“Katie called. She’s a mess. I promised her some girl time.”
“Will you be back for dinner?” he asks, and I was planning on it, but now I’m thinking I’m the one that needs the space. I need to sort through my head.
“Probably not,” I answer. “She needs me.”
“Don’t forget I need you, too, Bluebird.”
He turns to get out some pans, and I help him so that we can have breakfast together. He has no idea that in my head I just keep wondering if he really does need me.
I’m terrified the answer is no.
CHAPTER 40
Reed
It’s funny how loud silence can be. It’s something I never really noticed before. Okay, that’s not exactly true. I noticed five years ago when I left Macon. I ached because the silence was so lonely. I couldn’t breathe at times from the need to turn around and run back home. I’m not talking Texas either. Home is Callie. She’s always been home. This house has become that since she’s been staying here.
And that’s why it’s feeling so fucking empty tonight.
I turn to the nightstand and frown. I know she and Katie needed girl time, but it’s one in the morning. I should have heard from her by now. Or should I? Shit, let’s face it, I’ve never been in a relationship outside of Callie. I’ve never really wanted one. Any girl I dated smothered me and wouldn’t let me breathe. For them it was more about who I was in the music industry and not me the person. Because I knew I didn’t have anything to give any of them, I was okay with that. Callie had it all. In one way or another, she’s always had everything I had to give. I proved to myself that I could go on without her, but the fucking truth of it all is I didn’t and still don’t want to. I’m not Jake. He left Katie and the life here and never looked back. I had to force myself to look forward. I may have left Macon, but my heart remained, and it always has.
Shit.
I have to know that Callie is okay. I’m going to go insane if I don’t. It’s too late to call Katie’s—but if Callie is there and the two of them are still talking, she’d be awake. I pick up my phone and dial Katie’s number. It rings three or four times. I’m about to hang up when I hear her pick up.
“Jeff? Honey, is that you?” Katie answers, and it’s clear that she’s been sleeping.
I wince, and hell, it’s not even happening to me, but I know without a doubt that when I speak, I’m going to deliver a kick to the gut that she doesn’t deserve.
I clear my throat, wishing I knew how to fix things for her, but I’m not sure there is a fix there. No matter what happens, someone is going to be hurt. Hell, maybe all three of them will be.
“Sorry, Katie. It’s me.”
“Reed? Do you know what time it is?” she asks, sounding worried.
I wince. “Yeah, I’m sorry, Katie. I was wondering if Callie was still there.”
“Callie?” Her voice sounds strange and instantly I’m on alert.
“Yeah, she said she was coming over there today,” I probe, not liking how this conversation sounds already.
“She was here…” Katie hedges.
“When did she leave?” I ask.
Shit. I knew it. I thought I protected her from enough of Trisha’s poison, but I should have known what would happen. She heard enough on the answering machine. I should have known Trisha’s words would have hit a bullseye when it came to Callie’s insecurities. I wish I’d done more than fired that viper. I guess it’s just a good thing she didn’t hear the scathing messages Trisha had left on my voicemail.
“Reed—”
“Just tell me, Katie.”
“She left here after dinner. It was like five. She said she was going to stay at her house tonight because she had some thinking to do.”
“You should have told me,” I grumble without thinking, pushing my hand in my hair, and ruffling it with my frustration.
“Yeah, I’m getting that a lot from people these days,” she snaps.
“Damn it, Katie, I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, I know. Callie asked me not to tell you.”
“Fuck…” I hiss.
“If it helps, she promised she wasn’t running away. She just had a lot she needed to work out in her head.”
“She’s not in my bed, so it doesn’t really help.”
“I know that feeling. Good luck, Reed.”
“You, too, pain in my ass.”
She gives a weak laugh. “See you later, Ryker.”
“Grrr…” I growl.
I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, “Goodnight, Reed. Love you. Mean it.”
I hang up and immediately dial Callie’s number. It goes to voicemail.
“Damn it, Bluebird. This is not how we’re playing it this time. You and I talk. We fight to make this work. We don’t run away. Call me.”