“You were always the man I thought of as my father,” I tell him, emotion nearly choking me. He gives my back another slap.
“And you are my son,” he says, clearing his throat.
We go silent after that, working on the truck together. We’ve said enough. We might not be family by blood, but Earl Johnson has my back. I’ve always been able to count on him and he’s still here with me now—when I need him the most.
I hope he knows I would do the same for him.
Any damn time.
CHAPTER 30
Callie
Do you ever feel as if you’re walking around and everyone else knows something you don’t? That’s exactly how I’ve felt for two days. I get all these looks and there are people whispering, but no one tells me anything. It’s disconcerting. If I had the will to care, I would.
Right now, just getting out of bed and getting dressed in clean pajamas seems more than I can handle—at least most days. At least this morning, they seem to have stopped watching me so closely. Reed even went to the garage without Katie being here. Of course, she showed up an hour later. Still, an hour alone was kind of nice. I won’t lie.
“Are you hungry?” she asks.
It’s weird that I have to think about it, but I do. I’ve been so sore that eating hasn’t been a priority.
“Maybe just some toast?” I suggest.
“You’re just saying that because you’re afraid of my cooking, aren’t you?” she jokes.
I roll my eyes and give her the first genuine smile that I’ve felt in forever.
She notices.
“There’s my friend,” she says gently. “I’ve missed that smile.”
“There hasn’t been a lot to smile about,” I admit.
“We’ll get through this. More importantly, you’ll get through this.”
“That’s what Reed says. Katie, about Reed—”
“Callie, he loves you. Hell, he’s always loved you. If he’s driving you nuts, I say let him have that. Okay?”
“He’s not driving me nuts,” I confess, picking at an imaginary thread on my pants.
“Then, what’s the problem?” she asks, moving around the kitchen as she talks.
I should be up fixing my own toast. It’s not that I’m an invalid. Still, this is easier, and I don’t want to argue with them. It’s much better to go with the flow so that no one is upset. I’ve learned what happens when people are upset.
I definitely don’t want that.
“He’s been at the garage a lot. Is he working at Johnson’s again?” I ask her, turning to watch her face.
“I haven’t asked, but I assume so, Callie. Reed’s a great mechanic and he probably needs money. He’s spent quite a bit getting…settled,” she answers, stumbling over that last word as if not sure how to phrase it.
The problem is that her answer is exactly what I didn’t want to hear. Without warning, I burst into tears. Katie immediately comes running and that makes everything worse. She huddles on the couch with me and holds me gingerly, petting her hand through my hair.
“Shh…Callie, tell me what’s wrong?”
It takes me a minute, but I manage to slow my tears enough to talk.
“Reed paid rent on this place. He’s used his money for groceries and things.”
“Honey, you didn’t ask him to do that. He wanted to. If everything was reversed, wouldn’t you wish to be there for Reed? Wouldn’t you drop everything to try and help him?”
“Of course, I would. I love him, Katie.”
“And he loves you. I don’t see the problem here, Cal.”
“Reed’s life isn’t here. He was building a happy life in California—one where his dreams were starting to come true. He was on his way to being the next Jason Aldean. How can he trade all that in just to live here in Macon?”
“Gee, maybe he’s a real man, Callie. He’s the kind of man who puts people he cares about over dreams because people are more important.”
“Says the woman who wouldn’t tell Jake she was pregnant because she didn’t want him to feel trapped.”
Katie stares at me and lets me see the pain in her eyes. “The difference is, Jake didn’t even try to be here for me, Callie. Reed is choosing you. It’s not because he feels trapped or wants to do the right thing. It’s because he wants to be near you—to be with you.”
“But he doesn’t know me. Not really,” I respond. Katie doesn’t have the whole story. If she did, she would understand. Still, I can’t tell her the whole story. I selfishly don’t want her to think bad about me.
“I need you to do something for me, Callie,” she breathes out and I can tell she doesn’t like what I’ve been saying. That’s okay. I don’t like it either. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t need said, though.
“What?” I ask cautiously.
“Think long and hard before you push Reed away. You’ve done it since you’ve known him, and a man can only take so much. You push him away this time, honey and I don’t see you getting another chance. Reed is a good man, and he loves you with all of his heart. Don’t take that lightly,” she cautions.