“She misses you, Cal.” He steps toward him. “We all do. You should come this year for Christmas. Meet little Levi. I’d like for him to know his uncle.”
I didn’t think my heart could ache any more for Callum.
I was wrong.
Not only did this woman Callum cared deeply for marry his brother, but they also have a kid?
I may have been in my fair share of relationships that ended badly, but none of them were as horrible as this.
“I’ll think about it,” Callum says in a low voice that lacks all emotion. “If you’ll excuse us.”
He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me toward the elevators. No goodbye. No nice to see you. No acknowledgment of these two people who were once important to him.
“It was good seeing you, Cal,” Mason calls after him, but he doesn’t stop, his steps quickening instead. “And great meeting you, Parker.”
I glance over my shoulder and give him a small smile. Callum keeps his gaze forward, eyes hardened, muscles tense. I want to say something. But what can I say that will make this sting less?
After one of the most uncomfortable elevator rides of my life, we silently walk down the hallway. Like before, Callum’s the perfect gentleman, holding the door for me. Once we’re inside, he hands me one of the bags from the gift shop his expression impassive.
I duck into the bathroom and quickly change into a cute set of snowman pajama bottoms and a t-shirt. After folding my bra and panties and returning them to the bag, I splash some water onto my face, scrubbing off my makeup.
When I slip back into the room, Callum doesn’t even look at me, grabbing his own bag and disappearing into the bathroom. I’d almost rather have the sexual tension back from earlier. It would be preferable to this.
While I’ve never been one to solve my problems with alcohol, I think running into your ex who left you and is now married to and has a child with your twin brother qualifies as an exception.
I walk over to the mini bar and survey its contents, settling on whiskey. After pouring some into a glass, I open the refrigerator, finding some champagne.
At the sound of the bathroom door opening, I look up, resisting the intense urge to comment on Callum’s snowman boxers with a giant carrot right where his dick is. Or ogle his bare chest, his chiseled muscles on full display, making my mouth water.
If circumstances were different, I absolutely would ogle.
Callum Reed without a shirt on is a glorious sight to behold, all defined abs and broad shoulders, complete with a happy trail of hair disappearing into his shorts.
“Sorry about all of that,” he says, forcing my eyes to his. They’re the first words he’s said to me since the lobby. “I didn’t mean to involve you in family drama.” He runs a hand through his hair and pushes out a long sigh. It makes him look so vulnerable.
Completely unlike the man I assumed he was when we first met. I didn’t think Callum Reed had a soft side. Or had feelings.
Again, I was wrong about him.
“It’s okay.”
“And in case you’re wondering, because I’m sure it’s killing you, yes. That’s the same Sadie I told you about. The one I tried to schedule my first kiss with.”
I approach him, handing him the glass of whiskey. He brings it up to his mouth and takes a long swallow as I sip on my champagne.
“We were married,” he declares after a beat, lowering himself onto the edge of the mattress.
“Callum, I’m—”
“You were right last week. Kind of.”
“About?” I sit on the bed, but keep some distance between us.
“Taking dance lessons for a wedding. I took them with her.” He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth.
“We were high school sweethearts. But before that, we were friends. Best friends, really. Mason, too. The three of us were always together. When it came time to go to college, Sadie went to a different school. But Mason and I went to the same one.”
He runs a hand down his face, taking a moment. I don’t push him to talk. Don’t ask questions. Just let him share whatever he’s comfortable with.
