Especially not for some dipshit like Clint Loverboy Campbell.
“Didn’t your parents ever teach you to share?” she whispers.
A vision of Callie being passed between me and some other guy flitters across my mind. My hands fist and unfurl.
“They tried. It didn’t stick.” The words are gruff as I struggle to contain my jealousy.
I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let this double date with Clint stop me from making Callie Cooper mine in every way.
Should I tell her? Would it change anything if she knew?
“Callie—”
Her phone rings.
“I’m sorry. I have to take this.” She excuses herself and disappears from view while I silently curse my poor timing.
I pick up my flowers and bring them to the bedroom, setting them on my nightstand next to the worn copy of the book Callie was reading last week. I left off where the duke in the story was about to confess his feelings. I sink onto the side of the bed and finger one of the blooms.
Soon.
Chapter 18
The Cowboy Hat Rule
?She Won’t Be Lonely Long - Clay Walker
Callie
Despite every attempt toget out of it, the double date with Mo is happening… tonight.
I do a half turn in the mirror, giving myself a final once-over. I've been on a handful of dates in the last decade, and I never know what to wear. The bed is strewn with several outfits I tried on and discarded. Now, I'm second-guessing my choice: a black floral skirt with a thigh-high slit, a black bodysuit, and a black cardigan. I look like I’m getting ready for a funeral, but I don’t have time to change again.
I grab my thrifted Doc Martens from the closet, then think better of it and swap them for a pair of chunky black heels.
A soft rap on the bedroom door draws my attention.
“Come in.”
The door creaks open, and Jaxon steps over the threshold.His eyes rake over me from head to toe, eliciting a not unpleasant tingling sensation.
“Is it bad?” I ask.
Jaxon swallows. “No. You look…”
Panic threatens to overwhelm me, and I pace back and forth at the foot of the bed, pulling my cardigan over my chest. “Oh my god. It's bad, isn’t it? Is it too late to cancel?”
Jaxon rushes over and skates his hands up and down my arms, steadying me. He chuckles. “Calm down. You look beautiful, Callie.” His voice turns serious before he adds, “Youalwayslook beautiful.”
My gaze snaps to his, searching for some hidden truth behind his words, but there’s only sobering sincerity in his eyes. Every heartbeat draws me impossibly closer to him until we’re chest to chest. His name comes out as a quiet whisper.
As if he’s been bitten, he rapidly pulls his hands away and takes one long step back. He clears his throat. “Mo’s here.”
“Right. I shouldn’t keep them waiting. See you later?”
He shoves his hands into his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “Yeah. See you later.”
With my stomach still tied up in knots, I shuffle down the steps and slide into Mo’s awaiting car.
