AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Me too,” I tell them. We make our way downtown and find a nice little beach bar with seating outside. It doesn’t take long to be served, then we order food. I haven’t eaten well this entire week and I’m starving now.
We’re actually relaxing and I’m hopeful again. I’m going to be able to get out of here within a week. Yesterday I wasn’t sure I’d get to leave for a month without letting go of this entire project.
I lean back, wishing there wasn’t such an extreme time difference where Sasha is. I want to hear her voice but it’s four in the morning back home. If I stay up a few more hours, her voice can be the last thing I hear before I fall asleep. Is she missing me as much as I miss her?
“Oh crap,” Blaze says.
“Heads up,” Zach says. I look up, then grow tense as I see a woman walking through the crowd, heading straight toward us. What in the actual hell?
“That is the one you can’t shake, isn’t it?” Blaze asks, clearly annoyed for me.
“Yes, it is. I don’t know what she’s doing here,” I grumble. “The last time I spoke to Lily was weeks ago and I made it very clear we’re over. I told her it was over before that as well, but the woman won’t listen to reason.”
“Callan,” she purrs, her voice dripping with seduction as she approaches. “What a surprise to see you here. I’m on vaca with my sister.” She’s so damn fake. How in the hell did I ever sleep with her? Apparently my standards have vastly improved in a very short time.
“Go away, Lily,” I say, not even trying to pretend to want to see her.
She completely ignores me, her attention focused on me alone. My brothers might as well not even be here. She pulls up a chair and sits right next to me. I have nowhere to scoot to.
“Don’t be rude, Callan. If a man gets off on top of me, he can give me the courtesy of a few minutes of his time,” she coolly says.
Am I being a dick? Yes. But she’s fake. The slight glimmer of hurt in her eyes makes me pause though. I don’t want to be a jerk anymore. I have no desire to be with this woman, but I don’t have to treat her like shit. She’s right, we did have sex. Just because I don’t want to do it again doesn’t mean I have to be an uber asshole.
“I’m seeing someone, Lily. I’m not trying to be a dick, but it’s not appropriate for me to be with you.”
She laughs, but the sound’s clearly fake. “Callan, you don’t do relationships. You screw women, make them grow attached to you, then leave. This girl doesn’t stand a chance. If you truly do like her, the best thing you can do for her is walk away,” she says. There’s just enough hurt in her expression that I can’t tell if she’s acting or not.
I immediately bristle at her words, the truth of them cutting much deeper than I want to admit. Before I’m able to respond, another woman comes up, her lips turned up in a bright smile. She’s clearly intoxicated.
“There you are. I turn around for one minute and you’re gone. But since you’ve found these three incredibly hunky men, I’ll forgive you,” the woman says. She grabs a chair and scoots right up on the other side of me. She holds up her hand and the waiter immediately comes over. Before I can stop her she orders a drink. Lily smirks.
The woman immediately starts talking, and doesn’t stop for a solid five minutes. I look over at my brothers who glance back with a bit of fear in their eyes. I can see they’re about two seconds from ditching me. I glare. They’d damn well better not. I’ll never forgive them. My glare says this far louder than words.
“Selfie time,” the woman says. I still don’t even know her name. Suddenly Lily leans against me and places her lips on the corner of my mouth as the other woman, supposedly her sister, holds up her phone and captures the moment on camera.
“I’m done,” I growl, immediately standing. I tried showing some kindness and now it’s biting me in the ass. My brothers jump up as well, clearly happy to leave. We walk away.
Lily calls out to me, but I ignore her as we leave. She’s wrong. I do care about Sasha, and I’m not willing to let her go. I’m not so sure I’ll have a say in that, but for now, I’m not letting go. I need to see her. The sooner I get out of here, the better off I’ll be. I’ll get the work done then head straight to Seaville. We’ll see what comes next.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Sasha
Today’s the first day in weeks I feel better. I forced myself from the house and have successfully wrapped up a wonderful day volunteering for the youth program in our community. Everything fell into place with lots of laughter from the kids and heartfelt acceptance from the community... perfect.
A lot of hours are put into these events, every activity planned to give joy and wonder to the kids. We had face painting, relay races, food stands, and sign-ups for volunteer work the kids can participate in all summer to alleviate their boredom and teach them how to be active members in our town.
I pack up the rest of my items and make my way toward the park exit. Emily, one of my favorite kids who has big beautiful blue eyes and a perpetual grin, breaks away from the departing crowd and runs toward me.
“Hey, Sasha,” she calls as she draws closer.
“Hello, beautiful,” I call back, crouching down to her level. “Did you have a good time today?” Emily nods, her curls bouncing in enthusiasm.
“I had the bestest time ever! I love you,” she says, warming my heart and filling me with a sense of pride and purpose, the reason I love volunteering. I want to make a difference to children like Emily.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” I say. She leaps into my arms, almost knocking me over as she gives me a hug.
“Thank you,” she tells me. I have to fight tears.
