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Chapter 12
Turned out it was a lot harder to focus on a book about mythology when Jake Ryan kept replacing all the Greek gods in Callie’s mind.
The Sunday after their impromptu boardwalk date, she woke with the intention of working all day…only to find herself staring out the window and wondering how hard it would be to make deep-fried pizza for him one night.
She tried to regroup by doing some drawing, but just looking through her sketchbook was like a raincloud encroaching on her warm feelings. Her pencil and charcoal sketches all seemed lifeless and drab—inert images of books, old shoes, even a frosted cornflakes cereal box that she’d inexplicably been inspired to recreate on paper.
Around five, she opened the refrigerator to find something for dinner, but the leftover quinoa and roasted vegetables from last night looked entirely unappealing. She headed out to the grocery store, picking up items for both herself and Eleanor before going to her mother’s house.
“The market was out of blueberry muffins, so I got you banana nut.” She plunked two bags of groceries on Eleanor’s kitchen counter and pulled out a box of muffins. “The chicken breasts were on sale too, so I’ll make chicken Caesar salad for dinner.”
Eleanor set down her tablet and pushed away from the kitchen table. “Honey, I just went grocery shopping yesterday.”
“Good, then you’ll have plenty of stuff.” Callie opened the fridge to put away the chicken.
“You don’t have to make dinner tonight.”
“I know I don’t have to.” Callie set a box of crackers and a jar of peanut butter in the cupboard. “I want to.”
“Callie.” Affection warred with exasperation in Eleanor’s voice. She took Callie’s arm, turning her so they were face to face. “I love you more than life itself, but I will do my own grocery shopping and make my own dinners.”
Callie shut the cupboard unnecessarily hard, her shoulders tensing. “I’m not trying to becontrolling, you know.”
“I know. You’re trying to be a helpful, loving daughter, which you always have been.” The light in Eleanor’s eyes softened. “You don’t need to bring me groceries to prove it.”
Pulling her arm away from her mother’s grip, Callie turned to finish unpacking. No matter how many excuses she came up with to get away from the computer, the book proposal would be waiting for her when she got home. And it wasn’t going to rewrite itself.
She should cancel the movie on Wednesday with Jake. She couldn’t afford to spend more time with him—not with her heart…er, herbookat risk.
“Did Rory tell you I’m not coming for dinner on Wednesday?” She yanked open the refrigerator and pushed a carton of milk into an empty space. “So you, she, and Aria can spend as much time as you want talking about what a tyrant I am. My students do it all the time, so why not my family too?”
“Now stop it.” Eleanor put her hands on her hips, compressing her lips. “You are a woman who has never apologized for or questioned who you are, and I won’t let you start now. What’s going on?”
Callie’s throat tightened. She closed the fridge, averting her gaze. Part of her ached to tell her mother everything—all about Jake and her shockingly strong feelings for him, and then about the book proposal that had her questioning her scholarship, even the fact that she’d spent fifteen minutes staring at the sea of beige, taupe, and tan suits in her closet and wondered when she’d stopped livingin color. Or if she’d ever lived that way in the first place.
“Nothing.” She folded the paper grocery bags and set them in a cabinet drawer. “I’m just busy with classes and the tenure review. Once that’s over, things will be better.”
She hoped. There was still a good chance she’d be denied tenure and have to find another job somewhere else.
“Sit down.” Eleanor picked up the teapot and started filling it with water. “I’ll make us some tea, and we’ll split a muffin.”
“No, I should get going.” She hugged her mother, holding on for longer than usual. “I have to get some work done. I’ll see you soon.”
“All right, dear.” Eleanor set the teapot down, her eyes worried. “Try and take it easy, okay? Go out with a friend or take a walk on the beach. Like I tell Rory, it’s not good for you to be in front of the computer all the time.”
That was the problem, Callie thought as she headed back to her house. She hadn’t been in front of the computerenoughthe past couple of days because she’d been spending so much time with Jake.
Movie Star Jake who wanted to turn down a multi-million-dollar deal to pursue smaller, more serious roles. Film Buff Jake who knew about French New Wave cinema and all the classics. Warm Sexy Jake who made her skin tingle with one touch and who looked at her as if she were magical.
Temporary Jake who was leaving soon—maybe sooner than expected.
After returning home, Callie sat at the desk in her bedroom and focused on her proposal. He was leaving. She was staying.
Even if that wasn’t the case, there was no way a Classics professor and an international movie star could ever make a real relationship work. He’d go back to his jet-setter Hollywood life, traveling the world making movies and going to award shows, and she’d lecture about the Furies and grade papers.
There was zero possible way two such opposite people and lives could ever mesh, so she might as well get that idea out of her head right now.
Straightening, she put her hands on the keyboard.Greek myths. Contemporary culture.
