CHAPTER TWO
Surrounded by the scent of laundry detergent, Calliope Bell leaned against the washing machine as she read the comments from Traci Allen’s Instagram page.
You rat bastard. There is no excuse. You hear me? None. I don’t care if you miss the Pope’s wedding, you don’t abandon your girlfriend when she needs you. Fin Bowie, you suck!
Oh, my God, you left your girlfriend alone in a hospital in a foreign country??? How heartless can you be? You are the worst boyfriend, Fin Bowie!
He totally is. Fin Bowie’s seriously the worst boyfriend ever. I can’t even.
Ha! Fin Bowie = world’s worst boyfriend!
#worldsworstboyfriend
What had Fin done?
A bark of laughter jerked her attention out the mudroom window to the rehearsal dinner going on in her parent’s backyard. The lowering sun glanced off silver bolo ties, gold bangles, and belt buckles. She should be out there with her brother and his bride, but these comments… so many women advancing on Fin with pitchforks in their hands.
As much as she wanted to revel in his just-rewards, she knew how horrifying this kind of attention would be to him. He wanted to be a known as a champion like his older brothers—not some social media celebrity.
Well, he’d brought it on himself. Since breaking up with her six years ago, he’d gone off the rails. At first, seeing him party with so many women had gutted her. Scooped out her heart and rendered her a puddle of goo. So, she’d blocked him. It had been the only way to get on with her life.
On some level she understood. Until the breakup, he’d only ever been with her. Of course he’d go hog-wild with other women. He was a passionate, wild man.
Only this time he’d messed with the wrong woman.
Her thumb flicked the bottom of the screen, unleashing a whole new wave of comments.
Who leaves their girlfriend alone in a foreign country? Kick that dog to the curb, Traci. Sending you healing vibes. #worldsworstboyfriend
Something about this whole thing was off, though. As far as she could tell, Traci Allen, the famous snowboarder, had posted a screenshot of a text Fin had sent her. Callie scrolled back up to read it again.
Thanks for a great time. :) Gotta jet. Talk soon.
But Traci hadn’t explained it. She’d just left an ambiguous comment.
When you’re in the hospital and Fin Bowie sends this.
Traci’s whole life was documented on her Instagram page, so if she and Fin had been romantically involved, wouldn’t there be pictures of him? Callie couldn’t see a single one. And Traci had only mentioned his name once, when she’d talked about going on one of his backcountry trips.
So how had that one post turned Fin into the World’s Worst Boyfriend?
Callie reread the initial responses. In the beginning, her fans had asked questions. When Traci hadn’t responded, they’d begun to speculate. And those assumptions had turned into a story: Fin had dumped his girlfriend to catch a flight back to the States so he could go to his friend’s wedding. Within a matter of hours, he’d begun trending.
And the hashtag was everywhere.
“Oh.” Her mom tossed an armful of damp kitchen towels into the washing machine. “What’re you doing in here?” She looked at the phone in Callie’s hands. Hope enlivened her tired features. “The fellowship?”
A hot flush of shame had Callie pressing the phone to her stomach. Between finals and graduation she hadn’t been in touch with her family, so they didn’t know her plans. “No, the interview isn’t until August twenty-fifth.”
“Oh.” Her mom’s expression turned curious. “So, is it about a job?”
“No.” Because why else would she be holed up in the laundry room at her brother’s rehearsal dinner when she was only in town for three days? “Actually, I’ve decided to just work part-time at the diner and the bar. Julian’s parents invited me to hang out with them this summer so they can introduce me to the movers and shakers of the Manhattan art world. It would take me a decade to make the kind of connections they have.”
“Makes sense.” Pushing her long, gray-streaked hair off her face, her mom nodded to the phone. “So what’s got you so enthralled that you’d leave your handsome boyfriend alone with a bunch of strangers?”
The arrow hit right in the center of her conscience. Reflexively, she glanced out the window, searching for him. “Is he okay?” They’d only been dating six months, so she hadn’t brought him home yet. Julian didn’t know a single person in Calamity.
“Oh, come on. He’s Prince Charming. Nothing but gracious and kind.”
She wanted to be proud of her well-mannered boyfriend, but there was something slightly off in her mom’s tone.
Her mom made a gimme motion with her fingers, and Callie turned the phone around.
