Callie weaved through the crowd. It wasn’t until she stepped onto the deck, the cool wind brushing over her cheeks, that she realized just how much she needed that fresh air.
She walked across the yard, not stopping until she had a clear view of the moon. Then she dropped, lying down to let the cool grass seep through her clothes and chill her skin.
She’d had counseling. She’d done all the work. She should be okay. She shouldn’t be triggered by another couple’s happiness.
So why was she? Because Lock was back in her life? Because it was bringing back everything she’d lost?
A noise sounded behind her. A light crunching noise, like a leaf beneath someone’s shoe.
She sat up and turned her head, frowning when she saw no one. Heard nothing but the whisper of wind in the leaves.
Frowning, she lay back on the grass. She was just closing her eyes, when another noise sounded, this one closer.
She opened her eyes in time to see a large figure looming over her, and she opened her mouth to scream.
CHAPTER 11
“Callie…”
Lock! Oh God. It was just Lock.
The air rushed from her chest, and she swallowed the scream.
“What in the ever-loving hell are you doing?” she gasped, covering her eyes with her hands. “You scared the crap out of me!”
A light thump sounded, and she moved her arm to see Lock lowering to the grass beside her. “Sorry.”
She frowned at him when he lay down. “What are you doing?”
“Joining you.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s dark and you’re alone out here.” He turned his head, his gaze piercing hers. “And because I want to.”
She swallowed and looked back at the sky. She told herself it was because the stars were beautiful, but the truth was, lying on her back, looking at him, felt far too intimate. The sky was safer. “Did you know he was going to propose?”
“I did.” His smooth voice slid over her skin like velvet. “I know you don’t want to talk to me, but at least tell me you’ve been good these last couple years.”
Good? Had she been good? There had beenmomentsof goodness. Smiles that hadn’t felt forced. Laughs that, for a moment, let her forget about the life she’d left in Misty Peak.
“I taught at yoga retreats. They were exactly what I needed.” It wasn’t really an answer to his question, but at least it was true.
“You always wanted to do that.”
“I did.” She’d actually planned to earlier, but then she’d met Lock and the dream had been put on hold.
“Did you ever think about us?”
She could have laughed. He had to know the answer to that. “Sometimes I’d picture this other life where we got it right.”
There was a brief pause. “What does the life look like?”
Gosh, she could picture it so clearly. “We wake up together, you earlier than me because you always had a habit of doing that. Then we head to our separate jobs. On the way home, I text you that I’m picking up dinner, and we argue about whether to get Chinese or burgers. You want burgers, but usually I win and we get Chinese.” She turned, expecting to see a smile, only there wasn’t one. He looked pained.
“What else?”
She almost didn’t want to say, but the words started flowing of their own accord. “Most days, you insist that I wait for you to pick me up from work when I finish late. This starts an argument, and I tell you I’m not waiting, but I do. I always wait.”
