Chapter Eight
Calli
Garrett is quiet most of the drive. I can only assume it’s because he’s in pain from how he’s cradling his arm. I feel awful. I mean, he stepped out in front of me without looking. I was distracted because of a news article I stupidly shouldn’t have looked at.
I took my break early because I didn’t want Ruby to see me upset. And now I’ve hurt Garrett. He might have been as ass to me the last time I saw him, that doesn’t mean I can forgive myself for running him down.
He gives directions but they’re gruff, and he stares out of the windshield as he does it. I focus on driving, crashing the car would be the cherry on the shit sundae today is turning out to be.
We find a parking space and head inside. Garrett tries to tell me he can manage on his own, but I ignore him. He cusses, but I ignore that too. I stand by as he speaks to reception and gets the forms to fill out for his insurance. We find a quiet space in the far corner.
Garrett tries to fill out the form but winces when he grips the pen.
“Let me,” I say.
“I’m fine.”
“Just let me do it. Once you’ve seen a doctor and know how bad it is, you can write as much as you want but for now, it’s hurting you.”
He grumbles but hands everything over and gives me all of his information. I complete the form then take it back to reception. Spotting a drinks machine I head over and get us both a cup of coffee, I don’t mind how I take coffee, so get one with sugar and one without.
When I turn back, Garrett is watching me. I can’t read his expression but figure he is going to be as surly as ever, so I paint a smile on my face telling him the options. He takes the one without sugar and mutters his thanks.
Then we sit in silence. He wants me to leave, but I won’t. Fortunately, Ruby has another staff member and told me not to worry about coming back. She heard about the accident from people coming into the coffee shop. If anything, she found the situation hilarious. Apart from us being hurt.
Ruby and Sin happily give me shit about Garrett. I don’t know what impression I give off but it’s not any kind of interest in Garrett. Sure, he’s hot, but he’s a jerk and I have no time for jerks.
As people are called in around us, I clasp my hands on my thighs, trying not to think about the news article. Someone else has completed my most recent job. A rival firm who figured it would be fun to taunt the ‘former architect’ when they paraded it's completion.
My heart aches at what I’ve lost. Watching my client, who raved over the designs and spent countless hours with me, fawning over James Finch, made me sick to my stomach.
I can’t fault them, the building needed to be completed. It kills me I never got to finish the project. Which brought back everything I’ve successfully shut out over the last few weeks.
With the help of Sin and Ruby and to a lesser extent, the group of friends I’ve made from Blackhawk Ink, my mind has been occupied.
One news article and it all comes racing back. Jared, my business…. My mom.
Memories cripple me. This is the wrong place and time. I side-eye Garrett, hopefully without letting him see. He’s so big and grouchy, and intimidating. People all around us are staring at him, stereotyping him. Probably all the tattoos, angry face and dark clothes.
I can’t help but remember how he took care of me, both immediately after the accident, and getting me back to the shop, dressing my injuries. Garrett has only given the impression he dislikes me. He’s a contradiction.
“What?” he asks.
“What?” I repeat.
“You’re staring.”
Okay, maybe I’m not as discreet as I thought. He looks pissed, like I’ve done something awful, other than curiously looking him over.
I’ve never been one to hide how I’m feeling, I prefer to face matters head on. Since the whole mess in San Antonio, I’ve lost that a little. Something about Garrett brings it out in me again, the need to say I’m not fine with him talking down to me.
“Calli.”
Garrett is standing, and it looks like he’s been saying my name for a while.
He frowns at my reaction. “I got called in. You can go.”
“I’ve already told you I’m not leaving. You need someone to drive you home. I’ll wait out here.”
He draws the line at me coming into the examination room. Garrett walks away with no more argument.
People come and go as I wait. The temptation to get out my phone and search for more stories on what is going on in San Antonio is so bad. Sitting still is driving me crazy. Leaving the emergency room isn’t an option. Garrett could come back at any time, and I don’t want him to think I left.
I wonder what my mom is doing. Dad split when I was in my junior year of high school. He found a younger wife, barely five years older than me. It devastated mom and maybe it was wrong, but she turned to me to handle everything. Being the dutiful daughter I was, I did it. Taking on a lot of responsibilities around the house.
Mom was used to a certain lifestyle and made the divorce bitter. Dad wanted nothing to do with her. He paid for his cheating with an outrageous divorce settlement and high child support.
Although I didn’t see him often, he paid to put me through college.
It’s understandable how mom felt. Being dumped for a younger woman is difficult for anyone to take. When I met Jared, mom was happy because he came from money. Old money. She told me to dig my claws in and never let him go. Or let his eye wander.