One glance, and her mom got it. “Ah. How many comments are we up to now?”
Callie couldn’t have been more grateful for a mom who never judged her. “Ten thousand.”
Her mom’s eyes widened. “Wow.” She rested her hip against the dryer and folded her arms across her stomach. “I don’t know. I’m having a hard time believing Fin could abandon his girlfriend in a foreign hospital.”
Callie gaped at her mother. “Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, stop it. It’s not the same thing. He’s not seventeen anymore, and you weren’t hospitalized.”
“Mom, he bailed on me three hours before we were supposed to leave for the airport.” To be with his brother. Just like he’d abandoned Traci for Ryder’s wedding. Fin and her brother might not be related by blood, but the bond went as deep.
Amazing how six years later the crap she’d buried could rise like steam and give her hot flashes. I thought I was done with this.
Her mom adjusted the fabric belt of her peach-colored dress. “Does it make you feel better knowing it wasn’t you? It’s just who he is?”
“No.” Nothing would ever make her feel better about how Fin had ended their relationship. The shock of it still moved inside her body, a live thing trapped and scrabbling against the walls. “Because you’re right. Something’s not right about it. Other than posting the screen shot, Traci’s been off social media. Her fans are making assumptions.”
“Then why are you so interested in reading the comments?”
“Because it’s happening to Fin. That’s pretty crazy, right? That my ex has turned into a meme?”
“Well, he’s a Bowie. They’re celebrities.”
“Yeah, in the world of extreme sports.” While trophies and awards motivated—validated—his brothers, Fin was a true artist. He trained and hit the slopes to push himself, his body, and to find the limit of his capabilities. Being known as a scoundrel would strike at the very core of his identity. “He doesn’t want this kind of attention.”
Her mom’s gaze flicked outside, clearly anxious to get back out there. “Oh, I don’t know. A man with his own website can’t be too worried about attention.”
Fin probably only ran it to prove to his brothers he wasn’t just playing around out there. That he was as serious an athlete as they were.
Like she knew anything about him anymore. She hadn’t talked to him in six years.
But she’d have to talk to him today, wouldn’t she? The minute she left this room, he’d come for her like a heat-seeking missile. Her skin crackled with anxiety.
“Come on, let’s go.” Her mom started for the door but hesitated when Callie didn’t follow.
“I’ll be right behind you. I just…” You what? She wasn’t ready. “I need to take a quick look at my emails.”
Her mom watched her for a moment before letting out a harsh breath. “He’s the best man, Callie. You’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this.”
“I’m not…” She didn’t want her mom to see her as the drama queen teenager she’d once been. “Look, I haven’t seen him in a long time. It’s just…it’s going to be uncomfortable.”
“Isn’t that why you brought your boyfriend with you?”
Normally, she loved that her mom pulled no punches. Tonight, though, a little pretending wouldn’t hurt. “God, Mom.” She stuttered out a bitter laugh. “I wanted you guys to meet him.” But her bluster collapsed under her mom’s unrelenting stare. “I mean, obviously, on some level…” Oh, just say it. “Yes, okay? That’s one of the reasons I brought him.”
“So there you go. Find your shield and stand behind him.”
Oh, ouch. All at once she could see her mom’s attitude was anything but casual. “Why are you angry at me? So I need a few minutes to myself. It’s not easy for me to be around him.”
“Yes, Callie, I get that. We all get that. But it’s been six years. And if you’d just talk to him, you wouldn’t have to keep avoiding him.” Her mom blew out a frustrated breath. “Don’t you want to move on?”
The words stung. Move on? She’d done exactly that. With her undergrad and graduate degrees from NYU, she’d made her dream of living in New York City a reality. A few years from now, she’d—hopefully—become a museum curator.
She wanted to say, Look at me. There was none of the old Callie left. How could her mom not see that? “Are you kidding me? I have completely moved on. I’m a few months away from working at the MoCA. I have the best boyfriend in the world.” Who couldn’t be more different from Fin. “He and his parents have been wonderful to me. I love my life.” And, frankly, it hurt that her mom couldn’t see it.
