"Do I make you nervous, Callum?" I ask, a smirk curving at my lips and determination rising inside of me.
"No," he answers immediately with a firm voice, and I stumble slightly at the final tone. "I'm just a big fan of personal space."
He walks back to the cash register, and I huff quietly. He's a tough one to crack, I'll give him that. I start to follow him before something red out of the corner of my eye catches my attention.
Sophie.
She's on the other side of the glass door, her hand on the door handle as if she were about to open the door, and just froze. She's watching us, her face pale and her expression unsure, and a little sad. I'm sure that seeing me talking to her new man, while I look like this and she looks likethat,is a huge hit to her confidence. Insecurity must be flooding the poor thing. What a shame.
There’s hair on her head—clearly a wig—but it looks quite similar to her hair I remember. Brushes against her collarbone in dark brown waves, and she does look quite pretty, but I can't help but snicker at her wearing red like me. Only, she's in a thick red cable knit sweater that swallows her form. It even matches the lipstick she's wearing.
She's cute, adorable even, but she's not me.
She'snothing.
I smirk at her and lean on the cash register, arching my back and pressing my chest out in his full view. Unfortunately, Callum doesn't even see it, too focused on the register and ringing up the book. No matter, it hit its intended target.
Sophie's face crumbles, just slightly, before she takes a deep breath and something sharpens in her expression. She straightens her spine, raises her chin, and pulls the door open.The bell signals her arrival, which catches the man in front of me's attention instantly.
Callum looks over and... his entire face lights up.
"Sophie," Callum breathes, stepping around the counter, seeming to forget I even exist. I turn to watch as he walks right up to her, cupping her face, and she tears her eyes from me to look up to him. "Hi, sweet girl."
"Hi," she whispers before she reaches up and touches her hair, looking a little self-conscious. "Does... it look okay?"
"It looks so much like your hair," Callum says, eyes wide and warm as he looks at her. His tone is soft as he stares at her in awe.Seriously?"Wow, this looks perfect."
"Bailey picked it out," she responds, shrugging and looking a little sheepish. "Tonya tried to get me to do fun colors, but I just wanted one that made me look like me."
"So, one that makes you look like the most beautiful girl in the world?"
That statement, said as if it were gospel, makes something ugly twist inside me.
Sophie’s smile widens at him before she looks over at me. The happy expression completely melts from her face.
"What are you doing here?" Sophie directs her question to me, her voice sharp. Callum frowns at her tone, glancing back and forth between us.
"Baby?" he asks her, but she doesn't take her eyes off me.
Aw, she thinks she's being tough right now. Please. I'll chew her up and spit her out.
"What does it look like I'm doing, Sophie?" I ask her, making my voice saccharine and speaking slower as if she's stupid. Her brow furrows, and my smirk widens as I lean my hip against the register. "Buying a book in this lovely little store.Callum and Iwere just getting properly acquainted."
Callum turns to me and frowns, his eyes darkening slightly atmy tone, but I ignore it, keeping my focus on Sophie.
"You know her?" Callum asks Sophie, who smiles bitterly, crossing her arms.
"Callum, meet Elise."
Recognition immediately flashes across Callum's expression as he glances back and forth between us.
"Elise?" he asks Sophie, and she just looks up at him. They seem to communicate silently for a moment, and she nods once.
Callum's entire demeanor changes, his body tenses as he turns to look at me. He seems to know exactly who I am, and with that, this curtain comes down on this entire performance.
I feel an angry flush creeping up my neck, the loss of control making my hands shake.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Callum asks me flatly.
