Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(11)

“Mom and Dad let me drink all the time.”

I raise a brow. “All the time?”

“Okay, once in a while. And only since I turned eighteen. And only at home.”

I laugh. “You know they never let me drink until I was twenty-one.”

“I know. They remind me repeatedly how lucky I am.”

I point my finger at her chest, recalling what happened to Jaxon’s little sister when she was the same age as Tori. “Don’t ever let them regret it. Be responsible.”

“Jeez, Nic, what happened to my carefree sister?”

“She’s still in here somewhere. Maybe you can help me dust her off.”

Victoria peruses the wine rack and pulls out a bottle of merlot. My little sister sure has grown up over the past few years. A pang of guilt twists in my gut knowing I haven’t been here to see it.

We sit and drink, and yes, maybe I let her have a little more than a glass, because I sure do miss drinking with friends. I tell her all about Marty and finding out about XTN, throwing my life into two suitcases, and hopping on a plane without any real time to absorb what was happening.

The wine gets to her, and she falls asleep before ten o’clock. I’m too wound up to sleep, even though I have to be up in a little more than five hours. I take my suitcases to one of the guest rooms— the room I used to sleep in until Jaxon and I got married. Immediately, I notice a picture on the wall.

My wedding picture. They never took it down. I sit on the bed and stare at it. I can’t breathe. I feel like a vise is gripping my insides. I stride over, pull it off the wall, and stuff it into a drawer. Then I race downstairs and out the front door for a much-needed breath of fresh night air.

Looking left and right, my feet make a terrible decision—the worst one they could make—when they point me in the direction of my old house. Has he sold it? Is Calista living there with him, cooking in my kitchen, sleeping in my bed?

Not yours anymore.

My pace quickens as I turn the corner. I try to block out the memories of my youth, when I would sneak out of my house and run over to Jaxon’s neighborhood. It was a lot farther away than the house we bought when we got married, but it was always worth the walk. He’d sneak me into his bedroom, kick out his brother Tag, and we’d talk about anything and everything. The closer I get, the more I feel like that lovesick teenager.

I stop in my tracks when I see the house. It’s changed. It used to be brown. Now it’s blue. I can tell, even in the dark, because of the new landscape lighting. There’s a car in the driveway that I don’t recognize. Maybe he did sell the house. Maybe he couldn’t stand to be in the place we shared together after what I did to him.

The door opens, and a woman walks out. Or stomps out is more like it. Oh my god, it’s Calista.

I hide behind a tree, hoping no neighbors catch me spying.

Jaxon walks out after her. I lose all my breath. It’s the first time I’ve seen him since the day I walked out. His hair is longer. His chest is broader. They speak. Then she moves toward him, and he kisses her. And I watch. I watch because I know it’s punishment for everything I’ve done.

And no matter how much I know he deserves more than I could ever give him, no matter how much sense it makes for him to be with her over me, no matter how much the universe seems right with them being together, I still feel sick to my stomach watching the only man I’ve ever loved fall for someone else.

I turn, go back home, and cry myself to sleep.





Chapter Five



Jaxon




I walk into Donovan’s and spot Calista and her parents in a booth. I’ve met them before, a long time ago, but they moved away after she and her brother graduated. I never had much of an opportunity to get to know them, barring a few times I went to her house in high school.

Calista stands, walks over, and greets me, kissing me on the cheek. Then she takes my hand and pulls me to their table.

Now, some people would not find this odd. I’m not some people. For one, we’ve never held hands in public. Yes, we go on dates. Yes, she’s taken my hand under the table or in the movie theater.

This is different. It’s like she’s parading her boyfriend through the pub.

I’m getting some strange looks from patrons. I guess they aren’t used to seeing me on the arm of someone who isn’t my ex-wife.

“Dad, you remember Jaxon Calloway?” Calista asks.

He stands and shakes my hand. “Yes. Jaxon. I believe you and my daughter worked together on her campaign for student president her junior year.”

I examine my fingernails. “I still might find paint under here if I look hard enough.”

He laughs and pats me on the back. Oh, jeez.

“And what a senior year you had. The best quarterback this town has seen in decades. How many touchdowns that year?”

“Eighteen passing and twenty rushing, sir.”

“Call me Dan.”

Her mom reaches over him to shake my hand. “And I’m Tammy. Nice to see you again after all these years.”

We all sit, and Lissa comes over to take our drink order. She’s definitely not her usual perky self tonight. Probably because she thinks we’re here planning my next wedding. Truth be told, I might rather be taking Lissa on a date right now than be stuck here with Calista’s parents. I’m not sure why I give Lissa an apologetic smile. What do I have to apologize for?