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It makes me think of SJ, and I wonder what he’s been through, too. Maybe this cat was meant to find SJ, and they need each other.
Stepping back into the house, I’m surprised to find it’s even bigger than it looks from the outside. It has two bedrooms downstairs and two upstairs. The huge bathroom on the lower level has a deep oval bathtub that overlooks the mountains with a huge circle picture window. “Oh yes. This will be happening,” I murmur as I run my hand over the edge of the gorgeous bathtub. I mean, he wanted a house sitter, right? It’s only fair he lets me use his bathtub. He’s not here and won’t know. I grin.
Everything is tidy and has a place. Very military-like. This is not the high school SJ who always had a messy room full of smelly football gear and clothes piled up with motor oil and gasoline smells from the shop.
I look at my phone and wonder if I should text him. I find it odd he didn’t text me, but his buddy died, and I’m sure he has a lot going on. I’m glad he wanted me to help him. I wouldn’t say no. We have our history, but I’d do anything for him. Anything but give him my heart completely again, I reason.
I text him just to let him know I’m thinking of him.
I’m sorry to hear about your friend. I’m here if you need anything.
I don’t wait for a response, and I lock everything up and head back to town for the rescheduled dinner with my parents. I’m not looking forward to it, but I need to get it over with. My dad said he wanted to talk to me about something important tonight, and I’m curious about what he wants. I also need to let them know that Thad and I won’t be seeing each other again outside of the hospital. Since I dropped him off the other night and talked to him, I haven’t heard from him. Hopefully, he’s moved on. I park in front of the cottage, and Goldie waves to me from where she’s out watering her mums.
“Hey, Goldie.” I wave as I cross the driveway.
“How have you been, Callie?”
“Been good. I’ll be gone for a few days. I’m going to look after SJ’s cat while he’s gone.”
“Oh? Where’s he gone?”
“Out West. A friend of his passed away.”
“That’s sad. Glad you can help him out,” she says with a side-eye to me.
“Just helping out a friend, Goldie. Nothing more,” I insist.
“Sure,” she says, but her face says she doesn’t believe it for a second.
I shake my head and head in to pack a bag of scrubs and pj’s. I shower and prepare for my dinner, wearing a dress and heels. It does feel good to get dressed up for me and not be in scrubs for once. I get to the club and park and head in, wishing I’d grabbed a cardigan before I left on this chilly fall night. I think about how they always want to have dinner at their club and never a casual dinner at home. No, this is all for show. They want to show me off and parade me around to their friends.
A hand wraps around my arm and grips it too tight. I’m startled when I look over and see it’s Thad. “There you are. Late as usual, I see.” He smiles.
I cringe and snatch my arm back. “Ow, Thad.” I glare at him. “What are you doing here?” He didn’t listen to a word I said the other night. And now he thinks he can invade my personal space and put his hands on me? Absolutely not.
He ignores me and waves to my parents, plastering on another fake smile. “Your parents invited me.”
My parents wave enthusiastically from across the restaurant, and I head to their table with Thad on my heels. He pulls my chair out for me, and I slide in, ignoring him. I’m seething that he’s even here. I thought I was having dinner with just my parents. I truly believed I’d never have to be around this man again outside of our work environment. And now I’m here, trapped at this table with three vultures picking at me and negating my appearance.
Growing up and not being a priority to my parents made me who I am. Someone who unfortunately became a people pleaser and lets others choose and walk all over them. And I’m not doing that anymore. This stops now.
“Glad you both could make it, busy doctors and busy schedules,” my mom croons.
“How are things at the hospital?” my dad asks.
“It’s been—" I start to speak, and Thad interrupts me and begins to talk over me, giving me a dirty look as if I interrupted him and not the other way around. I stare at him in disbelief and then at my parents, who clearly saw what just happened and still lean in on every word Thad says as if he’s the most fascinating human on the planet.
“I’ve been so busy and exhausted. Your daughter has it easy down in the ER,” Thad says, landing another blow.
And the hits just keep on coming.
I side-eye him and mutter, “Really? The ER has been very busy. I’ve been busting my butt nonstop during my sixteen-hour shifts, including the one you were supposed to work that you dumped on me while you were busy golfing with my dad. Did I ever get a thank you? Nope.”
Ignoring what I just said, and looking like she’s disassociated and in another world, my mother says, “Callie, you look so tired, darling. Have you had a facial lately? And your hair? We need to get you into the salon as soon as possible.” She tsks as she looks at me from head to toe, inspecting me—and clearly not pleased with what she sees. I put effort in this time, and still, it’s not good enough.
Great, this dinner will be one of those. I reach for my wine and take a generous sip, bringing my lips together and trying to bite my tongue.
Thad reaches over and tries to cover my hand. I pull it away and glare at him. He reaches again and grips it hard, glaring back, like he’s trying to remind me that he thinks he’s in charge. Unbelievable. I yank it back and glare at him, and no one at the table says anything or seems to notice. “Stop it,” I hiss quietly.
