“Stop thinking about what’s happening now and go back to what it would have been like in December.” He wanted Callie to understand his reasoning. “Mom would have gone on about two relationships, not just your engagement, and Dad would have given both of us his spiel about the importance of prenups and a family discount at the firm.”
Callie rubbed her lips together. “Mom and Dad probably would have told us to have a double wedding to save time and money.”
Okay, his sister got it. Garrett released the breath he’d been holding. “Exactly.”
“But if dating Taryn was important to you—”
“It wasn’t.” The words rushed from Garrett’s mouth. Callie was a romantic at heart. He didn’t want her to think he and Taryn had been serious. “Our time together hinted at the possibility of more, but neither of us wanted a relationship.”
“You guys ended things before you left for L.A.?”
This was the hard part. Being secretive had backfired on him and hurt Taryn. “Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
Garrett braced himself. He hated disappointing anyone, but especially Callie. “I planned to stay in touch because we got along and enjoyed talking to each other, but then I received those death threats, so I didn’t call her. And it wasn’t just her. I wasn’t in touch with anyone except the family. I wouldn’t chance someone coming after my family, friends, or the woman I’d dated over the holidays.”
Callie’s mouth slanted, her gaze narrowing. “You used a burner phone to keep in touch with us. You could have let Taryn know what was going on.”
Yes, but he hadn’t been thinking about that. All he’d thought about were the…threats. He blinked, not wanting to be drawn back into the time, but that reminded him of why he hadn’t called Taryn. “I didn’t want to frighten her.”
“You don’t know how she would have reacted.”
“I don’t, but we weren’t in a relationship, so why drag her into the mess?”
“You could have called her after things settled down.”
Another good point, but Callie hadn’t been there. Looking back with hindsight was easier than living through it. He’d questioned so much about his career and life at that point. Garrett rubbed his chest. His heart thumped beneath his palm. “By the time they arrested the perp, it was March. Too late to pick up where we’d left off with a new and fledgling friendship.”
Callie’s lips parted. “You ghosted her.”
“For her safety.”
“So, she has no idea death threats were made against you and the people you care about?”
“I tried to tell Taryn today, but she didn’t want to listen.”
“Of course not.” Callie’s voice rose an octave. “Let me guess. You strutted into her bakery as if nothing had happened six months ago.”
He squirmed. “I didn’t strut, but guilty as charged.”
Her jaw jutted forward. “What were you thinking?”
Garrett shrugged. “That it was no big deal.”
To him, it hadn’t been.
Callie groaned. “It’s a huge deal, and I’m not even involved. Poor Taryn.”
“We weren’t head over heels for each other. We live in different states and work long hours where taking time off is rare. We had fun together, but we both knew this would never be more than a holiday romance.”
Callie stared at him as if he’d grown a unicorn horn. “That’s your defense?”
He nodded.
She leaned toward him. “And Taryn felt the same way as you?”
He started to nod but then shrugged. “She never said differently, though her reaction today makes me wonder.”
