Chapter 14

 

Callum stood there, staring at Georgie, with Macy in her arms, sobbing her little heart out. He wasn’t sure what had happened exactly, but he’d heard enough to know that Georgie was right to have told Camilla to get the hell out of the house.

“Hey, Mace,” he whispered softly, walking towards Georgie, holding out his arms to his daughter, trying desperately to ignore the fact his head felt like a grenade had gone off. “Everything is okay.”

Macy lifted her head, then reached out her arms to Callum. She quickly curled into his bare chest, as she cried once more, her little heartbreaking.

Walking to the sofa, Callum sat down, and Macy held tightly. He hated to hear her so upset. It broke his heart too.

As he sat there, he could feel Georgie watching him, as the memories of the night before played over and over in his head. Callum knew he needed to make this right; he just didn’t know how. He was beyond mortified, and completely ashamed of his behaviour.

He glanced up at Georgie, but the moment his eyes found hers, she turned looked away.

Damn! He thought to himself. I really have fucked things up.

When he woke up a short while earlier, his head hurt like a son of a bitch. He couldn’t even remember coming home, much less coming to bed. He reached up and scrubbed his face with his hand, but winced as soon as he did. He had no clue what had happened to his hand?

He tried to recall the night before, but all he remembered was bits and pieces.

When he had walked out of the apartment the night before, he was so angry, but he really didn’t know why. He just needed some time to think and a little bit of space.

He climbed into his Aston Martin and drove for what felt like forever. Finally, he found himself sitting on a bar stool, staring into a glass of liquid amber.

He hated that seeing Georgie with Liam had bothered him so much, but it had. Every time he touched her, every time she smiled at him, Callum got this knot in the pit of his stomach.

He was jealous. Pure and simple.

As they were driving home, he knew he was being ridiculous. He was angry with her, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. He was just about to talk to her, to try and clear the air when her phone rang. When she didn’t answer it, he was surprised.

“Don’t you want to get that?” He asked surprising himself as much as Georgie with his question.

“Not really,” she replied.

Maybe it’s Liam calling her? He thought miserably. He released a sigh but decided not to push it more. When the phone rang a second time, and once more she didn’t answer it, Callum felt angry.

He knew he was being unreasonable, but he also knew that he couldn’t help whatever it was he was feeling.

Reaching for the drink in front of him, he brought it to his mouth, lowering it back in just one gulp. He needed a distraction. He stood up from his stool, heading for the exit.

Climbing into his car, ignoring the fact he had been drinking. His mother crashed into his head, as a wave of guilt washed over him. He knew she detested drinking and driving.

Shaking his head, he started the engine, pushing his mother, Liam and even Georgie from his mind.

Ten minutes later, he was climbing from his car, then climbing the front steps to Camilla’s townhouse.

“Cal!” She exclaimed with surprise when she opened the door and found him standing there. “What are you doing here?”

Callum didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped forward, slamming his mouth against hers. Pushing her back into the house, he kicked the door closed behind him.

“I need you, now!” He growled against her mouth, moving until he had her pinned against the wall.

Camilla didn’t hesitate. Reaching up, she grabbed hold of his hair, pulling him close to her, kissing him passionately.

This is what I need, he told himself silently. I need to fuck that girl and this stupid, whatever it is, out of my head!

Camilla reached for his belt, making short work of it, before she reached into his pants, taking hold of his cock in her hand.

“Fuck me, Cal!” She moaned against his mouth, her hand working up and down his shaft, making his erection harder. “Right here, right now!”

Callum reached down, pulling up her dress. Then, reaching for her panties, he grabbed the delicate lace between his fingertips, pulling it hard, Callum could hear the lace rip, and he smiled against her mouth.

“FUCK ME, NOW!” Camilla screamed with excitement, biting down on his bottom lip.

Reaching between them, Callum pulled his arousal from his trousers knowing that this wasn’t going to last long.

He looked down into Camilla’s eyes, and for some reason, Georgie crashed into his mind.

It was at that exact moment he realised that he was falling for her; which he knew was stupid because he barely knew her. Still, he was falling for her hard.

He closed his eyes, trying desperately to push her from his thoughts, but she was all he could think about. Her perfect smile, her beautiful eyes, the smell of her perfume.

No matter how much he tried to push her from his mind, she was there.

