Page 29 of Stalked By the Third Baseman

“Adam,” I confirmed.

“He’s more than a friend?”

“Not yet,” I answered truthfully, and was almost glad that Adam hadn’t kissed me last night. “But I’ve been in love with him for a long time,” I shared. “We never… I never thought he might be interested in me but…” I shrugged even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “Last night, after you left, we kind of had a heart-to-heart and…”

“He loves you, too.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Glad he got his head outta his ass.” I didn’t know Trevor all that well, but I could have sworn he was smiling.

“I’m really sorry, Trevor.”

“It’s okay, pretty girl. See you at study group, okay?”

“Sounds good. Have a good night.”

“You too, Callie.” He ended the call, and I kept walking.

The sun was just starting to set as I reached the small park by my apartment building. It was one of the few places in the small desert city that surrounded the school that had trees and lush greenery.

The streetlights turned on as I walked and decided what to do next. I was relieved that my date was cancelled. All I wanted to do was run straight into Adam’s arms, but for some reason, I wasn’t heading to his place like I should have. I scanned the park. There were a couple of people around since it was still early.

I kept walking, heading towards the direction of campus. My heart was full and light all at the same time. I was in love with my best friend, and he was in love with me.

So much in love, that he’d had a bit of stalkerish tendencies.

He’d followed me around.

I pressed my lips together to stop me from laughing uncontrollably. Adam following me around after my late-night classes and from work should have been a red flag, but I knew why he’d done it—to make sure I was safe. And even though I hadn’t known he was there, I’d felt safe this whole year no matter what situation or place I had been in. And maybe a part of me, one that was so connected with him, knew Adam would never let anything happen to me.

Excitement burned in my veins, and all I wanted to was find my way to him. If I hadn’t been wearing the dress Roxie had insisted I wear, I would have been half tempted to skip my way straight to Adam’s dorm.

My smile broadened with every step I took, then something else struck me. The familiar sounds around me. Footsteps behind me at just enough of a distance.

I had no idea how I’d missed it before. Now that I knew it was there, I noticed the familiarity of it.

Adam had been following me around, and I knew he was following me now. I didn’t know when he’d changed his mind or when he’d left my place after I did, but I knew without glancing over my shoulder as darkness started to settle in that he was there.

I could have turned around. Waved hello and rushed towards him.

But I didn’t.

Maybe we were righter for one another than either of us had expected? Maybe the two of us were a little more twisted than either of us knew? Because instead of turning around like a normal person would, I kept walking, slowly picking up pace. Knowing that if I ran, he would chase me.

And good god, I wanted to know what happened when the third baseman caught me.

NINE

ADAM

She hadn’t gone on the date.

She’d done that on her own, cancelling that date without me asking her to.

Callie chose me.

The realization went through me like getting hit by a fastball when I was up at pitch. It hit, but instead of it being painful, it fed my soul. Made me feel lighter on my feet and the thing inside of me roar to life.