“Whoa, that’s heavy.”
“It’s true, though. I’d give up everything for her.”
“It must be nice to be loved like that. Callie’s a lucky woman.”
“Apparently not. She doesn’t want me. Hell, maybe she never did.”
“Then, you’re going to have to find a new woman, Reed.”
“Do you know you’re the only one left in my life that calls me by my real name? To everyone else, I’m just Ryker these days.”
“That’s their loss. So, we’re going to have to find you a woman.”
“No thanks. That is, unless you’re up for the job.”
“We can’t date, Reed.”
“Why not? You’re sexy as hell, Junie, and one hell of a woman. If anyone can make me forget Callie, it’d be you.”
“That’s just what every girl wants—a guy to date her because he wants to forget his ex.”
I keep my eyes closed as the memory fades away.
I made a mistake coming back here. I thought I was safe. Callie has been in my past for a while now. Yet, I’m already thinking about seeing her tomorrow. I’m remembering the pain from my past. If I’m honest, in the back of my mind, I’m already wondering how to make her finally let me in.
I’m so stupid. I’ve always been that way when it came to Callie Street. Despite all the changes in my life, it appears that still remains the same.
If I had a brain in my head, I’d find a reason to pull out of this wedding. I’d head back to Nashville and sell my house here. I’d do all of that right now and not even spend another night this close to Callie.
Instead, I pick up my phone and dial a number by memory.
“Reed?” she answers, her voice hoarse with sleep.
“Did I wake you up?” I ask, the thought not even occurring to me until this moment.
“Sweetheart, it is one in the morning.”
“Shit. I didn’t realize it was that late,” I sigh.
“Well, it’s probably not where you’re at. You’re back in Macon, right? So, it’s probably only midnight.”
“Shit, I’m sorry, Junie.”
“Don’t worry about it. What’s up? Are you okay?”
“Who is it, Junie?” I hear Ben asking in the background.
“It’s Reed. Go back to sleep.”
“You tell him your man knocked you up?”
“Ben!” she snaps, making me laugh.
“Tell Kingston to relax. Although if you wanted me, I wouldn’t let your ring or the baby stop me.”
“Don’t start trying to rile up my husband. We both know you don’t think of me that way,” she argues.
“He’s got eyes and a dick, Junie. He thinks of you that way.”
I laugh, shaking my head.
“Ben, just because you want me, it doesn’t mean all men do.”
“If they have eyes and a dick, they do. My woman is hot as hell.”
“Do you want me to let you go so you two can have this conversation without me?”
“Nah, he’s settled back down. He’ll be snoring in no time. Why don’t you stop stalling and tell me what’s going on?”
I let out a breath, wishing I knew what made me call Junie. Instinct? I’m not even sure. Seeing Callie again has messed me up.
“I saw Callie today,” I confess.
“Oh, shit,” she gulps.
“That about covers it.”
“You had to know it was going to happen when you agreed to go back to Macon, Reed. Heck, you’re in the same wedding.”
“Suddenly, I’m regretting calling you and using you as a sounding board,” I grouse. She laughs in response.
“He knew. He wanted to see her, Junebug.”
“Ben,” Junie hisses.
“Put the bastard on speakerphone,” I sulk, pushing my hair out of my face.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Do it. At least then I can lay down and not have to hang over your shoulder to hear what he’s saying,” Kingston grumbles. Junie’s husband Ben is a cocky bastard, and I live to annoy him—which is probably why I call him Kingston—but oddly enough, I like him. He’s got qualities that I wish I had. Hell, maybe if I did, I wouldn’t have lost Callie. He sure as hell refused to let Junie push him away.
“How did I get mixed up with the two stubbornest men ever put on the face of the planet?” Junie growls, clicking me over to speakerphone.
“You’re just lucky, baby. So, Reed, what’s got your balls all knotted up?”
“I still say Junie had a moment of insanity when she tied her ass to you, Kingston.”
I hear Junie laughing in the background. I smile. She’s so fucking happy these days which, believe it or not, makes me really happy. She deserves good in her life. She needed it and Kingston—despite being an asshole—is a good man.
“I can’t argue. I’m just damn glad she did. So, what’s up?”
“Nothing. My head is just fucked up.”
“You knew that was coming, too. You still told this other girl you’d come to her wedding, right?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“So, you’re there, you’ve seen Callie again, and now what? You want to be a pussy and run home with your tail tucked between your legs?”