“Yes, you’ve done a bang-up job of reinventing yourself. Congratulations. But I don’t know how you think you can start a new relationship when you haven’t closed out of the last one. You’ve got the degrees and clothes and bank account of an adult, so now act like one. Go out there and talk to Fin. Face the terrible decisions you both made so you can move on.”
Frustration and anger got her blood pumping. “I’m not an adult because I won’t talk to my ex-boyfriend? There’s nothing to talk about. He made his decision, and I made mine not to put up with his crap anymore.” It wasn’t like her mom could relate. She’d married her high school sweetheart. “Mom, he’s never going to change. This meme proves that. He’s always going to put his brothers before anyone else.” Before me. “Moving on means accepting Fin for who he is and not trying to change him. That’s closure.”
“Then why are you hiding in the laundry room at your brother’s rehearsal dinner?”
“Ellen?” The caterer leaned in. “We’re about to pass out the champagne. You want to give the heads-up to anyone giving toasts?”
“Sure.” Her mom nodded warmly, and then turned back to Callie. “Put your phone away and be here for your brother, okay?”
Callie ran her fingers over the heavy, jeweled bracelet Julian had given her for graduation. “Of course.” Heart pounding, she followed her mom out the back door. As she crossed the scarred wooden deck, she dropped her phone into her clutch, accepting that her mom was right.
Callie had lost touch with her brother; she barely even knew his bride. She wanted to get to know her four-year-old nephew and spend time with her parents without the constant worry that Fin might show up. It was time to put the past to rest and just…be home.
Stepping off the deck, she thought of Julian’s mother, the way she so fluidly and elegantly worked a room. Yes. Be Mrs. Reyes. She’d simply act like she was at an art gallery opening, and Fin was just someone in the room.
Well, someone she’d had sex with. A lot. In pretty raunchy ways. Oh, Lord.
Stop it.
Think about the meme. Because if Fin had bailed on Traci like that, then he hadn’t changed. And that emboldened her. Because it meant he could never hurt her again. She’d never give him the chance.
When she stepped onto the grass, she put her weight on her toes to keep her sharp heels from sinking into the dirt. She scanned the yard. The moment her gaze landed on Julian, the pressure on her chest lifted.
Urbane, polished, and charming, her boyfriend stood out among the other guests in their Western-wear and more casual attire. In his custom-made Brioni suit and crisp, white dress shirt, his hair slicked back off his handsome face, Julian looked like a model for a watch ad.
Callie made a bee-line for him. Weaving through round tables covered in white linens, she noticed the pink and lavender flower centerpieces with flickering candles were the only nod to décor. But with the Grand Tetons as a backdrop, what else did they need? The striking sight never grew old, especially now when twilight cast purple and peach shadows over the starkly rugged peaks.
With a smile in place, she glided past familiar faces. A jolt of anxiety zinged through her when she saw a wall of muscle blocking her boyfriend. Two of Fin’s brothers reached for champagne flutes on a wicker tray. Crap. The heel of her five-inch stiletto sank into the grass, breaking her stride. A cold sting of embarrassment shot through her, but she quickly corrected. Perspiration sprang out on her forehead. She stopped herself from patting it away so she didn’t mess up her foundation.
Fortunately, they’d moved on by the time she’d gotten there, revealing Julian’s companion.
Megan. Of course she’d known her friend would be at the wedding; she just would’ve preferred if their first reunion in years didn’t take place in front of her boyfriend. No one understood her better, though, so she had to hope her friend got why she’d fallen out of touch. “Megan. It’s so good to see you.”
But when she leaned in for a hug, her friend’s arms remained at her sides. “Hey.” She didn’t even smile.
Heat raced up Callie’s neck, enflaming her cheeks. Trying to cover for her embarrassment, she placed a hand on Julian’s biceps and channeled his mother. “I see you’ve met Megan.”
“Yes, I have.” Julian gave a gracious nod to her old friend. “We’ve been chatting about her yoga studio.”
“Well, it was nice to meet you.” But Megan’s flat tone said otherwise, and she turned to go.
Underneath the shock of her friend’s blatant rejection ran the horrifying awareness that Callie had earned it.
How in the world had she assumed Megan would understand what she’d gone through when Callie had never told her? “Megan, I—”
Her friend stopped and turned to her with a challenging expression.
Did she really want to have this conversation in front of Julian? Later tonight, she’d pull her aside and they could talk. But for now…For now, Callie needed to keep it together. “It’s great to see you. So you teach yoga? Where?”
