Chapter 32

Callie

“Are you sure you’re okay, sweetheart?” my mom cried. With my parents being across the world, I didn’t think the news of Dallas and me would’ve traveled that far.

“Yes, I’m fine, Mom.” It was a lie, but I didn’t want to ruin her trip. The popcorn finished popping and I dumped it all in a huge bowl, adding extra cheese powder to it. Now that I was back home from Nags Head, I didn’t want to do anything but sit on the couch. 

“I hate that your father and I aren’t there. We’ll be in town in a few weeks and I’ll make it up to you.”

I shoved a handful of popcorn into my mouth. “No worries. I can’t wait to see you and Dad.” The front door opened and I heard Hannah as she talked to Corey.

“Same to you, honey. I love you. Tell your brothers I love them, too.”

“Will do.” I hung up and joined Corey and Hannah in the living room. She still had on her pink scrubs and I couldn’t help but feel terrible for taking an extra day off of work.

She must not have liked what she saw because her smile faded. “Geez, Callie, you look horrible.”

I stuffed another handful of popcorn into my mouth. My hair hadn’t been brushed so I had it in a messy ponytail, and my clothes were wrinkled. I’d spent the whole day wondering if Justin was in jail for assaulting Dallas. I hadn’t heard a word about how hockey practice went so there was no telling if they’d gotten into a fight or not. “Thanks,” I replied sarcastically. “I didn’t feel like doing anything today. How was work? I didn’t put you in a bind, did I?”

Shaking her head, she sat down on the couch beside Corey. “Nah, we were good. But Dr. Young did want me to ask if you wanted to work some extra hours tomorrow night.” She held up her hands. “It’s okay if you don’t. Everyone knows what you’re going through.” Corey put his arm around her and she snuggled into his side. My stomach clenched with jealousy. I was happy for them, but I missed having what they had.

Sighing, I sat down in the recliner beside them, resting the bowl of popcorn on my stomach. “I can do that. I need to make up time anyway.”

“It doesn’t look like the reporters are waiting at the end of the street anymore,” Corey added. “Earlier I went to the grocery store and they weren’t there.”

Hannah nodded. “They weren’t there a few minutes ago, either.”

I blew out a relieved breath. “Thank God. I dreaded them following me to work in the morning. It’s so embarrassing.” Grabbing the remote control off the side table, I turned on the TV and went straight to Netflix. I wasn’t about to watch regular cable TV. Every damn channel played the Rich and Single commercial.

“Have you talked to Justin?” Corey asked.

My stomach clenched. “Not yet. It’s getting late and he’s not home. I keep waiting for someone to call and say there’s been a huge fight.”

“Me, too,” he agreed.

The sound of the garage door opening vibrated through the room, my pulse spiking as each second I had to wait tested my patience. The kitchen door opened and I watched Justin walk in, his face and body intact. It didn’t look like he’d been in a brawl. Dallas was bigger and stronger than him. I was scared of what would happen to Justin if they did fight.

Justin walked into the room and tossed his bag onto the floor, huffing as he sat down on the other brown leather recliner. “Today was a fucking nightmare.”

I swallowed hard. “What happened?”

He ran his hands over his face, frustration evident in his tone. “I didn’t kick Dallas’s ass, if that’s what you’re asking. He wasn’t there.” His hands clenched into tight fists. “I wished he was, though.”

“Where was he?” I said. The words were out before I could take them back. As much as I didn’t want to care, I did.

Justin glanced over at me, his expression turning from tense to bleak. “He had to deal with shit for the show. His practice got moved to tonight.”

“And tomorrow it all begins,” I murmured quietly to myself. At least I had work to keep me occupied. The room grew silent and I knew they were all waiting for me to break down. While everyone slept last night, I retreated to the basement and pounded on the punching bag. It helped with the anger, but it did nothing to ease my heart.

The doorbell rang and my head jerked up. For a split second, I’d hoped it’d be Dallas, but Justin had just said his practice got moved to tonight. The only other scenario was the media, most likely a reporter looking for a story.

“I got this,” Justin hissed, storming to the door.

I held my breath, waiting to hear the person speak. It was a female, asking for me, but I couldn’t see who it was. When Justin stepped back and let her in, I froze. Dressed in a T-shirt and yoga pants with her hair pulled into a low ponytail, Madison Bennett walked in, her nervous gaze directed right at me.

Justin came up behind her and shrugged before taking a seat back in his chair. Madison smiled at everyone quickly and then her gaze settled back on me. “I know we haven’t officially met, but I’m Madison Bennett.”

“I know who you are,” I replied blandly.

She winced at my tone. “I was hoping we could talk. Please?”

I passed the bowl of popcorn to Hannah and nodded toward the back door. “We can go out back.” A part of me wanted to hate her, but she looked just as miserable as I did.

Madison followed me out and we sat down on the deck chairs. The sun was still partially out, casting an orange glow through the trees. It still smelled like fresh cut grass from when Corey cut it earlier.

“I can see you’re upset over everything that’s happened. Believe me, I’m in the same boat. You’re not the only one affected by this whole thing.”

“How’s that?” I asked.

With a heavy sigh, she leaned over, resting her elbows on her knees. “I have a life, too, Callie; a man I’m in love with who’s going to see the tabloids. He’s away on an FBI mission and I have no clue if he’s seen them or not.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “I never even thought of what it’d done to you.”

She shrugged. “I’m pretty sure Micah will know it’s bullshit, but it still hurts to be dragged into the middle of everything.”

“So basically you’re here to defend Dallas, right?”

“Yes and no,” she replied. “The picture they used of Dallas and me was taken a couple of years ago. I can tell because we’re standing by the car I was driving at that time. I can swear on everything I own that nothing is going on between us. He cares about you.”

By the look in her eyes, I could tell she was speaking the truth. “Even if I believe you, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s doing the TV show. How can he do it when he supposedly cares about me?”

“That’s where things get messy,” she explained. “Dallas didn’t say much about it when I talked to him, so I contacted a girl I know who works at the TV station. Apparently there’s a clause in his contract, stating that if he cancels the show within a certain time frame, they can go after him for legal damages.” Her eyes widened. “I’m talking massive fees here. It could bankrupt him.”

Hearing that just made everything worse. I couldn’t blame him for choosing to save himself instead of breaching the contract to stay with me. Our lives were completely different. I would’ve chosen him over the show, but I didn’t have the money and fame to lose like he did. I was just a nurse with a famous brother.

“What am I supposed to do?” I asked her. “I can’t sit around and watch him with other women until the show’s over.” I shook my head, tears rushing down my cheeks. “I just can’t.”

Reaching over, she squeezed my hands. “Now that is what I can’t help you with. I wish I knew what to tell you. All I know is that he’s worried about you and upset. Might want to talk to him and give him a chance to explain.”

“I’ll think about it.”

She let my hands go and stood. “I’m so sorry about everything, Callie.”

Nodding, I looked up at her. “Me, too.”

She turned and walked back inside and I closed my eyes, leaning my head back on the chair. I didn’t know what to do.