“Well, that’s a load of shit,” he says and kisses my forehead. “Because I love you.”
“I love you too,” I whisper. God, it feels good to hear someone say it. “I feel so ashamed.”
“For loving me? No need, I’m lovable too.”
“No,” I say, smiling despite myself. “Because of Declan.”
“Stop it right now, Callie.” He takes my chin in his hand and tilts my head back so he can see my face. “Stop beating yourself up. Calm down and go back to sleep for a few hours.”
“Will you stay?” I ask, holding onto him like he’s a lifeline.
“Always, you know that.”
We both sigh as we cling to each other, and I feel him fall asleep, his chest moving rhythmically with each breath, and that makes my eyes heavy, and I follow him into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter Sixteen
~Callie~
I haven’t seen him at all since he walked me to my car Monday night. He’s called twice, and texted a couple of times, but that’s it.
He’s backing away, and I feel so powerless because there’s nothing I can do to stop it. He feels the way he feels, and that’s that. We have a standing dinner date on Wednesdays, so I’m looking forward to seeing him and really talking. It’s always been so easy to talk to him, this shouldn’t be any different. Is it going to suck? Yes. But damn it, this sucks too, and I’d rather have some answers.
I’m at the bar before noon to go over the books and to take a look at the space next door that just went up for sale. I’ve done well enough in the past three months that I am seriously considering an expansion. I’d like to add a dance floor and maybe even a full kitchen for a menu.
It’ll be expensive, and would require quite a renovation, which excites me. Adam arrives around one to look at the other space with me. I don’t say much to the realtor as we look, but I can picture it all perfectly in my mind.
It’s going to be badass.
When we say goodbye to the realtor and return to the bar, I turn and give Adam a wide smile. “I loved it.”
“It’s going to be a ton of work,” he says, returning my grin. “And I agree, it would be awesome. Can we afford it?”
“Here’s the thing.” We sit at one of the tables. “I don’t think I can afford it alone. I can probably get a loan, using the bar as collateral, but I’d rather not have to do that.”
“Callie, I have plenty of money,” Adam says. “I’m happy to loan it to you.”
“I don’t want a loan, Adam, I want a partner.”
He sits back and narrows his eyes. “A partner.”
“Absolutely. You’re just as invested in this place as I am. Probably more, actually.” I lick my lips and tuck my hair behind my ear. “I can’t run this place without you, and we already bounce ideas off of each other like partners. Let’s just make it official. I told you from the beginning, my dad should have left it to you.”
“Are you sure this is what you want? Absolutely positive?”
“I’m sure.” I nod and smile at my friend. “So, are you in?”
“I’m in.” We shake hands and then laugh, excited all over again. “Call the realtor chick and tell her she has a sale.”
I make the call, and she assures me that she’ll get the paperwork started right away. Just as I hang up with her, a text comes in from Declan.
I won’t be able to make it to dinner tonight. I’ll see you later.
And just like that, my bubble is burst. I sigh in disappointment, but before I can think on it too hard, my phone rings with a number from Denver.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Cal,” Keith says, making me raise a brow. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Okay,” I reply, not sure what else to say. “What’s up?”
“Well, I’d like to see you,” he says, and I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it.
“Wait, you called Callie Mills. You know that, right?”
“You’re exactly who I meant to call, Callie,” he says, a smile in his voice. “I know it’s been a few months.”
“It’s been eight months,” I reply. “And I don’t have time for this.”
“I’ll come to you,” he says. “I know you’re busy with the business. I don’t expect you to clear your schedule for a trip.”
“How kind of you,” I reply and roll my eyes. “But the answer is still no, Keith.”
“Callie—”
But before he can say anything else, I hang up.
“He has nerve,” I say as I join Adam behind the bar. “I don’t care enough about Keith to give him even five minutes of my time.”
“Good girl,” Adam says with a smile. “Where are you and Declan going for dinner tonight?”
“We aren’t.” I sigh. “He just cancelled.”
He cocks a brow. “How do you feel about that?”
“You know, I’m just getting impatient. I wish he’d just talk to me so I can tell him to get a grip and if he can’t handle me, he doesn’t deserve me.”
“I like it when you’re badass,” Adam says with a grin. “It’s hot.”
“Damn right it is,” I reply and wink, just as Kate O’Shaughnessy walks through the door. “Hi, Kate.”
“Hi! I know the signs says you’re not open yet, but the door was open.”
“No worries. What’s up?”
“Well, Eli’s out of town tonight for business, and we live just a few blocks over. I was thinking I could take you out for dinner tonight? We haven’t had a chance to really talk.”
“Actually, dinner just opened up for me tonight,” I reply with a nod. “I’d like that.”
“Great, I’ll come get you at about six. I have to get back to the office. Have a great day!”
She rushes out and I turn back to Adam. “Maybe out of all of this, I’ll have made some of those girl friends you’ve been wishing for,” I say to him.
“As long as some of them are hot and single, I’m good with that.”
“God, you’re disgusting.”
***
“So,” Kate says with a smile after the cute waiter at Café Amelie takes our drink orders and walks away. “What are your intentions with Declan?”
I choke on the water I just sipped, and when I can finally breathe again, I laugh. “Just gonna get right to it, are you?”
“Why not?” Kate says with a nod. “I like you, and Declan is one of my very best friends, so I want to know the scoop.”
“Well.” I sit back and look at Kate and decide what do I have to lose? Maybe she’ll have some new insight. “Things were going great. Declan is attentive, encouraging, sexy, fun… all the things I could ask for in someone.”
“He is all of those things,” Kate agrees. “But?”
“But.” I take a deep breath. “A few nights ago, we were making love, and I blurted out that I love him. He didn’t say it back. Since then, he’s been blowing me off. He’s distant and distracted, and I’m honestly just embarrassed. I think I screwed up.”
“You didn’t screw up by loving him,” Kate says, then smiles at the waiter as he sets our drinks down. “Thanks, Joe. We’re talking for now, but will you put in an order of the Brussels sprouts for us?”
“You got it.”
“He’s hot. You know him?” I ask, watching the hot Joe walk away.
“Just from here,” Kate says with a laugh. “Anyway, loving someone isn’t the wrong thing, Callie.”
“Maybe he wasn’t ready to hear it,” I reply. “I’m confused. He’s always been so tender and affectionate. Loving.” I shake my head and shrug. “I mean, I did say it in the moment, and I was half asleep too, but the more I think about it, the less I regret it. It’s how I feel, Kate.”
“Then it’s definitely not a bad thing that you said it,” she says emphatically and sips her lemon drop.
“Except, since then, he’s barely spoken to me. He walked me to my car Monday night, like always, but he didn’t even touch me. I usually go home with him, but he made sure tsay goodnight and he’d talk to me later.”
“Weird,” Kate says, frowning.
“Very weird. I think I freaked him out.”
“I don’t know.” Kate twirls her cocktail glass, still frowning in thought. “Declan is a sensitive guy. It’s not like him to avoid someone. If anything, he’s too insightful. Even if he didn’t feel the same way, it’s not like him to ignore it.”