Page 27 of Stalked By the Third Baseman

“I’ll walk you out,” Roxie offered, saying something about how she was going to head to work before hurrying my girl to the door. All Callie was able to do was wave goodbye to me.

The moment the door shut behind them, all I wanted to do was chuck something.

I got off the barstool and paced.

Walking back and forth, I groaned. This was all my fault! What if she fell for the ass? I hurried to the huge window in the living room that looked out to the street just in time to see the two of them standing there.

Talking.

I couldn’t see Callie’s face, but I did notice Roxie look up and smirk right at me. I’d obviously been caught red-handed.

I forced myself to walk away from the window.

This was the smart thing.

The sane thing.

Callie would go on a date with Trevor and realize he wasn’t the one for her. I was.

Who cares about doing the right thing, the thing inside me growled like a feral beast ready to be let out on the loose. She already told you she loves you! Why tempt fate? it huffed as I paced. Sweat started to form over my brow as my hands fisted at my sides.

What if Roxie was right?

What if Callie’s expectations were so low that when they started talking, Trevor got in there? Under her skin and into her heart? What if this stupid, asinine plan of mine exploded in my face and I lost her?!

I couldn’t go back to just benching myself from her life.

I’d have to be there, by her side, as she fell harder and harder for the asshole. Watch as they created the life that was meant to be ours, damn it!

I paced their living room back and forth. Every breath I took felt suffocating. Every step I took felt wrong. Too far from her. Panic started to prickle every nerve ending. She walked out of here to go on a date with someone else, and I let her go.

Was this how I was going to lose her?

I couldn’t lose her. I couldn’t stand the thought of staying her friend if she fell in love with someone else, either!

Anxiety coiled tightly around my gut and wormed its way up and up until I was positive I was about to choke on it. And I did the only thing I could do in that moment. The miniscule part of me that was normal and sane gave out and let that dark, primal thing inside of me take over.

No. I wasn’t about to stand around and let some other asshole take my girl out to dinner!

Over my dead body.

Callie Villa was mine.

Only mine.

Call me selfish, but I didn’t share!

EIGHT

CALLIE

“This doesn’t feel right,” I muttered the moment we got into the elevator. I looked to my side, not surprised Roxie’s gaze was on me.

“Then don’t go.”

“You don’t think it’s messed up to cancel last minute? For all I know, he’s already there.”

“Probably.” She shrugged. “Cost me enough. He should be on time,” I thought I heard her mutter under her breath, but I shook my head. and then shook it again.