He opened his eyes and looked down at Camilla once more. Callum knew there was no way he could ever have sex with her now.

“I can’t do this,” he whispered as he released her hands, stepping back. Reaching for his pants, he pushed his cock back inside, quickly fastening them up. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re sorry?” Camilla exclaimed, giving Callum a look of disbelief. “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

“This was a mistake,” Callum said as he turned towards the door. “I’m sorry.”

“You do not walk away from me, Callum,” she demanded as she followed him to the door, stepping in his way before he could get it open. “You finish what you fucking started.”

“It’s not happening, Camilla,” Callum said, giving her a look that told her he meant every word. “You and I are done.”

“We are done when I say we are done!” Camilla exclaimed.

“Get out of my way, Camilla,” Callum growled, reaching for the door. “I said, this is done.”

“Is this because of your fucking brat?” Camilla hissed, as Callum struggled to keep a lid on his temper. “You are throwing your life away for some kid you didn’t even know existed a month ago.”

“Her name is Macy,” Callum spat back, pinning Camilla with an angry glare. “And this has nothing to do with her. Don’t you ever talk about her like that again!”

“Oh my, God!” Camilla exclaimed with a laugh of disbelief. “It’s the girl. The little snowflake you have playing Mommy to that stupid kid of yours.”

“Just leave it, Camilla,” Callum said as he made to push past her once more.

“Oh, God, I’m right,” Camilla replied, looking completely stunned. “It is about her. You… you’re in love with her.”

“Stop talking nonsense,” Callum laughed, refusing to admit anything to Camilla. She was the last person that he would tell how he felt about Georgie too.

“OH WOW!” Camilla laughed, but her laughter was filled with spite. “She doesn’t know you love her. You’re afraid to tell her.”

“Yes, Camilla,” Callum laughed sarcastically, but inside he was freaked she had seen right through him. “I’m madly in love with a girl I don’t even know, because even a fucking stranger, is a better choice than you.”

Camilla drew back, then slapped Callum across the face.

“Get the fuck out!” She hissed, reaching for the door, pulling it open.

“My pleasure,” Callum growled, before storming out of the door, down to his car.

As he climbed in behind the wheel, he sat for a moment trying to calm his ragged breathing, but inside he fumed. He knew that Camilla was never going to let this go.

“FUCK!” Callum yelled as he punched his steering wheel. This was a fucking nightmare. He had feelings for a girl. The same girl that had somehow changed his daughter’s life, but he was fairly sure she liked his brother.

This is a fucking mess; he thought to himself, miserably. And now Camilla knows too. This can’t end well.

He started his engine, and fifteen minutes later he was back on a stool, in some bar he had never even heard of before, getting as drunk as he could, as quickly as he could.

Callum had no recollection of getting home, and looking at the bandage on his hand, he had no clue what had happened his hand. But suddenly Georgie crashed into his mind, and flashes of the night before came to him.

Then he remembered, he’d kissed her. She had fixed his hand, and then he kissed her. But she hadn’t kissed him back; she had pulled away. For some reason, he remembered her being scared. She had been scared of him.

“You fucking idiot!” He groaned as he rubbed his face again, and once more he winced with the pain in his hand.

He pushed up from his bed, unsure how he had ended up completely naked. He walked into his wardrobe, each step he took hurting his head more. He reached for a pair of tracksuit bottoms. He was going to go talk to Georgie and fix this before it was too late.

He was just pulling on the bottoms when the doorbell sounded. The sound was piercing, as his head felt like it was about to split in two. He crashed down onto the bed.

Why the fuck did I drink so much? He thought to himself as once more he pushed up from the bed.

Suddenly the door to his room burst open and in stormed a very angry Camilla.

“You piece of shit!” She hissed as she stood there looking at him, her eyes filled with rage.

“How the hell did you get in here?” Callum asked, pinning her with a stare, trying hard to focus on not throwing up. “How did you get past the front desk? I left instruction last week that you were not to be allowed come up here.”

“Like there is anything you can stop me from doing,” Camilla smirked as she stepped closer to Callum. “And if you think I am going to stand by, while some Irish Julie fucking Andrews steps into my place, you have another thing coming.”

