And there he was.
“Hey, Mum.”
Callum stood on the doorstep, his rucksack slung over one shoulder and his hair longer than it had been the last time she saw him. His tan popped from his time in Southeast Asia, and his smile was still the same. Boyish, charming, and utterly fucking clueless.
Amelia’s stomach twisted. She’d forgotten this was the day he flew back. To be honest, she’d forgotteneverythingthat wasn’t Jo. “Oh,” she said, stunned. “You’re here.”
He grinned and stepped forward, wrapping her up in a tight hug that she couldn’t quite return. “Flight got in early. Thought I’d surprise you.”
Amelia forced a smile and patted his back awkwardly. “You did.”
He stepped inside, dropping his bag by the door like he still lived here. Which, he didn’t. No way. Amelia couldn’t share this space with him. He hadn’t lived at home for at least ten years now. “Thought you might have done something with the place while I was gone. You know, kept yourself busy.”
“I have enough to do without ripping my home apart.”
He turned back to her, his brow furrowed as he took in her pale face and tired eyes. “You okay, Mum?”
No, I’m not. And you being here just makes everything ten times worse. She cleared her throat. “Fine. Just a rough few days.”
Callum didn’t press, but he studied her for a moment longer before rubbing his hands together. “Right. So, what’s the plan? I was thinking of heading over to see Jo later. Thought I’d start with an apology, y’know? Clear the air a bit.”
Amelia froze, but her hand clenched into a fist at her side. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Callum frowned. “Why not?”
“She doesn’t want to see you.”
His eyebrows lifted, and a bright smile appeared. Her son had never been one to listen when someone was telling himnotto do something, and that clearly hadn’t changed. “You’ve spoken to her?”
Amelia swallowed. “Yes. I let her know you were coming home.”
“When? I mean, I know you two have always been friends, but I thought that would have sort of died down when I…you know?”
“We’ve been in touch.”
Callum leaned back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. “Well, if she’s talking to you, she’ll talk to me.”
“No,” Amelia said, her voice firm. “She won’t.”
“Why? Because of Thea? I told you, that’s over. That was a mistake?—”
“You made a choice, Callum. Jo spent months trying to recover from the damage you caused.” Amelia’s voice wavered, but she held her ground. “She’s doing well now. She’s rebuilding her life. She doesn’t need you showing up and dragging her back.”
Callum scoffed and pushed off the wall. “You don’t get to decide that.”
“I do when she’s asked to be left alone.”
“Let me guess.” He narrowed his eyes. “She’s asked you not to give me her address?”
Amelia hesitated. She hadn’t spoken to Jo about Callum since the night everything had fallen apart, but if she told Callum the truth—if she gave him her address—he’d go there. He’d knock on her door, disrupt the fragile remnants of Jo’s heart, and probably push her further away than Amelia already had.
But the real truth of it all was that Amelia selfishly wasn’t ready to see Jo back in his arms. Not after everything they’dshared recently. Not after the club, and the kisses, and the roaming hands…that voice as it whispered,I love youin the dark.
So, she lifted her chin and said, “Yes. She made that very clear.”
Callum’s face fell. “You’re serious?”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t be a part of dragging her through anything more than she’s already endured.”
