“He’s a man whore,” Eli says from across the room.
“Not helping,” I say mildly.
“No, he’s right,” Adam says with a chuckle. “You are. So am I, so I know it when I see it.”
“And you want to make sure that Callie isn’t just another notch in my bedpost,” I say, nodding.
“She’s better than that,” Adam says simply. “She’s better than any of us.”
“Damn,” Ben whispers. “I like him.”
“Honestly,” Eli says as he sets his cue down and walks toward us, “I’ve been wondering what’s going on there too.”
“I think we all have,” Rhys says. “I know I haven’t been in the picture for long, but even I know that you’re not a one-woman kind of guy, Dec.”
I frown, suddenly ashamed of myself for the first time in my life where women are concerned. In the past, I always made it clear that if I was with a woman, it wasn’t going to be long term. We had fun together, and went our separate ways, no harm, no foul.
But it never occurred to me that it could have caused hurt feelings, and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I glance around at the guys I respect most in the world, and then let out a gusty breath. “The truth?”
“No, lie to us, moron,” Beau says and rolls his eyes.
“I love her,” I say, enjoying the way the words roll off my tongue. “Adam’s right, she’s better than any of us. She’s probably too fucking good for me, but I’m so damn in love with her, I can’t breathe.”
“Well, that’s just the sweetest thing,” the bartender says, wiping a tear from her eye, eavesdropping unapologetically.
“Adorable,” Adam agrees, but he’s not smiling. “But that doesn’t really ease my mind.”
“What do you want from me?” I ask.
“I want to know where you plan to take this. Is she fun for now and when you decide you’re not in love with her anymore you move on to the next thing?”
“I should fucking deck you for that.”
“It’s a fair question,” Ben says quietly.
“Look, Callie and I have known each other for about four minutes. It’s early, way too early to put a ring on it. Especially for Callie. She doesn’t trust easily, and she definitely doesn’t make life-changing decisions in just a few months' time.”
“You’re evading,” Adam says. “And you forget that I know her. I agree, if you dropped to one knee and pulled out a rock, she’d run screaming into the night.”
I frown, hating that he’s right.
“But,” he continues, “that doesn’t mean that you haven’t already thought about what you want.”
“I want her. All of her.” I stand and pace to the pool table, then back to Adam. “I am in love with her. Not for a month, or until she irritates me. For good. I plan to make her mine, but damn it, it’s not as easy as just deciding it and expecting her to fall in line. She has a say.”
“You’re damn right she has a say,” Adam replies, smiling now. “And you’ve told me all I need to know.”
“You’re going to make a good dad someday,” Rhys says to Adam. “I hope you have a girl.”
“No kids for me, pal,” Adam replies, then shudders and takes a swig of my beer. “Unlike Declan, I’m a player for life.”
“That’s what I thought, man.” I clap him on the back and motion to the bartender, who’s smiling at me with bonafide heart eyes, for another beer.
“I think we’ve all thought that at some point,” Eli adds with a shrug. “And then you meet the person that turns your life upside down, and you can’t remember why you thought that way in the first place.”
My brother is one smart bastard.
“Not me, man,” Adam insists, less forcefully now. “I’m out of here. Y’all are too mushy for me.”
“We’re not mushy,” Ben says with a frown. “We’re respectful.”
“Hey, I respect women,” Adam says. “They’re the strongest creatures on this earth. I just don’t intend to have to choose among the three billion of them on Earth to be with forever. There are too many to enjoy.”
Adam waves and leaves, and the five of us grow quiet for a moment. “I like my choice,” Rhys says honestly. “And I have no problem choosing her every day, for the rest of my life.”
It’s the best choice there is, and Callie is my only choice.
***
I never nap. It’s not productive, and when I wake up, I’m grouchy as fuck and disoriented, but I fell asleep on the sofa in the music room the next day. My ringing phone wakes me, and I fumble it as I push myself into a sitting position.
“’Lo,” I say, not even checking the caller ID before answering.
“Holy shit, you’re actually answering,” the woman on the other end exclaims, making me wince.
Should have checked the fucking caller ID.
“Hi, Beth,” I mumble and rub my hand over my face. “What’s up?”
“Don’t try to pretend that you haven’t been dodging me for the past two months. I’ve sent texts almost every day, and I’ve called at least twice a week.”
I know, and it annoys the shit out of me.
“Well, you caught me now. I only have a minute,” I lie and settle in for the tongue lashing I’m sure to get.
“I guess you don’t have some woman sitting next to you right now,” Beth says, her voice dripping with censure. “If you did, you’d be ignoring me again.”
“Is there a point to this call?” I finally ask.
“I haven’t seen you in three months, Declan. That’s not okay. I know you’re busy with gigs, and probably with a whole harem of women, but a lot has happened. I have important news. You won’t like it, but you need to hear it from me. In person.”
I sigh and shake my head. Beth’s always been overly dramatic. “I honestly don’t have time to meet up with you, Beth. Can’t you just tell me over the phone?”
“I need one hour of your time, Declan Boudreaux, and I’m not hanging up until you agree to give it to me.”
She’s also like a pit bull when she sets her teeth in. Knowing this is a losing battle, and seeing that I really do have to meet up with Callie in less than an hour, I cave.
“Fine. I have Wednesday night off. I’ll meet you for drinks.”
“Dinner,” she insists. “Come on, you know you miss me.”
Right. Like I miss the flu.
I laugh in frustration, pacing the room now. “Fine. Dinner. But you only get one hour, Beth, and then I walk away.”
“Fine.” Her voice is smug and I can just picture the smile on her medically-enhanced lips. “I want to go somewhere good.”
“You’re pushing it. I’ll text you Wednesday to confirm.”
“You better, Declan. No more dodging me. You can put the flavor of the week on hold for one hour.”
“That’s enough, Beth.” My voice is cold and hard. “I said I’d meet you, and I will. If you keep insulting me, I’ll simply tell you to go to hell.”
“Right.” She laughs, setting my teeth on edge. “You’d never tell me to go to hell, Declan. You love to hate me too much.”
“The hate part is close enough. Goodbye, Beth.”
I want to punch a wall. Few things make me truly angry in this world, but Beth is right at the top of the list. Knowing I need a half hour in the gym, punching the fuck out of a bag to relieve some of this energy before I see Callie, I shoot her a text.
Hey babe, gonna be a little late.
A few moments later she replies.
No problem. See you soon.
Just seeing those five words from her helps to calm me. I grab my gym bag and lock up, then jog out to my car.
Some time with the punching bag is still in order. Better yet, maybe Eli will spar with me. Kicking someone’s ass always feels better than the punching bag.
Chapter Fifteen
~Callie~
I’m scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees, like a woman on the edge. Because I am a woman on the edge, and that just pisses me off. And what do I do when I’m pissed off?