He tugged Callie to the dance floor and waited until his arm was around her waist and she was flush against his chest to ask, “Everything okay with Aspen?”
“I don’t know. She says she’s fine but something’s obviously going on with her, and I think that something involves Dylan. I don’t know why she won’t tell me. We usually tell each other everything.”
“Maybe she just needs some time.”
“Maybe.” Her frown deepened. “Is Antwan okay?”
“He looks better than I thought he would, but it would be easy to appear okay without actuallybeingokay.” He hadn’t been okay since Hollie died. Or at least, he hadn’t been how he used to be.
He lowered his mouth to Callie’s ear. “You know who’s better than okay?”
A shudder rolled down her spine. “Who?”
“Me.” He kissed her neck. “Because I have you. I’m never letting you go. You know that, right?”
She softened against him. “I wouldn’t let you if you tried.”
Callie peekedaround Lock’s body. Aspen was talking to Jesse and Antwan at the table. Well, mostly Jesse. In fact, the two looked like they were getting alongverywell. While she’d been talking to him, it was like she’d transformed into a different person entirely from the one who’d walked into the bar.
What was going on with her?
It was Dylan. It had to be. Man, she hated that guy. She didn’t even have a reason to hate him—he’d never done anything to her. She just did. Call it gut instinct.
“Stop spying.”
She jumped at Lock’s whispered words and looked up, way up, into his beautiful eyes. “I’m not spying, I’m…watching.”
“Is that different?”
“Yes. It sounds better.” She shot a look at her friend again. “Does it look like she’s flirting with Jesse? It does, doesn’t it? But that would be crazy, because she just split from Dylan.”
“They’re just talking. But if you’re worried about her, you could talk to her.”
“I told you, I’ve tried. She won’t tell me anything.”
“All you can do is keep trying.”
“I know. I’m just impatient.” She glanced back up at Lock. “When did you become so…”
“Wise? Good-looking? Strong?”
She scoffed. “You were probably born good-looking and strong. Maybe even wise.”
He chuckled, and she wanted to bottle the sound.
“She’ll come around,” Lock said, sobering.
Probably, but that didn’t stop Callie from pushing. She couldn’t help herself.
When the song ended, she slipped her hand into his and headed back to the table.
“I need a drink, and you need to get one with me,” Callie said, interrupting her friend mid-conversation with Jesse.
Aspen frowned. “Callie, I’m—”
“Coming with me.” She tugged Aspen toward the bar.
“Jesus, how are you so strong?”
