He chuckled.“I’m old, Callie, not blind.I see how you two look at each other.Mark my words, you’re going to make my son very happy.”
As he wandered off to speak to another group, my smile faltered.His words echoed in my mind—take care of him, put the kids to bed, make sure he’s eating right.Was that truly how he pictured my role in Emmett’s life?Just keeping house while Emmett worked to change the world?
I swallowed, trying to tamp down the sinking feeling in my gut.Part of me had hoped that Thomas, a successful businessman in his own right, might have a more progressive view of how a modern relationship could work.That he’d recognize Emmett would need an equal partner who could juggle career and family together.
I loved Emmett.There was no doubt about that.And I’d always assumed we were on the same page about pursuing our ambitions side-by-side, making sacrifices for each other when needed.The thought of him outpacing me, leaving me behind in his metaphorical dust…My chest ached.
Don’t freak out.
Thomas was from an older generation—of course he had outdated views on gender roles.Emmett wasn’t like that.He’d been nothing but supportive of my goals.Hell, he’d just carried me over his shoulder to make sure I won a damn game.
But Thomas had planted a new seed of doubt.What if, when push came to shove, Emmett did expect me to step back?To prioritize his career over mine?
I spotted Emmett laughing with a group, his eyes bright and animated.He looked so alive, so assured of the path laid out before him.Did I really want to risk being the thing that stopped him from reaching his full potential?Would putting me first hold him back?
A tornado of fears and insecurities whirled in my mind.I suddenly felt smothered, the picnic scene closing in around me.I needed space to breathe—to think.I spared one more glance in Emmett’s direction before I turned and hurried toward the edge of the park.
Once inside the cool, blessed silence of the park’s pavilion, I allowed the tears to spill over.
Get it together, Callie.
Swiping at my face, I pulled out my phone with shaky hands to type out a message to Emmett, telling him I wasn’t feeling well and that I was leaving.
Before I could finish, the door to the pavilion burst open.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EMMETT
I threw open the doors,scanning the space before my eyes finally landed on her.
“What happened?What’s wrong?”I closed the distance between us in three long strides, pulling Callie into my arms as tears cascaded down her cheeks.Her sobs echoed in my chest as my hand traced a soothing path up and down her spine.“Cal, talk to me.What’s going on, baby?I saw you talking to Dad earlier.Did he say something that upset you?Do I need to?—”
Her sudden words cut through me like a knife.“What do you want from me?”
She pulled back from our embrace and looked at me.My heart clenched at the sight of her tear-streaked face.Up close, the green flecks in her eyes stood out even more prominently against her dark hair.
“What do you mean?”I asked.
“Like, where do you see us ten years from now?”
Her question caught me off guard.I blinked.
“I mean...I don’t know,” she said hastily.“Forget I said anything.Maybe it’s just hormones or something.”
“Don’t blame hormones for having feelings, Callie,” I scolded gently.“That’s just not fair to yourself.Plus, your last period ended a week ago; we’re not exactly in ‘Crazy Callie’ territory yet.”
A choked laugh escaped her lips.“What the hell does ‘Crazy Callie’ mean?”
“Fuck.”My hands stilled on her arms and I squeezed my eyes shut.“I didn’t mean for that to come out.I’m just very confused about what’s happening right now.You’re crying, and I hate it when you cry, and I want to fix it, but I don’t know how and ohmygod, I’m turning into you!I’m fucking rambling!”
She looked up at me and burst out laughing.She laughed and laughed until I couldn’t help but join her.We stood there laughing until I was crying right along with her.
When we finally gathered ourselves, she rested her forehead against my chest.
“Can you tell me what happened, please?”
When she said nothing, I took a deep breath, wrapping my arms securely around her waist.Her closeness grounded me, the familiar scent of her shampoo and the warmth of her body calming my racing thoughts.
