Page 43 of Stalked By the Third Baseman

CALLIE

Having it all was such a crazy, asinine concept.

Or at least I used to think it was.

Having what mattered wasn’t impossible. It was hard at times, sure, but when you reminded yourself of what was actually important, it made things easier. Perspective always helped.

As I walked down from the stage, my eyes scanned the auditorium, and my heart fluttered in my chest at the sight of Adam standing there, holding a sign with my face on it, cheering me on.

He might be the baseball player, a professional one now that he was breaking all sorts of records, but he had no problem sharing the limelight. I swear, I felt like he loved to cheer me on more than he liked having me cheer for him.

It was one of the things I liked to call the secrets of our success.

Married. Living on opposite sides of the country while he played pro ball and I went to law school had been overwhelming. A lot of times. Especially with how possessive Adam could be. But surprisingly enough, I think it was that obsessed side of his that made things a little… well, let’s just say a little more bearable.

Cameras all around both our small apartments, trackers on my phone and his and the necklace I never took off might have been a little overboard for some. Not to mention the surprise visits when he would sneak in and watch me sleep and then somehow find a way to wake me up in sinfully delicious ways. It had all helped.

But we’d done it.

We’d survived our time apart.

I was done with school and had passed the bar after my second try. We’d just bought a place together in Washington, where he’d just been transferred to play. There would be no more cam sex, unless we wanted to try it from different rooms, or lonely nights apart other than away games, and even those, I was sure he’d figure out a way to talk me into joining him.

What could I say? Adam wasn’t the only one who was obsessed with our relationship.

I watched as Roxie stood next to him, clapping and whistling, her big baby belly bouncing while she cheered and I waved at them. By the time I made it back to my seat, I couldn’t take my eyes off my people.

My family, both blood and chosen, were there celebrating my achievement.

I giggled when I watched Roxie’s man, who had his hands full with their energetic two-year-old in his arms, urged her to sit. Not that Roxie listened. She was still as sassy and stubborn as ever. Though, her hubby, and now once again my hubby’s teammate, was really good for her.

I wasn’t sure about him at first, if I was honest.

He’d come off as a true bully in my eyes. A huge walking red flag when she’d told me everything he’d done and put her through. But he was also the one whom Roxie loved more than life itself. With time and watching how he was with her, how she blossomed into more of herself instead of something different, I’d known the pitcher was a good guy through and through.

Even if how they got together had been a little rocky.

My gaze caught my man’s. He winked at me, mouthing I love you before I did the same. I breathed deep and blew him a kiss, trying to bat away the emotions that swept over me before I took my seat.

It would be a while before the ceremony would be over. I pressed a hand to my stomach as I took a deep breath, excited about sharing the news with my husband, my best friend, about just how much our life was going to change.

With Adam by my side as not only my best friend but partner in life, I had let myself dream and want more for myself, for the two of us, than I had ever thought possible. And the little one growing inside of me and making me nauseous every time I woke up was proof of that.

Adam had been right when he’d proposed and said that change was inevitable when it came to life. But the knowledge that Adam was my rock, my anchor when the sea was a little too rocky, that he would never budge, made every change a little easier. Because no matter what life tossed our way, I knew we would be able to handle it together.