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“Let him go!” Adora yelled. “I’m calling the police.”
“Go right ahead,” Callum said.
He turned to Raymond, who struggled to free himself of his hold. His attempts were useless. Callum leaned into him.
“I can see that my interactions with you will consist of me teaching lessons. The first time, you learned not to put your hands on people. This time, you learned not to be disrespectful. What’s it going to be next time? I’m always in the mood to bring you up to speed on shit that you should already know.”
He brought his face close to Raymond’s and forced him to look at me.
“When you see her, you don’t say anything. Don’t look in her direction. Don’t even breathe hard. If I catch wind that you have been out of pocket with her, things will get very ugly for you the next time I see you. Please don’t make me see to it that there is a next time.”
He yanked Raymond to his feet and shoved him away. Turning to Adora, he shook his head.
“You should be embarrassed and ashamed. Not only are you walking around proud to be pregnant by another woman’s husband, but he can’t even defend himself. Both of you are pathetic.”
Without another word, he grabbed my hand and pulled me away from them. We walked in silence until we were around the corner from where we started. Then Callum pulled me over to a bench and sat me down.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
I nodded. “Thank you for defending me.”
“I don’t play that name-calling or body-shaming.”
I shook my head. “He always went out of his way to make me feel bad about the weight I’ve gained. I carried and lost his child. I could never be that heartless toward someone I claimed to have loved. He always looked at me like he was just disgusted. It was like he took pride in making me hate myself.”
Callum grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “That’s on him. You are beautiful, Pasha. I have a feeling that deep down, the inside matches the outside. I can see the visible change in you. Four months ago, you had this look like you were broken. Like your mind and spirit were just done with life. I don’t see that in you anymore. Your walk is lighter. Your head isn’t down. There was joy and happiness in your eyes yesterday. You deserve that. If I have to put hands on that man every time I see him for him to know he doesn’t get to break you again, so be it.”
I looked at him curiously. He seemed to be a passionate man, a man who always did the right thing and looked out for the underdog. I just wasn’t sure why he was being so nice to me. He didn’t know me. I’d only been in his presence three times, and each time, he’d looked at me like he saw something I didn’t see in myself.
“What’s your deal with me?” I asked.
“My deal?”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“I’m a nice guy.”
“And you just want to be my friend?”
“I can offer you friendship until your friendship is what you no longer want.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”
“I’m on your time.”
“And if I said never speak to me again?”
He chuckled. “Well, that would hurt my feelings, but I’d respect it and leave you alone. I’m not here to take anything from you, Pasha.”
For some reason, I believed him when he said that. There was nothing for him to gain from lying to me. He didn’t seem to be playing with my emotions or cashing in on my vulnerability. There were some people you meet in life that simply had genuine spirits. Callum seemed to be pure, not without flaw, but a man of pure intentions.
I nodded slowly. “I believe you,” I said softly. I nervously rubbed my hands together. “I think I’ve had enough for today. I want to go home now.”
“Can I give you a ride or call one of mine to take you?”
Options? He’s thoughtful.
“I’m okay with you taking me.”