When Megan didn’t immediately respond, Julian said, “Here. In Calamity.”
“That’s great.” But she couldn’t hide her surprise. Megan had always wanted to be in theatre.
“I keep trying to get Calliope to use my yogi, but she refuses,” Julian said.
Having grown up with obscene wealth, Julian had no understanding of her financial situation. Not only couldn’t Callie afford yoga classes, but she wasn’t about to sponge off her boyfriend. Crashing at his place is bad enough.
“Calliope?” Megan seemed surprised to hear Julian use her full name. No one did that.
“Yes.” Julian beamed a proud smile and wrapped an arm around her, tucking her in against him. His expensive cologne overwhelmed the scents of sage and mountain air. “Calliope and I met in the graduate program at NYU.” He gave her an adoring smile. “I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.”
Gratitude flooded her. She loved his unwavering devotion. But she had to fix things with Megan, so she reached for her friend’s forearm. “Hey, can we talk later? I’d love to catch up with you.”
“Behind you.” Megan gestured to a waiter offering them a tray of flutes.
“Ah, perfect.” Julian lifted two glasses and handed one to Megan and the other to Callie. He took a third one for himself before thanking the waiter. “I’m so pleased to meet Calliope’s friends and family. How long have you two known each other?”
“We met in elementary school.” Callie hadn’t told him anything about her past, so now wasn’t the time to reveal that she’d had no real friends until Megan. An introvert, she’d kept mostly to herself. Well, until she and Fin had gotten together—and then the whole world had split open. “She was my closest friend.”
Megan’s attention roamed the crowd, barely acknowledging her.
She’d try another tactic. “Do you remember that time we—”
“What’s with the hair, wild thing?” The all-too familiar deep, rough voice cracked through her like a thunderclap.
It might have been a while since she’d heard it, but her body responded like a rosebud starved for sunlight. Every cell bloomed and strained in his direction.
Her stomach lurched, and she did not want to turn around. She didn’t want to look at him. With fight or flight kicking in, it took every bit of strength she had not to run like he’d just tossed a lit match at her feet and set her on fire.
“Hey, Fin,” Megan said.
Brushing Callie’s arm as he reached across the small circle they made, Fin met Megan in the middle for a hug. His scent—that hint of sage and clean clothes, the essence of Fin—swirled around her, filling her senses and sending her crashing back in time. She had a matter of seconds to pull herself together and treat him like an acquaintance. Julian didn’t know about him, so she needed to just be normal, but turbulence scrambled her system, and her mind went blank.
And that pissed her off. She’d prepared for this moment. Hell, she’d rehearsed it. But living it, having him right here, she just…dammit. No matter how many nights she’d lain awake scripting this interaction, she couldn’t control her body’s reaction.
Come on. She gave herself an internal shake. He’s just a guy.
But when he pulled back, he turned his full attention on her and…Oh, my God.
For the first time in years, she looked Fin Bowie, in all his six feet two inches of rock-hard muscle, in the eyes. A tremble started from deep within, rising in velocity until her composure shook like a tree in a violent storm. Last time she’d seen him, he’d been a boy. A gorgeous, untamed, mischievous boy who’d kept her on edge for most of her life. His wild, free spirit made him impossible to nail down.
But the boy she’d loved so fiercely had nothing on the man who stood before her. With his overgrown dark hair and bright blue eyes, he was a shock of rugged, raw power next to her lean, elegant boyfriend.
Of course he’d worn jeans to a rehearsal dinner, the white button down shirt the only nod to the dressy occasion. Not like Julian’s pressed shirt, though. No, Fin’s looked like he’d swiped it off a pile of discarded clothes on the floor on his way out of the shower. He’d shoved the sleeves up to his elbows, exposing tanned, muscular forearms.
Julian would have carefully folded the cuff until it fell just below the elbow. And he would’ve spent a minute adjusting it in front of a mirror.
Fin didn’t own a mirror.
“Fin.” The way he tilted his head in confusion made her think she sounded more stuck-up than pleasant. Snap out of it right now. But she couldn’t—not when he looked at her as if he could see straight through her make-up and fancy clothes, right down to the trembling heart of her.
