"No, that was Reaves's place."
She closed her eyes and turned away."So, is this something the two of you do a lot?"
"No.Callie, I've never done it before.I never should have done it.I just panicked when you said you wanted to come to my place.I hadn't figured out yet how to tell you what my place was like, and then..."
He wanted so badly to go to her.But her folded arms and jutted chin said that she’d be far from open to it right now.
"Listen, I'm truly sorry.The whole truth is that when I first met you, I liked you.You seemed more at ease with me because I wasn't one of those guys.So, I didn't want to tell you that I was."
She turned back around."And then you lied to me about where you lived."
"Yeah, I did, and I'm sorry.I was always planning to tell you the truth, though.I just didn't know when or how.When we took the dogs out, I was figuring out how I could tell you.But then, when we reached the front gates, you pointed at them and said you didn't think you could ever fit in with the kind of people who lived there."
Her hand came up to cover her mouth.
He nodded."I wanted you to fit in with me.I still want you to, Callie."
She shook her head slowly.
"Don't say no."His heart sank.
She shook her head again."I don't know what I'm saying right now.I need time to process this."She checked her watch."I don't know what to say.I don't know what to think.I..."She turned away from him."I think you should go."
All he could do was stare at her back.He wanted to explain more, but he didn't even know what he could say that would make a difference.
Then he remembered.He felt like an asshole bringing it up, but it was the only thing he had to grasp at.
"I know you're going to need time to think this over.But while you do, will you remember a couple of things?"
She spun back around."What things?"
"That when Reaves used Friend Finder to see where Alara was, you were okay with not telling her how he knew.You said it was his intentions that mattered."
He tensed, feeling even worse for throwing her own actions back in her face."And if you think about it...you were hiding Alara from me and Reaves too."
She just stared at him for a long moment, and he waited for her to explode.But she didn't.She simply nodded."You're right.That's true.But I still think you should go."
"Okay.Can I call you?"
She shook her head."I'll call you.Even if it's only to say that we're done."
His heart sank at those two words.
It was only when he reached for the door handle that he realized that he couldn't even leave.She seemed to realize the same thing at the same time.
"I'll drive you back to the airport as soon as Reaves is ready to go."
Chapter Fourteen
"Is it the usual for you, Callie?"Kai asked when she reached the front of the line at the coffee shop on Tuesday morning.
"Please.Can you put an extra shot in there for me, though?"
"Sure will, gorgeous.Do you want something sweet to cheer you up as well?"
She scanned the pastries."Yeah, I'll take a blondie, thanks."
He raised his eyebrows as she paid."Are you okay?You don't seem as chipper as usual."