“There is nothing going on between Georgie and me,” Callum replied, as his head ached as he had never imagined it could. He sat down on the bed, burying his head in his hands. “I just think you’re a crazy fucking bitch, and I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter.”

“And you think it’s that simple?” She asked with a laughed that cut right in to Callum's brain. “I am Camilla Elizabeth Gibson III; do you really think I’m going to let you humiliate me like this?”

“Right now, Camilla,” Callum said as getting up from the bed once more. “I don’t give a fuck what you think, now get the hell out.”

“This is not over, Callum,” Camilla hissed before she turned to the door. “This is not over by a long shot.”

She turned and hurried out of the room, leaving Callum standing there, wishing he could just wake up from this nightmare.

He made his way to the bathroom. He needed to pee before his bladder exploded.

A couple of minutes later, he stepped back out of the bathroom, instantly he heard Camilla voice, but then he heard Georgie’s, and he knew that this was nothing good. He hurried to the door, having no clue what he was walking into.

Now he was sitting there, holding his little girl, wishing to God he could take back the last twenty-four hours and do them over.

“I’ll go start breakfast,” Georgie said, turning to make her way to the kitchen.

“Georgie,” Callum said, stopping her. “Please. I know I messed up last night.”

“Please don’t say anything,” Georgie whispered as she turned back to Callum. When he saw the tears dancing in her eyes, he felt like the biggest asshole in the world. “Please. It’s grand, honestly.”

He stared at her for a moment, as his mind raced with everything he wanted to say, everything he felt inside. But then his eyes met hers, and he knew he couldn’t say what was in his heart. Clearly she didn’t feel the same, and for him to admit his feelings now, would make it impossible for her to stay.

“Okay,” he finally whispered as his heart broke a little.

She smiled at him, before she turned, heading into the kitchen.

Callum sat there for what felt like a lifetime, holding Macy in his arms. Finally, he looked down at her and realised she had actually cried herself to sleep.

Standing up slowly, Callum turned and lay Macy’s down on the sofa. Reaching out, he pulled the throw from the back of the sofa, carefully covering her up.

Callum turned, walking towards the stairs. He wanted to shower and get dressed while Macy was still asleep.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he stopped. He knew that despite what his head was telling him to do, his heart was telling him that he needed to try to talk to Georgie, He needed to make this better somehow.

Turning slowly, he walked back across the living room, to the kitchen. He hesitated before he continued on in through the doorway, stopping once he was just inside.

Georgie had her back to Callum, but she knew he was there. Her whole body had tensed the moment he walked into the room, and Callum knew she was afraid once more.

“Georgie,” Callum said nervously. He sounded almost as rough as he felt, but he needed to say what it was he wanted to say. “Please talk to me.”

She didn’t reply.

“We need to talk about what happened last night,” Callum continued. “I need to know that you don’t hate me for what I did. I…I made a mistake.”

Again she didn’t respond.

“I just need to know if you are going to leave,” Callum said, almost afraid of what her answer would be. “I need to know for Macy.”

“Do you want me to leave?” She asked, finally turning to face him.

“What? No!” Callum insisted taking a step closer to her. “Of course I don’t. I want you to stay; if not for me, I want you to stay for Macy.”

“Of course I want to stay for Macy,” Georgie replied as tears spilled down her face.

“I know that how I behaved last night,” Callum said, completely mortified as flashes of memories filled his head. “It was wrong, I scared you. I was drunk, and I was upset. That isn’t me, that isn’t who I am. To be honest, I only remember some…anyway, I give you my word, it will never happen again.”

She looked at him for a moment, but she didn’t reply.

“Please,” he said taking another step closer to her, but still not closing the distance. “Tell me that we can get past this. You have brought so much life and happiness to this house. If you leave, I don’t know if I will ever be able to make Macy happy again.”

“I promised you that I would never hurt Macy,” Georgie replied, brushing away the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “I meant it.”

“Thank you,” Callum said, as he stood there a few moments longer. He hated that he had upset her as he had. Now he needed to give her a little space. “I should go get dressed.”

With one more smile, he turned, heading for the door, but he stopped once again.

“I really am sorry,” He said without turning back to look at Georgie.

“I know you are,” she replied. Callum nodded his head, smiling to himself before he continued on out of the room, towards the stairs. He knew in his heart that it didn’t matter how he felt, from now on he had to act like a grown up.