He reached for a lock of her hair and tugged it. “You iron it?”
Julian, always well-mannered, stepped back to include the new addition to the conversation. “Her hair?”
Fin tugged it again. “It’s brown.”
“That’s her natural color.” Julian’s smile remained fixed despite the crinkle on his brow. He reached out his hand. “Julian Reyes.”
“Fin Bowie.” Fin shifted his beer bottle to his other hand so they could shake, and Callie caught the moment Fin noticed the slight sheen on Julian’s manicured fingernails.
Too quickly, Fin let go and turned his attention back to her. He didn’t move closer, but somehow she felt crowded by him. The entire backyard and all its guests faded away until it was just the two of them. She could smell the mountain air on his skin. He was sun-warmed meadows and bracing snow-covered summits. He was tangled sheets and calloused hands. Bone-melting kisses and thrilling gropes in public places.
He was abject heartbreak.
“Liked it platinum.” Fin’s deep, rough voice sounded like it might crack from the heavy emotion it carried.
“Platinum?” Julian spluttered. “When have you ever colored your hair?”
“Are you serious?” Megan laughed. “How long have you known her?”
“Two years.” Julian gave Callie an assessing look.
She squeezed his hand. Later. “We should probably find our seats.”
“She used to dye it a new color every semester.” Megan had a gleam in her eyes. “That was her thing.”
“I would’ve liked to have seen that,” Julian said.
Gracious words, but she knew better. She’d have been invisible to Julian back then. He thought people who wore gauges and piercings and dyed their hair pink were compensating for a lack of authentic creativity. They showed the world how funky they were because they lacked the guts to actually create something.
“Come on.” Callie pulled on his arm. “It’s time for toasts.” She shot Fin a look. Thanks for starting this.
But instead of his usual challenging response, he just looked baffled.
“Actually, I’d love to know what she was like back then,” Julian said.
“She was a total tomboy,” Megan said. “She got into more trouble than—”
“I don’t know what a tomboy is,” Fin said. “But if you’re trying to say Callie could run faster and stomp landings and kick our asses up to Dead Man’s summit, then, yeah, she was a badass.” He turned fully to Julian. “You’re from the east coast. You grow up making snowmen?”
“I might have made one.” Julian gave a guarded smile.
“Yeah, well, my brothers and I didn’t make snow men. We made snow targets. We’d build a row of snow mounds with holes in the middle. Big hole for the first one, smaller hole for each one down the line, until the last one had a hole the size of a small skillet. We’ve got pretty good aim, but this one?” He tipped his chin toward Callie. “She was the only one of us that got a snowball through the smallest one.”
The tinkle of silver tapping glass cut the hum of conversation. Everyone turned to the head table where her brother stood. “Could you all please take your seats? We’re about to start the toasts.”
The crowd around them started moving, but Fin’s compelling gaze kept them rooted. “Tomboy?” He shrugged. “I only know that Callie was confident, strong. Fearless. Everything a woman should be.”
Her heart clenched painfully that he’d come to her defense like that, but it only took a moment to see that he wasn’t defending her at all. His gaze held no warmth.
He was just telling the truth. That’s how he sees me.
Pressure weighed on her chest—loss, regret, frustration, and pain. So much pain.
Megan gave Fin a challenging look. “Oh, cut it out. You know exactly what I mean. It’s not an insult. It’s who she was. She didn’t care about make-up or clothes. She didn’t even brush her hair half the time.”
A slow, delicious smile kicked up the corner of Fin’s mouth. “Wild thing.”
Jesus. Julian knew nothing about her past. He didn’t need to hear her old nickname or see the way Fin looked at her—like they’d just stumbled out of a closet with their hair mussed and her panties balled up in his pocket.
“I’m going to find our seats.” Callie got one step away when she heard Fin say, “Know how I became an extreme athlete?”
“I didn’t know you were an athlete, but I’d like to hear the story,” Julian said.
“Fin.” Callie gestured to the table where her brother stood waiting for the guests to settle. “Aren’t you making a toast?”
