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“Callie, I really wish you’d tell me what’s going on with you,” Mom says barging into my room. “You’ve been home for two weeks. You’re getting behind with your studies.” Mom opens my curtains before turning to glare at me. “I’ve left you alone for long enough. You either tell me what’s going on or I’m taking you back to college. You’re so close to finishing; please don’t let all that work go to waste… Are you listening to me?”
“Yes, Mom.” I guess I’ve done well to not have her going on and on at me all the time I’ve been home, but part of me feels as though it will be final if I announce I want to go to the local college instead of back to Chicago. She’ll also be telling me “I told you so.” Mom tried to talk me into going to the local college when I was eighteen, but I was adamant that I wanted to go away to school. I don’t regret my decision back then because I have a great friend in Thalia, even if we don’t spend our time together anymore, I know she’ll be there for me anytime I need her. I just don’t think I have the energy to finish school back there, where the cause of my current heartache is.
“Is this about a boy?” Mom asks, coming to sit beside me on my bed.
The tears come out of nowhere. One minute I’m thinking about my studies and the next I’m in a flood of tears.
“Oh, honey. Come here baby girl.” My mom climbs on my bed and lying down beside me, pulls me into her arms. She holds me real tight while I cry all over her, rubbing my back in the same soothing motion she used when I was a small child. This is what I need. My mom.
She lets me cry for what feels like ages, but is probably only five minutes before setting me slightly away from her. “Talk to me. What did he do?”
I swallow down another sob, and tell her, “Reece…” I take a deep breath. “Reece was an ass. I thought we had something good, you know? But then a friend of his from back home came to visit him, and although I was jealous, I tried to be friendly toward her, but I overheard her saying some bad things about me to Reece.” I start sobbing again. “He didn’t say anything in my defense…he just agreed.” I hiccup.
“Oh honey. I’m really sorry. Have you spoken to him since?”
I shake my head and try to hide my disappointment. It’s been five weeks since I’ve seen or spoken to him and I need to get my life back on track. Despite all my hard work over the years, the only thing that seems to make any sense is to transfer out, take the loss and finish at the local college. I take a deep breath. I’ve been going over this for weeks and there’s no more thinking about it, I’m going to do it.
“I want to finish college in town.”
My mom stills against me. “Are you sure? What about Thalia? And surely this will pass.”
I sigh. “It may pass,” I say knowing it’s going to take a long time to forget him, if ever, “but he’s one of Phoenix’s best friends so it’s getting kinda awkward around the place. Thalia won’t be happy, but she’ll understand.” I hope. “I’m going to miss being around them, but I really thought Reece and I had something, you know.” I sniffle into a tissue.
“We can drive into town and go to the admissions office to see if they’ll accept you. They’ll be able to tell us the correct procedure of doing all this.” She gives me a pensive look. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
I shake my head. “Not really,” sniffle, “but I can’t be around him anymore. I don’t want to see him. Can we leave it for a few days.” God, I’m so indecisive.
“If that’s what you want.” Mom gets off my bed and starts to fiddle with the curtains, that she’s already opened. “Why don’t you have a shower and put on some clean clothes…not pajamas, and come downstairs.” Walking toward the door, she turns back to me, but avoids looking into my eyes. “Hurry up, Callie.” And with that she’s gone. Why wouldn’t she meet my eyes?
Taking a deep breath, I slide out of bed and make my way to my bedroom window. Shoving the curtains to one side, I look down to see if there are any cars parked and there is – one very sleek, black car. No idea what, but it looks rather expensive and fast. Hmmm. So we have a guest, no wonder Mom wants me downstairs looking all nice and presentable. I’ll bet he’s either the son of one of my parents’ friends, or he’s a business associate of my fathers, but no matter what I can practically guarantee that he will be around my age.
With a heavy sigh, I head toward the bathroom to shower; at least then I’ll feel more human.
Chapter 22
Reece
It’s been five weeks since I watched Callie drive away from me in the cab.
I was pissed and hurt that she didn’t trust me enough to be with me regardless of Dal and it took me a couple of days to get over myself, and realize that it was me keeping silent while Dal trashed her that hurt Callie. I was a bastard for that and as soon as we arrived back at my apartment, I told Dal not to say another word about my girl, ex-girl – oh fuck!
After letting Dal, who I really shouldn’t be listening to, talk me into waiting for Callie to come back to me instead of going chasing after her, I had to face Donovan. Yeah, that didn’t go down too well especially after three weeks had gone by and he informed me that she’d gone home. To say I’d gone on a drinking binge is an understatement. I just thank God that I hadn’t chose to lose myself in other girls – no way did I want to do that, not if I wanted to go after her.
When Thalia found out my plans to go get my girl, she told me to leave her alone because I’ve caused her enough hurt and upset to last her a lifetime, but I’m not too sure I’m capable of doing that. She’s mine and no matter what I’ve promised Dal in the past, I need to break it and tell Callie the truth about her. I just hope it all works itself out because I’ve screwed up enough with Callie and when I win her over this time nothing and no one is going to come between us.
My mind made up, I need to make arrangements to leave for a few days or longer if I need to because I’m not coming back unless Callie is with me. Coming back alone is not an option.
Grabbing my bag from the shelf above the closet, I throw it onto the bed and retrieve some shirts from the dresser along with some shorts. That should do, but maybe another pair of jeans.
“Going somewhere?” Dal asks me, dropping her bag in the doorway.
I pause. “What are you doing here?” She’d gone back home after the disaster of a weekend and I hadn’t really spoken to her since. Had no interest really because I blamed her for taking part in my girl leaving. Yeah, I’m an ass and know deep down that I should have defended her, but I’d had enough and just wanted the night to end. And it did, just not the way I’d have preferred.
“I’m going after Callie.” I toss some clean socks into my bag, knowing she isn’t going to like what I’m doing. “She’s in here, Dal,” I cover my heart with my hand while glaring at her and see her eyes widen, “and I’m not prepared to lose her without a fight.”
“Why? What’s so special about her? You’ve been with lots of girls, why are you chasing this one? Ah, it’s the chase. Usually everyone just puts out for you and this one hasn’t.”
