“Technically you’ll be working for people who are much older than us. Not going to lie, though, you’ll probably be working with some people from high school.” I take another bite. “A lot of people left, but a lot stayed here. Or, came back.”
“Like me?” There’s vulnerability in the question.
“Callie, coming home doesn’t mean you’re a failure.” I set my food on the table and get off the couch to move beside her. “You went to your support system, Miles. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with hat. I hope by now you know I’m here to help as well.”
“It may not feel like a failure to you, but when I left, I vowed never to come back here unless it was only for a quick visit. And here I am…with an entire house and all the problems going along with it.”
“Why?”
“That’s not important. Besides, it’s not like I can do anything about it now. I can only make the best of my situation. Thank you by the way. I’m not sure what Lexi and I would have done if you hadn’t swooped in to save the day.”
What is it with this woman and refusing to give me a straight answer and let me in? One day she’ll open up.
“It’s not a problem. I promise.” I move back to the couch because I still don’t know where we stand. “You’ll do great on your first day. I have faith in you.”
What I really want to ask her is what happened between her and her ex-husband. She won’t answer, though.
“I’m glad someone does.” She moves her attention back to the movie. A clear sign that the conversation is over.
We finish the movie in companionable silence, and it’s better than whatever happened earlier. Once the credits roll, she stands. “I’m heading to bed. Do you need in the room before I go to sleep?”
I guess she’s trying to keep us from being in the room at the same time. I can’t really blame her since she locked me out of my room.
“Yeah, I need to grab my clothes for tomorrow. I don’t have to work, but there are a few things I want to get done.”
“Okay.” She heads to the room. I guess she needs to get some things before she gets ready for bed.
I turn off the TV and follow her. I can’t wait to sleep in my bed again. But as long as Callie is comfortable, that’s all that matters. Hopefully, she knows I’ll go through any level of discomfort to make sure she’s taken care of.
She’s pulling some clothes out of her suitcase as I enter the room. My feet carry me straight to my closet. I don’t want to rock the boat by lingering.
Once I have my clothes for tomorrow in hand, I turn to leave.
“Peter?” Callie’s voice is a whisper above the roaring fire.
“What’s up?” Don’t read too much into what she’s about to say. I have to keep that on repeat in my head. The last thing I need to do is make a tenuous situation worse.
“I-I’m sorry about earlier.” Her eyes are trained on the floor. “About the kiss. I shouldn’t have done it.” She’s quiet for a few moments and I think she’s done but now she meets my eyes. “I had a crush on you when we were kids. Hell, even into our teens. When you said you felt something toward me, my body reacted. It’s like all the words I longed to hear then propelled me forward.”
I knew about the crush, well, suspected anyway. It was hard not to. But I always thought maybe she lost interest, especially since she hauled ass out of town.
Setting my clothes on the bed, I take a few tentative steps toward her. Fear I’ll make her run keeps me at a distance.
“You don’t need to apologize. If that role belongs to anyone, it’s me. I was out of line.”
“True.”
“Geez, you didn’t have to agree so quickly.” This is what I miss. We used to go at each other for hours. Right now. It feels like we’ve gone back in time.
She shrugs, but I can see the smile lifting the corner of her mouth. “Maybe if I’d acted the way you did, you would have noticed me all those years ago.”
I reach out and slide my hand into hers, pulling her closer. “Callie, I’ve always noticed you.”
Her mouth drops open, and I want nothing more than to capture her lips with mine. It’s not the right time, though. Not yet.
Before she has a chance to say anything, I give her hand a quick squeeze. “We can talk about it more later. Goodnight.”
Turning, I grab my clothes from the bed and leave the room as fast as possible. I put the cards on the table. It’s up to her if we continue as friends or more. Either way, I know neither of us getting much sleep tonight.