“This won’t take long.” He turned back to Julian. “We were snowboarding. Me and my brothers and Callie. Right there.” He lifted his beer bottle to the Tetons. “We wound up on this spine we’d never been on before, and we were all just flying. Time of our lives. Well, this one”—he pointed the bottle toward Callie—“flew off the edge of a cliff. Jesus, it was like…” He rubbed his lower lip with a thumb. “I thought I’d lost her. No way could anyone survive a fall like that. And it all happened so fast, it wasn’t like we could do anything to save her. One minute we’re tearing down the mountain, the next…. She was gone. I wanted to jump off right after her, but Will, my brother, grabbed me.” He gestured with both arms what a bear hug would look like from behind. “I stood there watching her sail—free falling—sure she was going to hit a rock and crumple into a broken heap. But you know what she did?”
She doubted anyone would notice the unease beneath Julian’s fixed smile. He listened with rapt attention, yet the undercurrent of what the hell pulsed through him. He looked like he’d blinked and opened his eyes to find himself surrounded by Oompa Loompas.
But whose fault was that? She hadn’t told him any of this.
“What?” Julian’s tone was bright, interested.
“She landed it. She fuckin’ landed it. Never seen anything like it.”
Callie remembered the moment vividly. She had been in freefall. The world had gone silent, a blur of colors: white, bright blue, green. A strange stillness had settled over her, her entire being on heightened alert. The earth had come up fast, mostly rock, but a patch of glistening white called to her and she’d leaned in that direction. She hadn’t prayed or screamed or anything. Just remained perfectly still and focused.
And when she’d landed on deep, powdery snow, her bones jarring, her teeth clacking, she’d felt a heady sense of elation.
But the best moment came later when she’d come to a stop, heart flopping in her chest like a live fish on a dock. She’d looked up to see the stunned faces of all four Bowie brothers. At that point, the older ones had already made a name for themselves in snowboarding and skiing competitions in the state. They were big, brawny, fearless athletes. All of them had stood there gobsmacked.
But it was Fin’s expression—the awe, the pride—that stuck with her. She’d never doubted Fin’s love. He’d always been hers. But in that moment he’d given her something else: a profound sense of confidence.
“And on that note,” Megan said. “I’m going to sit down.” She took off through the crowd.
The moment she left, Julian said, “So, piecing things together here, you two dated?”
“Ah, I wouldn’t call it dating.” Fin’s tone conjured tangled sheets and sweaty bodies, deep, sensuous kisses, and fists full of hair.
The shock of it had Julian’s eyes going wide.
Oh, dammit all to hell. Heat spread through her limbs, and perspiration prickled under her arms. What have you done?
She was an idiot not to have filled him in on her past. But, honestly, while they’d known each other for two years, they’d only been dating six months. As friends, they’d talked about their classes, dinner plans, and gallery openings. So when they’d started going out, they’d been long past those getting-to-know-you conversations.
Thinking back, though, she realized he’d never asked. He’d known she was from Wyoming, had briefly and occasionally chatted with her parents on Facetime, but he’d never asked about her exes or old friends or anything. He’d never wondered what she’d been like before he’d met her.
After the party, she’d answer all his questions. “Fin and I dated in high school.”
Julian gave a broad smile. “And, more importantly, you snowboard?”
A couple of times over the years, he’d invited her on ski trips with his family, but she’d always declined. Even if she could afford to ski in Aspen, she couldn’t give up a week’s pay to go on vacation. “Well, we live in the mountains. Everyone here does.”
Okay, enough chitchat. She’d embarrassed Julian, and she had to make it right. Grabbing her boyfriend’s hand, she forced a tight smile. “It was wonderful catching up with you.” Before turning away, though, she caught the disappointment in Fin’s eyes.
Wow, this was not going how she’d expected at all. She’d pictured giving Fin a cocky eat-your-heart-out smile when he saw how well she’d turned out. She’d never imagined he’d look at her like that. She led Julian to their table, unused to his body being so stiff and unyielding.
With a hand holding his suitcoat closed, he leaned across the table and shook hands with their tablemates. Then, he held a chair out for her. Tucking in close, he said, “I would’ve appreciated a little warning.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Callie, sweetheart.” A stout woman approached with her arms open wide.
Callie popped back up and leaned into her aunt’s embrace. “Hi, Aunt Muriel.”
She smelled of cough drops and bacon from the canapés. “It’s been too long. How’s my favorite girl?”
