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Chapter Twelve
Ellie
Anold,dustyChevysat in front of my trailer when Knox pulled up the drive. I sat up straighter in the passenger seat, staring at Callen leaning against the side of his car, arms folded across his chest. All the peace I’d found at the nature preserve that day evaporated.
Knox threw the truck into park and glared at Callen. “Need me to take care of this?”
I shook my head, though I considered it for half a second. “No, I’ll talk to him.”
Knox clenched his jaw. “Ellie,” he warned. “He doesn’t look happy.”
“He always looks like that.” I rolled my eyes. “Trust me, I can handle Callen.”
Knox scoffed. “So harmless he cuts the cables to your car battery?”
“Ty told you that?” He nodded and I scowled. “Well, Callen never fessed up to it.” I hadn’t exactly asked him about it either, but he hadn’t gone out of his way to take credit for it.
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Either way I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
I put a hand on his arm. “It’s okay. I’ve been alone with him before. I’m just going to tell him to leave. He won’t be here long.”
Knox didn’t look happy as he stared at me, but I met his glare right back, not backing down. Eventually, he sighed. “Fine. But I’m sitting at the end of the driveway until he’s gone. Call me if you need help.”
I stifled another eye roll, but nodded. “Sure.”
Callen didn’t approach me as I got out of the truck, which was good. Knox glowered in Callen’s general direction as he slowly turned around and started down the driveway at a snail’s pace. The drive was long and twisting and by the time he made it to the end, we wouldn’t be able to see him through the trees.
Callen’s gaze narrowed on me as I walked to him. “How many guys do you string along?” he spat, raising a brow.
God, he was a dick. I placed my hands on my hips. “Knox has been one of my best friends since grade school. You know that.”
He grunted, pushing off his car and straightening his spine. “Yeah, whatever. Doesn’t mean you don’t fuck him.”
My cheeks heated with both anger and embarrassment. “Shut up. I don’t sleep around.”
“Don’t I know it.”
“What the hell are you doing here, Callen?” I snapped. He needed to get out of here. I was tired of him and his bullshit. Yes, he might be the kind of guy I deserved…but I just promised Knox I’d try and be friends with Ty again. I doubted Ty would be happy if I was still seeing Callen. It was another hurdle I didn’t need.
Callen shrugged and took a step closer, his sudden proximity making the hairs on the back of my neck rise. He was a big guy, taller than Ty and mostly muscle with the exception of the small beer gut developing.
“I thought I’d drop in since you’ve been ignoring my texts.” His brow furrowed.
“That’s not unusual.” I wanted to take a step back but didn’t want to seem weak.
He shook his head. “Before Ranes showed back up, you used to text me back. You used to come out with me and need me to take you home. Now, you leave me high and dry after dancing with me like you did.” Something flashed in his eyes and it wasn’t anger. My stomach dropped as I recognized it: hurt.
“Oh, God.” I glanced up at the clear, blue sky, pressing a palm to my cheek. All this time, I knew he was interested in me, but it didn’t occur to me that Callen might actuallylikeme. As in, have real feelings for me. That look was more than jealousy. More than anger. I’d hurt him. “Callen,” I said, sucking in a breath and letting it out slowly. “I think we need to stop seeing each other. Whatever we’ve been doing here, I’m not interested in it going anywhere.”
He blinked at me. His body stiffened as that look returned. Damn it, I was a bitch.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
For once, it seemed as if Callen didn’t have any words. He spun on his heel and stomped to his car, almost pulling the door off its hinges before getting inside. He slammed it shut again with a snap that made me jump, and cranked the engine. I leapt out of the way as he gunned it, wheels spinning and sending gravel flying everywhere as he sped down the driveway and out of sight.
I stared after him, both thankful he left without a scene and also slightly nervous. He was pissed, and hurt. Which made it even worse than the night I’d slapped him across the face. At least that time he’d had a few beers in him. Nothing was stopping him from getting back at me.
I just hoped it wasn’t worse than what had happened to my car.
