Page 42 of Stalked By the Third Baseman

“You feeling okay?” she asked, her hazel eyes locked on me.

“Yeah, why?”

“Just… you’re a little quiet. Worried about Roxie?” Guess she noticed.

“You think I should be?” She shrugged.

“Not really. Or at least I hope not. She’s just been…”

“Secretive?” I guessed. Callie nodded, taking her keys out of her pocket. I took them from her hand and cupped her face with my free one. “She knows if she needs to talk to me, I’m here. Just like she knows she can talk to you.”

“True,” she agreed. “She’s just been distracted since that fender bender with that frat guy.” She mentioned, but my head was too filled with the box in my pocket.

“You know I love you, right?” I asked out of nowhere.

“I do,” she said, the prettiest blush painting her cheeks.

It had been three months since our friendship had changed and turned into the best thing that could have ever happened to my life. Callie Villa was mine and I was hers. But tonight was special. I’d tried to give it time. I knew there were a lot of things in the air of where life was going to take us soon once graduation was here, but I didn’t want Callie to ever even doubt for a second where she stood with me.

I kissed her softly, slowly, trying to pour every feeling I felt into it before pulling away. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and unlocked the door, moving to the side when I opened it, not missing the soft gasp she let out.

“Adam?” She didn’t look at me. Her attention was set on the sight in front of her. Red flower petals littered the ground, creating a little pathway towards the living room.

“You should see where it goes,” I encouraged, and she stepped forward without making a sound.

It was crazy.

We had only been an official thing for the last three months. It was a huge, crazy step to take, but almost like she had somehow expected it, she turned to look at me. “What is all this?”

“Happy three months, baby,” I said, pulling her into me.

“Happy anniversary. You didn’t have to do all this, though! You know I don’t need—“ I placed a finger over her lips, and Callie bit the tip. I chuckled and breathed a little easier.

“I know you don’t need this, but I wanted to do that for you. Callie—” I swallowed hard as I took her hand in mine. As I strummed her empty ring finger, my heart pounded in my chest with nerves. “We’ve been best friends for a lifetime. And now, we’re something different, something more.” Her eyes swirled, the color more green than brown. “Calling you my girlfriend is great, but it doesn’t sound like it’s enough. Not with how I feel about you. And trust me, I know we’ve been pedal to the metal fast, and this might be a little too much after three months but—” I kneeled in front of her, and Callie gasped.

“Adam,” she whispered my name.

“I love you. You’re my everything, ladybug. You always have been. I know there are a lot of plates in the air, variables of where life might take us. Draft. Law School acceptances. Life… well, life is just life-ing. Change is inevitable, but the only thing I know could never change is how much I love you, Callie. How much I not only want you in my life but need you in it.” I slipped my free hand into my pocket and brought out the box.

Popping it open, I held it in the palm of one hand while the other held hers.

“I can’t imagine living life without you, not for a day. I know it might be complicated and life will definitely challenge us, but I am more than willing to figure it out as long as I have you by my side. As long as I have you, I have everything, ladybug. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” she cried out and fell to her own knees before I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. Our lips crashed against one another, desperate and wet. I pulled away only to slip the ring on her finger.

“You’re mine. No take-backs or returns.”

“Deal,” she giggled. I shifted us so that she was on her back. “I can’t believe we’re getting married!”

“Really? Because this was inevitable. Just like us getting together.”

“I love you, Adam.”

“Love you, too, Cal.” I leaned forward and kissed my girl.

My woman. My future. My reason for everything.

EPILOGUE