Her uncle pried her loose and hugged her so hard her feet lifted off the grass. Her heel slipped out of her shoe, so when he set her back down she had to reach for Julian’s arm to steady herself.
“I didn’t recognize you.” The elderly man clamped his big paws on her shoulders. “Your aunt said, Oh, there’s our Callie, and I said, Where?” He gave a hearty laugh and then turned his attention to Julian. “Isn’t she a stunner? She used to—”
Oh, God, no. No more stories. “Uncle John, Aunt Muriel, I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Julian Reyes. Julian, this is my Aunt Muriel and Uncle John.”
Her handsome, polished boyfriend gave her uncle a firm handshake. “Wonderful to meet you. I’m so pleased to finally meet Calliope’s family.”
“We’re so proud of her,” Aunt Muriel said. “Two college degrees. And just look at her. Sweetheart, you take my breath away. I can see that New York City’s everything you wanted it to be.” She pressed hand over her heart. “We’ve missed you so much. I’m sorry we didn’t make it for your graduation.”
“Oh, no, don’t worry. It’s not the same thing for graduate school.”
“How’s the job hunt, angel?” Her aunt looked concerned.
She’d mentioned the competitive job market when she’d come home over Christmas, but she’d failed to fill her family in when she’d settled on a plan, and that made her feel pretty lousy. “I’m starting with a fellowship, actually. In the art world, it’s the best way to get the job I’m looking for. Julian and I have both applied to the Museum of Contemporary Art.” With his parents on the board, the fellowship was a sure-thing. She gave Julian a conspiratorial look, but he kept his smile fixed on her relatives. Whoa. She’d really hurt him.
“Did you apply to any fellowships out West?” her aunt asked.
Before she could answer her uncle jumped in. “Can’t remember a time our Callie didn’t talk about moving to New York City and being an artist.”
Her aunt let out a Ha! “I can’t remember a time she didn’t race in twenty minutes late, her jeans filthy, her hair wind-blown, and out of breath from whatever mischief she’d just gotten into.”
“Mischief, huh?” Resentment edged into Julian’s tone.
“Oh, this girl.” Her uncle smiled with pure delight. “She’s always been a handful.”
“She and those Bowies.” Laughing, Aunt Muriel shook her head. “My goodness, they were rabble-rousers. But look at her now. I hardly recognize her.” She smoothed a hand down Callie’s stick-straight hair. “You look gorgeous, honey.”
A tingle at the back of her neck had her glancing over to the head table. With his gaze on her, Fin lifted his champagne flute.
“We should take our seats.” Aunt Muriel gave her a big smile. “We’ll catch up later.”
Fin didn’t have to say a word for the guests to quiet down. All eyes on him, he pointed to a table on the far left. “Lloyd, I speak for the entire wedding party when I say thank you for grooming.”
Laughter rippled across the lawn, and a man shouted, “Naomi gave him a cut and a shave this morning. I sent a picture into the Calamity Press.”
After the laughter died down, Fin’s finger shifted to somewhere in the middle of the lawn. “Miss Sandy, I owe you one. If you hadn’t sent me home from school that day in third grade, I might’ve wound up looking just like Lloyd. Or a Yeti. So, thank you.”
Callie found it hard to join the laughter at that one. Fin’s dad only had five rules for his boys, and the first was that they couldn’t leave anyone behind. But his older brothers didn’t want to be held back by their youngest sibling, so they’d sneak out in the morning or while he napped or did homework.
And it drove Fin wild. So he’d set his alarm to wake up early and wait for the sound of their footsteps in the hallway. That meant most mornings in grade school he’d shown up in whatever filthy clothes he’d worn the day before. Until Miss Sandy had sent him home to get cleaned up, forcing their dad to do something about it.
“All right.” Fin’s tone quelled the chatter. “Let’s get these toasts done so we can dig into the wonderful meal provided by the Bell family.”
The guests clapped, and someone called, “Woo hoo.” Her brother had his arm stretched along the back of his bride’s chair. Everyone watched Fin, but when he didn’t immediately speak, a strange tension gripped the crowd. Either he hadn’t prepared anything or he’d forgotten what he wanted to say because he looked down at his place setting and tugged on his scruff.
Until he looked abruptly at her, and awareness flashed across her skin.
Something in his expression told her he was about to blow her world wide open.