “What?”
“Nothing. I’m just… I mean, I knew he couldn’t be that bad if Hayes liked him so much, but why is he wanting you so close?”
“Jeez, remind me to call you more often.”
She laughs. “I just mean… Hayes was telling me about… it doesn’t matter?—”
“Don’t you dare. What were you going to say, Leighton?”
She sighs. “He kind of has a woman in each of the cities they visit. Like, he doesn’t sleep around, it’s just one woman in each city. So it surprises me that he wants you living with him. I think it says more about him. Things you might discover while you live there.”
“Which would be?”
“That Foster Davis might be the bad boy of baseball, but he’s far from a bad boy in real life. That there’s a very different version of him not a lot of people get to discover.”
“It doesn’t mean he’s going to show it to me.”
I don’t know why I’m arguing. Foster already has shown me some of those parts of himself. Maybe because I’m afraid for it to be true.
“I think he already is, but you’re going to have to open your door a little wider and give him the opportunity to walk through.”
“When did you get so philosophical?”
She laughs. “I’m just trying to get you out of your own way. Callie, you deserve all the happiness in the world, and so does that little one growing in your belly.”
My hand falls to my stomach, and I really take in her words. “Thanks.”
“That’s what best friends are for. You did the same for me, but I must say I think I was kinder about it.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “Probably, but you and Hayes are so stubborn.”
“And you’re not? I think it’s a Carlisle family trait to defy all reasoning and advice.”
I chuckle, then sober quickly. “It’s scary.” My voice is practically a whisper.
“Yeah, it is, but the reward could be pretty great.”
I’m sexually attracted to Foster, sure. But I barely know him, and the thought of us taking a chance, and it not working out… plus, I have no idea where his head is even at.
“Okay, missy. I’ll see you tonight.”
