Unfinished Ex (Calloway Brothers, #2)(8)

“That’s different.”

“How is it different?”

“I don’t know. Because they’re not your parents.”

She leans against the back of the couch. “How come we’ve never had dinner with your parents?”

I shrug, too much of a coward to speak the truth.

“I know them,” she says. “I see them around town, and we say hello. Same as with all the other people in Calloway Creek. But you’ve never taken me to their house. We’ve never had dinner together with them as a couple.” She pins me with her stare. “Are we a couple?”

I rake a hand through my hair. “I don’t know.”

“What am I to you, Jaxon? We’ve been dating for six months. We’ve slept together dozens of times. To me, that’s the definition of being in a relationship. Are we in a relationship?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Would you quit saying that? I get how you said it before you got the divorce papers, but it’s simple now. Do you want me or not?”

I do the worst thing possible in the history of arguments. I remain silent.

She turns and storms out the door.

“Calista,” I call after her. “I told you I’m drunk. This is no time for serious conversations. If you want me to go to dinner with your parents, I will.”

She stops on the porch, looking pleased. “You will?”

I nod. “Just don’t make me go to some pretentious place. Donovan’s okay?”

She smiles. “Donovan’s would be right up their alley.” She steps toward me and puts her arms around my neck. “Thank you.”

My inner dickhead is screaming at me to take it back. Dinner with her parents sends the wrong message. But I have strung her along. And it’s time for me to get over myself and move on with my life. Calista is kind and gorgeous and would be a fantastic wife and mother.

To someone.

But like the ‘good’ Calloway that I am, I pull her to me and kiss her just like everyone would expect me to.

As soon as she’s gone, I run to the bathroom and throw up five beers and who knows how many shots of whiskey. Then I walk to my bedroom, Heisman at my heels. I sit, take off my shoes and throw them across the room with a loud thump. I sink into the bed, looking at the side that I never sleep on.

Heisman jumps up, happy to fill the space, and stares at me.

“Stop judging me,” I say, then pass out.





Chapter Four



Nicky




Earlier today…



New York City grows bigger in the small window of the airplane. The tall buildings. The busy streets. The Hudson River. They are things I never thought I’d see anytime soon, let alone before the ink was even dry on my divorce papers.

I can’t believe I’m going to be this close to him. What was I thinking agreeing to stay with my parents? He’ll be a half mile away. Assuming he still lives in our house. Uh, his house. Victoria and my parents have abided by my wishes to never speak of him, but I still know things. Things like he’s dating Calista Hilson.

I have no right to be jealous. I gave up that right two years ago.

I close my eyes and lean back into the airplane seat. I should just stay in the city. It would make things easier. Except my bank account will take a hit. Two or three months in a hotel will drain my savings for sure. I know it’s XTN and all, and technically I could afford it, but I should save the money. Who knows what will happen after. Marty thinks he does, but I can’t take any chances. This could be my big break, or the nail in my coffin.

Plus, there’s the fact that Tori has been begging me to come back for a visit. But I can honestly say that before the XTN deal, I had no intention of setting foot back home. In Calloway Creek, I’m a pariah. I’m the girl who cheated on her high school sweetheart and practically left him at the altar.

Okay, so it was three years after the altar. It was a slow death. Our marriage was happy and safe at first, but when the newness wore off, it became dizzying and suffocating. I used to think we were perfect for each other. Soul mates even. Then we graduated and real life happened. Neither of us spoke of it, but we both felt the drift. The universe was pulling us in opposite directions despite our feelings for each other. And it seemed our marriage became somewhat of a ticking time bomb.

I hated confrontation. Still do. Which is why I took the coward’s way out. It’s so much harder to break it off with a nice guy. I knew I needed to do something drastic. Something that wouldn’t have him chasing after me. Something that would make him hate me instead of the career I was always coveting. Something that would force him to stay in the town he’s always loved.

A year into our marriage, I knew there was something wrong with me. Who wouldn’t be happy with the best guy in the world? Jaxon was nice. Stable. Compassionate. An amazing lover.

I stiffen thinking about him in bed with other women. In bed with Calista.

We were each other’s first.

I rub my pendant and wish away the thoughts.

I’ll stay with my parents, keep my head down, and go do the job I was hired to do.

The plane taxis to the gate, and by the time I get off, I’ve convinced myself everything will be okay.

I collect my two large bags from the luggage carousel, having left everything else in Oklahoma.