Callum stared at her, visibly shaken by Amelia’s lack of support in this. “I came home to make things right.”
“You came home because Thea left you.” Amelia’s eyes softened, but only slightly. “If you want to make it right with Jo, do it by respecting her wishes. By giving her space. You hurt her. That doesn’t disappear just because you’ve had time to get your end away elsewhere and now you’re back with your tail between your legs. I raised you better than that, Callum!”
He scrubbed a hand through his light brown hair, frustration bleeding into his voice. “I just thought…maybe she missed me.”
Amelia scoffed. Most people wouldn’t agree with her stance on this, even if Jo wasn’t firmly in her life, but she wouldn’t stand by while any man—her son included—hurt and disrespected another woman. It just wasn’t who Amelia was. “She deserves better.”
Callum finally stepped back towards the door, accepting that he was on his own with this. “Fine. I’ll find her address myself and get a cab.”
“Callum!”
“Thanks for the warm welcome, Mum. It’s fucking great to see you, too!”
The door slammed shut behind him before she could say another word. Amelia leaned back against the counter, tears brimming on her eyelids all over again. She’d basically just sent her son away, and yet, all she couldstillthink about was Jo.
Jo sat on the floor,her back against the couch and her knees pulled up to her chest, the curtains half-drawn to block out the midday sun. She’d left the club last night once she’d found herself alone in the bathroom with Amelia, and surprisingly, it had prevented her from having a raging hangover today. She felt tired and worn out, but she didn’t feel as though she’d drank herself into oblivion.
Her phone buzzed again. She knew it was Callum. She already had six missed calls, three voicemails she hadn’t listened to, and a handful of WhatsApp messages…all variations of wanting to talk, letting her know he was back in town, and wanting to know if he could see her.
Jo let the call ring outagain, pressing it face down into the carpet. Her heart pounded—not out of hope, and not even anger. Just…exhaustion. How many times did she have to say she was done? How many ways could she explain that the man she used to love no longer existed? And worse, how many more ways could she ignore the pain in her chest from the one person shedidwant to speak to?
She tipped her head back against the edge of the couch and closed her eyes. She hadn’t stopped thinking about Amelia since last night. The small talk at the club, the apology in the bathroom…the fucking pain of it all.
Jo rubbed at her forehead with the heel of her hand. Going to Satin had been a bad idea from the moment she’d texted Ada back and agreed to go. But seeing Amelia there—real and vulnerable in the bathroom, not wrapped in the anonymity of the dark room—had stirred something deep and dangerousinside of her, and now all she could think about was picking up her phone and texting her.
Are you okay?I miss you.I don’t know what I’m doing without you.
But she didn’t. She wouldn’t. Not when her chest still ached with betrayal, and not when part of her still pictured that night in the dark, her mouth on Lia’s skin, her heart unknowingly falling in love with a lie.
Her phone buzzed again.
Jo let out a low groan and grabbed it before it vibrated its way through the last ounce of sanity she possessed.
Fucking hell, Callum!
She almost silenced it again, but something inside her snapped. Enough was enough.
She answered. “What do you want?”
“Jo. Thank God. I’ve been trying to get in touch?—”
Jo rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I noticed.”
“I got back this morning. I’ve been to Mum’s. She wouldn’t give me your address.”
“Good.”At least she can do one thing right,Jo thought. “Have you not taken the hint?”
“Can we meet, please? For coffee. I just want to talk.”
Jo laughed. This man was out of his mind. “You think coffee is going to fix what you did to me?”
“No, I don’t think that. I just…I’ve had time to think. To grow. I made a mistake, Jo. A huge one. I shouldn’t have chosen Thea over you.”
Jo got to her feet and walked to the window. She pulled the curtain back, only for grey skies to greet her. How very fitting for the heaviness in her chest. “You didn’tchooseThea, Callum. Youcheated. Repeatedly. And then you left. There’s no choosing in that. You’re just a wanker.”
“I’m not that man anymore.”
“And I’m not that woman anymore.”
