Claiming Callie: Part two by Paige Rion Read Free Book Online Page A

difference is you ’ ll be leaving with her on your arm.”
    Dean frowns. “Yeah, I guess. But that ’ s the thing…” He glances around to make sure no one ’ s listening, then leans in to whisper. “We ’ ve been going along with this char ade all week. And all we ’ ve done is walk around and hold hands or have coffee or lunch together. That ’ s going to get me nowhere .”
    Emmett rubs his jaw. “I feel you. You need to up your game for sure.”
    Dean nods. “This is my chance. I can ’ t blow this,” he says, making the monumental mistake of glancing across the locker room to where Jason dresses.
    Jason’s eyes meet Dean ’ s and a smirk grows over his cocky face. The heat in the locker room rises and Dean ’ s hands ball into fists. All he wants to do is erase J ason ’ s smug expression, but he reminds himself he can ’ t. Jason still thinks he won with that article, and as much as Dean wants to beat the piss out of him for it, he knows that his silence is best for Callie. He plays it cool and Jason leaves Callie alone . Right at this moment, though, it ’ s hard to tell himself that.
    Dean forces himself to turn away from Jason, just as his teammate Ron walks up to him. “ Getting nervous , Michaels? Got your girl watchin’?”
    Dean smiles and they exchange their usual handshake, the cocoa of Ron ’ s skin a sharp contrast with his own.
    “Yeah, that ’ s right.” Ron bumps Dean ’ s shoulder with his knuckles. “I saw ya ’ ll getting cozy on campus the other day. All holding hands, and you looked so smitten.” The six- foot -seven athlete pinches Dean ’ s cheek and raises his voice. “It ’ s so cute. Our wittle Dean, all in love.”
    Emmett laughs. “You have no idea, man.”
    Dean can ’ t help himself; the tension melts away and he smiles. “Whatever.”
    “No, seriously, though. She ’ s fine. Better watch or a better man might swoop in and steal her. Maybe she ’ d like a taste of the dark side,” he says, winking.
    “Pfftt. Dark and flabby,” Dean says, punching him good-naturedly in the abs, and knowing full well Ron is one of the biggest and most built on the team. Ron simply winks at him and walks away.
    “ Feel better? ” Emmett asks.
    Shaking his head, Dean ’ s eyes brighten as a thought occurs to him. “No. But I will. I have an idea.”
    Dean opens his locker and grabs his wallet, then slams the door shut and spins on his h eel toward the exit, with Emmett calling behind him, “Do I even wanna know?”

CHAPTER SIX
     
    CALLIE
     
    Callie settles next to Jinny on the bleachers. Todd is working, so it ’ s just the two of them. The darkness she felt earlier in the day seems to evaporate in Jinny ’ s presence like a fine mist, floating out and away from her, as it always does. For that, she is grateful. She can breathe a little easier, relax the tense muscles in her back, and take a deep breath without a vice squeezing her chest.
    They ’ re sittin g on the bottom riser, so Callie swivels in her seat to glance at the crowd surrounding her. She strains her neck, moving around to peer into the droves of people. But there ’ s a large turnout and Callie finds it difficult to notice anyone in particular. No signs of Maya that she can see, but according to Dean she attends most of the games. For his sake, she hopes tonight is no exception. If she ’ s there, Callie will be sure to make a display at congratulating Dean at the end of the game. Just the thought mak es her smile.
    “What are you grinning about?” Jinny asks, nudging her.
    Callie glances at her. “Nothing. It ’ s just funny, you know... Being here as Dean’s ‘ official girlfriend, ’” she says. “I ’ ve come to his games before. It shouldn ’ t feel any different, but for some reason it does.”
    Jinny ’ s eyes sparkle. “Good different?”
    “Weird different. I have to remind myself to play the role.”
    “Oh,” Jinny's smile fades before she turns away and falls