“Your question about where we’ll be in ten years, it caught me off guard,” I said.“Not because I don’t think about our future, but because I guess I never really pictured the specifics.Just...being with you.”
I leaned back so I could look into those soulful green eyes.“Callie, you are my world.My partner, my best friend, my everything.Wherever this crazy life takes us, as long as I have you by my side, that’s all I need.”
Her eyes shone with unshed tears as I continued.“Did my dad say something to make you doubt that?Because he means well, but he can be a little old-fashioned.The future he sees for me probably looks quite a bit different from the one I would make for myself.For us.”
So quietly—nothing like the fierce woman I had come to love—she finally spoke.“He wants me to put the kids to bed while you’re stuck at the office.And make sure you eat right.”
Her eyes were trained on the floor.I wanted so badly to laugh at the absurdity of what she just said, but I knew what she needed right then was reassurance that we were on the same page.
“Baby, I need you to hear me.”My hands came up to cup her face, thumbs brushing across her flushed cheeks.“You will never be anyone’s bored trophy wife.You’re a force of nature—brilliant, ambitious, passionate.You challenge me and inspire me every single day.”
A watery smile crept over her face I leaned in to rest my forehead against hers.“You will not become your mother.I won’t allow it.I love you, Callie Winters.The only future I see is one with you by my side, building the life we’ve both dreamed of.”
She nodded solemnly.I felt the need to lighten the mood, to see her laugh.“Fuck, maybe we’ll get Dad to nameyouCEO and I can stay home with the kids!”
She shook her head at me, and a smile twitched at her beautiful lips.“You’re an idiot.”
“You love me.”
“Yeah, I do.”
Our eyes met.It was like one of the slow-motion moments in movies—the ones where time seems to stretch, the world around the characters fades into the background, and all that matters is the connection between two people.
“And what do we have here?”
We both jumped at the unexpected voice.Gene stood in the doorway, hands tucked in the pockets of his twill shorts and a smug smile on his face.
I put an arm around Callie’s shoulders and turned us both, facing the asshole head-on.Callie’s face had paled and her spine was rigid, but something had to give.We couldn’t keep sneaking around.The dishonesty was eating her apart.It allowed for too much space for doubt to seep in, and it prevented me from loving her loudly and openly, the way she deserved.
“Did you need something, Gene?”I kept my voice even, not allowing him the satisfaction of seeing me lose my cool.
“Yes, Emmett.I need you to stop falling for every pretty little gold-digging tramp who bats her eyelashes at you.This one will be no different than the other, and I will not watch you drag your father down with another lawsuit.”
“That is enough!”My voice echoed off the walls of the pavilion.I took a protective step in front of Callie, as if I could shield her from his vile words.“You know absolutely nothing about my relationship with Callie, so you will refrain from passing any judgment.Perhaps if you’d spent as much time caring about your own marriage as you spend caring about my personal life, your wife wouldn’t have left you.”
It was a low blow, but I was fed up with his bullshit.
His face turned a hideous shade of red and he nearly erupted.We were all saved from the blast when my father opened the door, eyes darting between the three of us.Silent tears streamed down Callie’s cheeks, and I’m sure my expression was murderous.
“What the hell is going on here?”Dad asked.
Gene glared at me before he turned, pushed past my father and exited the building.Dad looked briefly over his shoulder at his departing friend before turning back to me and Callie.“Emmett?”
I ignored him and pulled Callie into my arms.My poor girl could not catch a break today.“Come on, baby,” I murmured into her hair.“Let me take you home.”She nodded into my chest before I guided her to the doors.
When we reached my dad, I mumbled a goodbye, telling him I would call him later.He nodded and clasped my shoulder in a silent show of support.
But I would need more from him soon enough.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CALLIE
When I awoke,I was curled on my side in the center of Emmett’s ridiculously comfortable bed.He had offered to drive me back to my apartment, but after feeling so vulnerable and emotionally wrung out, I had wanted to be here—wrapped up in all thingshim.
How had I gotten so lucky as to rebound from a five-and-a-half-year relationship right intoEmmett Price?He was almost too kind, too supportive, too loving.
But I was soaking it up today.I needed it.
