There were toomany people here. The house was crowded and hot and stuffy. But then, maybe it onlyfeltthat way because Lock was here. Because his eyes were on her. Had been on her the entire freaking night. No matter where she was or who she was talking to, anytime she glanced his way, it was his beautiful eyes staring right at her.
“I have the best recipe. I could send it to you.”
Crap. Hamish. What was he talking about? A meatball recipe? She was barely listening to him. She was a terrible person.
She glanced at the skewered meatball in his hand. “I would love that. The meatballs are delicious.”
A moment of weakness got the best of her, and she looked at Lock again.
Yep, still looking at her.
She turned back to Hamish. He looked…disappointed? Had he not been talking about the meatballs? Shit. She was the worst.
She touched his arm. “I’m sorry. I’m distracted.”Understatement of the century.
Hamish turned his head to look at Lock, then back to Callie. “Why did you guys break up if you’re still into each other?”
“I’m not…still into him.” Well, that lie came out about as smoothly as sandpaper. “It’s complicated.”
His brows flickered, and he seemed to consider that for a moment. “Just so you know, you don’t deserve complicated. You deserve someone who makes love feel easy.”
Her eyes widened, shock skittering through her veins. Whatever she’d expected him to say, it wasn’t that. It felt too intimate and kind of pushed the boundary of friendship. She opened and closed her mouth, but before she could respond, he gave her a small smile and walked away.
“Did you know that this many people could fit into one living room? Because I sure didn’t.”
Swallowing, she glanced at Aspen as she came to stand beside her, beer in hand. She’d always been a beer girl, and Callie had never understood it. Give her wine any day, but beer? No thanks.
“Where’s Dylan?”
Aspen tilted her head toward a small group of men, all holding beers and laughing. “Over there.”
Dylan’s dark brown eyes moved over to Aspen…and there was just something in his expression that Callie didn’t like. That Callie hadneverliked. Was it because he always looked so possessive of Aspen?
She’d tried to bring it up once, but Aspen had brushed it off.
That made her a terrible friend, that she was still thinking negatively about him, right? She should like her best friend’s boyfriend, especially when they’d been dating for almost a year.
“Everything good with you two?” Callie finally asked.
“He wants me to move in with him.”
Callie’s brows shot up. “You’re leaving me?”
“Don’t be silly. Just because he wants me to do something doesn’t mean I’m going to. I’m not ready for that. Besides, my mom would have a fit, and I do not need a Karen meltdown right now.”
Aspen’s mother could switch between completely reasonable middle-aged woman to completely unhinged in a matter of seconds. Aspen had always thought she had undiagnosed split personality disorder. Either that or bipolar. “Has she had any new…episodes lately?”
“She texted me asking if I poisoned her rabbit yesterday. I said no, then I got hit with a million and one abusive texts. I went over and saw her today and she was acting completely normal, like she hadn’t been the mother from hell yesterday. When I asked about Floppy, she said the vet gave him some medication and he’s fine.”
Callie cringed. She’d heard worse stories. A lot worse. It didn’t make any of them okay. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’m used to her.” Aspen nodded toward someone across the room, a small smile on her face. “What did Mr. Infatuated want?”
Callie followed her gaze to Hamish, standing by the kitchen island choosing a drink. “Mr. Infatuated?”
Aspen rolled her eyes. “You have to have noticed by now.”
“He doesn’t—”
