My heart started racing in my chest as I wiped her tears away. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”
“Mike, I love you, but I’m promised to Niall. And in some ways, I love him, too. I agreed to marry him. I’m a girl of my word and don’t break my promises.” She moved a step away from me.
I couldn’t comprehend what she was saying.
It wasn’t sinking in.
“Wait, what do you mean by that?” I took a step toward her.
Callie put her hand out onto my chest to stop me from getting any closer. “What I mean, Mike… is that my wedding day is in two weeks. I have to go through with it whether I like it or not. I vowed to marry Niall. He loves me unconditionally, and I… well, I love him. Unlike you, he has been there for me these last two years.”
Fuck. My heart broke into tiny little pieces and shattered at my feet.
“You
love him?” I whispered—they were only words I could focus on right then.
She nodded and let her hand fall from my chest to her side.
I took a step back and rubbed the back of my neck. “Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind and be with me?”
Callie simply shook her head and walked toward me. She leaned in, kissed my cheek, and then she walked past me and into the mansion, taking my heart with her.
I tried.
I tried, and I’d failed.
I’d lost my girl.
Forever.
What the fuck was I going to do now?
I drove back to the O’Connell mansion and pulled up in the driveway. Patty was getting in his car and stopped to look at me. I exhaled and walked over to him. “The prodigal son returns,” he said, putting his hand out for me to shake, which I did.
“Sorry I left without a word. I had some issues to deal with. I’ve concluded that maybe I just don’t belong here, sir. You and Mrs. O’Connell have been amazing, but I think it’s time to move on. There are too many negatives for me in Mornington Vale, so I see this as my only option. Sorry for leaving you in the lurch. I can work on until you find a replacement.”
He looked at me and frowned. “Well, while I appreciate your honesty, son, it may take a few weeks before I can find someone with the skills needed to replace you. So, if you don’t mind staying, then that’d be greatly appreciated. Off the record, I’m sorry you’re feeling down. I know this can’t be easy for you, especially with the wedding so soon.” I swallowed hard and nodded as he patted me on the back. “Good. Now be a good lad and get suited up, so we can get to work,” he said, pushing me toward the mansion.
I exhaled and went back to work. I was dreading that Patty was going to ask me to be the chauffeur for the wedding. I knew I would have had to stand my ground on that one. Luckily, he gave me the day off, and so while Callie and Niall were saying ‘I do,’ I went to visit my parents’ graves. It felt like a day of mourning, so I thought I may as well mourn everyone I’d lost all at the same time.
I spoke to my mother about Callie and how I messed up. I knew she’d be listening, and I wished so hard that I could hear her voice—I’d almost forgotten what she sounded like.
I spent the rest of that afternoon drowning my sorrows in a bottle of whiskey. I could only afford the cheap kind, but it was enough to slightly numb the pain.
The next day I awoke with the mother of all hangovers. Lucky for me, Niall and Callie were away on their honeymoon for the next few weeks, so I wouldn’t have them flaunting their new nuptials in my face. I was hopeful Patty would find a replacement for me during this time so I wouldn’t have to see them ever again.
I went on with work, and every day I asked Patty if he’d found someone, and every day he said he was still looking.
Just over six weeks later, Callie and Niall came home. World’s longest honeymoon, ever, and the thought of what they’d be doing on their honeymoon made me sick to my stomach.
I watched them pull up and get out of the car.
I saw Niall first, he looked beyond happy.
Why wouldn’t he be?
Callie got out next, and she was a little pale and didn’t look so good. That concerned me instantly.