Her head shot up at the sight of Harper, Cody’s partner. She sometimes did classes at the studio. Callie liked her. “Hey. You’re busy tonight.”
“We are. And there have been no bar fights yet, so it’s been a good kind of busy.”
Callie laughed, not sure if the lack of bar fights was out of the norm. Who would be stupid enough to start a fight in a bar owned by a former special forces operative like Cody?
Harper cocked her head. “How are you?”
“I’m good. The studio’s been busy, and I’ve been settling back into Misty Peak.”
Good was probably an overstatement. Fine might have been more accurate, and by Harper’s knowing smile, it almost seemed she knew. Or knew part of it, at least.
“Well, Cody and I are having a housewarming party next Monday, and we’d love for you to come. Bring your friend as well.”
Callie opened her mouth to politely decline, when Aspen returned to the table and set the shots and cocktails down. “Bring me where? I assume I’m the friend.”
Harper laughed. “Hi, I’m Harper.”
“Aspen.”
“I was just inviting you both to mine and Cody’s housewarming party.”
“We’ll be there.”
Callie’s jaw dropped at Aspen’s quick response. What the heck? Lock would definitely be there, and she knew it.
Harper’s smile widened. “Great. I’ll text the time and address.”
The second Harper left the table, Callie glared at her friend. “Aspen! You know I would have declined.”
“Exactly why I said yes. No hiding, remember?”
“But—”
“No buts. You are strong and brave, and I don’t want to see you hiding those qualities from the world.” Aspen gripped her shoulders. “You deserve all the happiness, but you won’t find that sitting at home eating leftover Chinese takeout.”
“It’s been pizza more than Chinese lately.”
“Same difference.” Aspen cocked her head. “Speaking of being strong and brave…you know how you said you wouldn’t run if you saw a certain someone?”
Callie’s pulse picked up, her back straightening. “He’s not.”
“He’s at the bar.”
Her head swung around so fast she almost gave herself whiplash. At first, her view was blocked by other people. Then the crowd cleared—and there he was, standing beside the bar, looking straight at her.
CHAPTER 7
Callie threw back her shot, the cool liquid burning her throat. Her feet itched to move. Leave. Go somewhere safe and quiet and away from the man she’d loved for so long.
But another part of her, the part she kept buried deep inside, whispered to go to him, even if it was just to hear his voice.
She did neither. She just stood there, unable to move for fear she’d make the wrong decision.
“Every time I see him,” she said quietly, “I wish I could go back to before that week. I wish we could be what we were.”
So full of hope, with no painful past. She’d been pregnant. They’d talked about buying a house together. She’d had their entire future mapped out in her head.
But she couldn’t go back. That was something she’d learned the hard way. That in a split second, everything could change, and she’d be powerless to stop it.
