Mistakes I've Made (Broken Love Duet 1)

“I want a relationship with you,” he says and eek! I really don’t need to hear this right now.

“Get that look off your face. I know you love my brother. For the first time in my life, Callie, you make me want to be a better person.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, confused.

“It means, I want your happiness over mine. I know Reed will make you happy. So, you should tell him how you feel.”

“But he’s in—”

“He’s been in love with you for months. Trust me on this. If you want Reed, all you have to do is tell him.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive,” he says, and I feel my heart beating harder in my chest.

Hope begins to blossom inside of me. For Mitch to tell me that Reed loves me and encourage me, then he must truly believe it. I immediately begin looking around the room, making Mitch laugh.

“Darlin’, he’s not here. I heard Chasity tell Reed she was bored. He suggested they go to where the after-prom party is already starting.”

“Oh. Well, I’ll talk to him Monday,” I mumble, but Mitch shakes his head.

“C’mon, Chicken Little. I’ll take you over there. I’ll even distract Chasity so you can talk to Reed alone.”

“You’re sure?” I question, both grateful and hoping he changes his mind about helping me. I’m scared. Heck, I’m really scared to level with Reed, but I may never get another chance.

“It will be a hardship to let Chasity use my body, but for you, I can deal.”

“That’s the only way to distract her?” I laugh.

“With Chasity, that’s usually the answer,” he responds with a wink, making me shake my head.

Mitch takes my hand and leads me off the dance floor. We weave through the other students. Before I know it, we’re outside. I take a deep breath, breathing in the outside air. I’m trying to get my heart to stop beating so wildly and return to normal.

“It’s going to be okay, Callie. I’m right here with you,” Mitch says.

He gives my hand a squeeze. I moisten my lips and offer a hesitant smile.

17 Reed

“You’re awful quiet tonight, Reed,” Chas says as we make it to my truck.

“Sorry,” I mumble. “I guess I’m not much company. I’ll get you home,” I mutter, just wanting to get her there and let this night be over.

I don’t know how I ended up here. It’s not what I wanted at all. Chas has always been decent to me, but she’s not what I want—at all. Callie’s everything I’ve ever wanted and never knew existed until I saw her. Being around her is easy and peaceful. Chas is her complete opposite. She’s got bright blonde hair, compared to Callie’s dark. Her eyes are green but hold none of the life that Callie’s hold. When I look into them, all I feel is this mild feeling of unease. Her body is slender and athletic, while Callie is curvy, womanly, and so fucking perfect.

Just thinking about the differences makes me more depressed.

“It’s such a nice night, Reed. Sit down on the tailgate with me and let’s talk. It’s not like either of us have much to go home to,” she says, and I guess she’s not wrong about that. We move to sit on the tailgate, and I guess it’s weird, but it sort of feels like I’m cheating on Callie like this. That’s absurd, because obviously Callie and I have never been more than friends—and now we’re not even that. Mitch and I had a knockdown, drag-out fight after I found out he was taking her to the prom. I ended up with a black eye and some sore ribs. My brother faired pretty much the same, minus the black eye—which for some reason pissed me the hell off.

“You really are hung up on that chick, aren’t you?” Chas asks, and I frown at her.

“Don’t know what you mean,” I lie.

“Oh, come on. The entire school is talking about how you and Callie are fighting. I’d have to be stupid not to see how you feel about her. I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“Because if I hadn’t broken up with Mitch, he probably would have left her alone.”

“Eh, he’s not Callie’s type. It’s just one date,” I mutter.

“Not really,” she says, rooting around in the back of truck behind some milk crates I keep in there. They’re full of stuff like booster cables, a small air pump that runs off the cigarette lighter, that green gunk you put in a flat tire—essential shit really if you’re driving a truck put together on a shoestring budget.

“Huh?” I ask, wanting to know what she meant by that. Not really? What in the hell does that mean? Callie hasn’t gone out but once with Mitch—tonight. Honestly, I didn’t even seen them together when I was in there. “And what are you looking for?” I don’t keep the annoyance out of my voice. I don’t think I could if I tried.