“Give a girl a reason, and she becomes superwoman.” They stopped at the bar. “Are you flirting with Jesse?”
Aspen’s eyes widened. “What? No. I was being nice. You know, getting to know a new person.”
“All right, but if you were, it would be okay. Dylan’s your past, not your future.”
Something flickered in Aspen’s eyes.
Callie frowned. “What was that?”
“Nothing. I just…he’s been calling me nonstop. And texting. And showing up at our house.”
“He’s been showing up at our house?” Okay, now she felt even worse for not being home much. “Maybe we should get Eastern to talk to him.”
“No.” The answer came quickly. Far quicker than Callie would have thought. “I just…I want him to go away.”
“Okay. But if he doesn’t want to—”
“He’ll get the message eventually.”
Eventually? Callie didn’t like that. How long would it take him? And what would happen to Aspen’s mental health in the meantime? “Is there anything I can do?”
“Just keep being my amazing best friend.”
“Always.” Callie tilted her head. “Just so you know, you deserve to be happy. And he didn’t make you nearly happy enough. I’m glad you ended things.”
“I should have done it sooner. I feel like an idiot for staying with him when he…”
Callie frowned. “When he what?”
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Can we just order a drink and have a good night, please? I need a distraction from thinking about it all.”
Callie squeezed her friend’s arm. “Okay. But I’m here for anything you need, got it? To listen. To laugh. To cry. To drink into oblivion.”
Aspen’s mouth cracked into a small smile. “I know you are. Thanks, Callie.”
They each ordered a cocktail and were just stepping away from the bar, when Aspen stopped abruptly. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Callie followed her gaze to the door, and her heart sank. Dylan. And he was looking straight at her friend.
Had he known she was here? He had to. He hated bars. Aspen had told her that on more than one occasion when he’d refused to meet them here.
“Do you want me to—”
“No.” Aspen handed Callie her drink. “Can you take this to the table? I’m going to tell him to leave.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No. I’ll be fine.”
Callie took the drink back to the table, but her eyes barely left her friend. The second Aspen reached him, they were embroiled in what looked to be a heated conversation.
“Is she okay?” Jesse asked, standing a bit straighter.
“I hope so. They broke up a few weeks ago, and he’s an ass.Kingof the asses actually. But she’ll let us know if she needs help.” At least, Callie hoped she would.
Jesse nodded, not looking completely convinced, but then Lock said something to pull his attention away from the scene.
Callie turned to Antwan. “I know I’ve said this already, but I amreallysorry about Hollie.”
