“You’re mom, too. But I haven’t seen her in a really long time.”
Alexandra turns around and walks toward the house. I guess I’m supposed to follow her. I search for Miles for some sort of clue, but he’s already at the door.
Guess I better say hi to Callie. I have a feeling if I don’t her daughter will be pissed. There’s no way I can do that. One because I just made her night by finding her pup. And two, it appears we’re neighbors and the last thing I want to do is piss off a teen. If she’s half as brazen as me and Miles were, I’m sure pranks will ensue.
I trudge up the sidewalk, several feet behind Alexandra. It’s not that I have anything against Callie, but I never thought I’d see her again. She wasn’t always the easiest to deal with when we were kids. Mostly because she was dead set on doing whatever me and Miles were doing.
Miles beckons me inside as soon as I’m at the front door. “Come on.”
There are half empty boxes inside the room as soon as I walk in. It looks like they’ve made progress in unpacking. I wouldn’t know. I moved from my parents’ house to the house I have on Starlit Fields property. Moving is something I never had to experience.
“Callie, I’m sure you remember Peter.”
She’s standing in the middle of the living room, eyes wide. But I don’t miss the way the travel over me from head to toe. She’s not at all like I remember her. Her hair is much longer and she’s not the awkward teen she was before she left. She’s grown up into a beautiful woman.
“Hey.” The word is raspy like she couldn’t find her voice. Not completely. “I mean hi. Sorry for the mess. We’re still unpacking.”
“How have you been?”
She studies me again. No doubt wondering if I’m being sincere. Her brother and I weren’t always so nice to her when we were younger. Her next words are hesitant, almost like the weight of them is too much. Maybe they are. “Good. Just trying to get settled in.”
“If you need any help, let me know. I’m literally right down the road.” I point my thumb over my shoulder as if that will indicate the correct direction.
“I think we’ve got it.” Miles shoots her a glare at the tone change.
Okay. That was a switch up. I’m sure she’s stressed. She just moved back and had a hell of a time with her dog. I’m trying not to take it personally. Especially after dealing with all the shit with my brother.
“Well, the offer stand should you need it.”
Callie takes a moment to plaster a smile on her face. It’s the same fake one she wore when she told us she wouldn’t tattle to our parents over something dumb Miles and I were about to do.
“Thank you. And thanks for finding Alice.” The relief in the last sentence only confirms what I thought. She’s trying to be strong for whatever reason. It’s not really any of my business, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. “I don’t know what we would have done if she was lost forever.”
“It’s no problem.” I reassure her. “If anyone here would have found her, they would have done everything they could to find her owner. You know how the community here is.”
“Yeah,” she grumbles.
What the hell happened to make her dislike her home town? If it was something bad, I’m certain I would have heard about it back then. I graduated a few years before her, but word travels fast when there’s something to talk about.
I’m not going to meddle. The best thing for me to do at this point is get in my truck and drive home. I returned Alice to her family. Now I can go home and start my new year off the way I intended, playing games and crashing.
“Oh, I gave her a bath after I found her. She had leaves and grass all in her fur.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” She shakes her head. “We would have given her one as soon as we found her.”
“You can just say thank you.” Her eyes cut to mine. “Besides, it was a pretty rough night for the sweet girl and nobody, not even a pup, should ring in the new year without looking their best.”
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, I realize it’s the wrong thing to say. Callie glances down at her oversized sweater and leggings. At least, I think that’s what they’re called. Piper wears them to work all the time even though Pierce tells her not to. I probably should have left that comment to myself.
“Sorry, I-I didn’t mean you don’t look your best. I just meant—” I don’t even bother finishing the sentence. I know when I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth. This time I did it in such a bad way there’s no redeeming myself…at least not right now.
“It’s fine.” I don’t miss the sadness in her voice. Whatever she’s going through it must be hard, and I didn’t help anything by saying stupid shit at the wrong moment. “Anyways, thank you. I’ll let you know if we need anything. I’m sure you have much better things to do with your night.”
I don’t, but she doesn’t need to know that. Hell, if it wasn’t for my need to be away from people, I’d still be at the bar with my brothers and sisters. It was too much, and I needed to get out.
“I really am sorry. I didn’t mean anything by what I said.” I run my hand through my hair and study every empty wall in the room. Anything to not have to look her in the eye. Stupid shit just seems to flow out of my mouth at the most inopportune times.
She waves away my second attempt at an apology. “It’s been a long day. Now that Alice is home, safe and sound, I kind of want to crash.” Miles moves to sit on the sofa and she shoots him a glare. “You, too, Miles.”