Humoring her was the best way to handle that. I married for love, not money.
A shadow falls over me and I break out of my thoughts and turn to Garrett. His arm isn’t in a cast, which is a good sign. It is tightly bandaged though.
“What did they say?”
“Couple of days of rest and it’ll be good as new.”
“Why don’t I believe that?”
“Can we leave?”
“Alright grumpy ass, let’s go.”
I turn on my heel and head for the door before he can respond. I’m not in the mood to deal with his attitude. I’m more familiar with the area now so I recognize places as we head back to the shop.
When we arrive I pull out the keys, toss them into his lap and get out of the car. He can keep his ungrateful, asshole attitude and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine.
I’m really irritated. My palms are aching from holding the steering wheel to tightly and my knees itch.
“Calli.”
“What?” I whirl around.
The car is between us. Garrett is standing in the open door looking over the roof. He’s frowning as if he’s confused about how I’m acting. Well screw him. Screw all men. They do nothing but mess with your head, hurt you and then walk away.
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” I snap.
It sounds the least welcome ever. My bike is in the shop with God knows what damage, but I don’t care about that either. All I want to do right now is curl up under the covers and shut out the entire world.
Checking there is no traffic, I cross the street without looking back once.
“Why aren’t you ready?” Sin stands in front of my couch, glaring down at me.
“I’m not going.”
She lets out a huff, eyeing me in my sweatpants and bralette. I was working out when she arrived. Sin looks gorgeous as always in a black sequin dress that flashes with shades of blue when the light hits it at certain angles. She’s wearing thigh-high boots with a stiletto heel that could kill someone if she wanted to.
The plan is to to head to a club after the party for Shane’s twenty-first birthday. Lucky wants to go all out and a few drinks in the pub aren’t cutting it, now that he’s legal.
“I’m not in the mood.”
She rolls her eyes. “Calliope Francesca Barton.”
“Don’t give me the full name,” I snuggle the pillow tighter to my chest.
“We made a pact when you decided to come back here.”
“I have cramps.”
“No excuses. You don’t shut yourself away. If we make plans, we stick to them.”
“This is different.”
“Why?”
I pout and turn away.
“Is this about Garrett?”
“Why would it be about him?” I huff.
After studying me, Sin reaches down and pulls the pillow away, chucks it on the chair across the room and sits down next to me. She takes my hand and stares right into my face.
“I heard what happened,” she turns my hand in hers. It’s been a few days, the scrapes are faint scratches now. “And Garrett was his usual ornery self. Lucky said he took care of you. So what happened?”
“Nothing happened. He felt guilty for causing the accident. I felt bad for hurting him. We dealt with it. End of. Period.”
Sin has known me too long and too well. Her lips tighten as she figures out what to say.
“Fine,” I cut her off. “One of the houses I designed was finished and in Architectural Digest. I saw. It upset me. Then I nearly got both myself and Garrett seriously injured, and he was…” I can’t even blame him. He wasn’t acting any differently to how he usually behaves.
“He’s a big boy, he can take care of himself. A very big boy,” she adds thoughtfully, then gives me a cheeky look.
“Would you quit it with that?”
“I mean, he’s been extra grumpy around the shop because he can’t tattoo yet. Lucky said he’s wound so tight he’s going to snap. Maybe you ought to…”
“Oh my God, stop it. I’m not going there.”
“Okay, fine. I’ll leave that alone,” she sighs as if it’s the biggest disappointment. Her face softens. “It sucks this happened, Cal. I know it hurts. But you’re making a better life here. You’ve got a good job, great friends. And yeah, it might not be what you envisioned, but the Calliope I know doesn’t let anything beat her.”
“This is different, Sin,” I sniffle, trying to hold back tears at her words.
“Honey, I’m gonna give you some truth right now. Life sucks. Plain and simple. Shit gets thrown at you when you least expect it. Sometimes it’s worse than others. Sometimes it makes you want to bury your head in a hole and never come out. Letting it defeat you would be the biggest travesty ever. You are beautiful, smart, kind. The best friend I’ve ever had. And worth so much more than what you have been dealt. But you have to go on living. You have to come out of the other side.”
“And going to this party is how I do that?”
“No. Hanging out with your friends is how you do it. Accepting love and support from the ones who would do anything to make sure you’re not buried in that hole.”
My lips tighten to stop them quivering.
“If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for Shane. You can’t disappoint his poor sweet heart by not showing up for his birthday. Just imagine those baby blue eyes as he sees me and Jer walk in and he looks behind, but… Wait. No. Calli isn’t there.”
“Shut up,” I push her hand off but can’t hide the smile.
Eyeing me up and down Sin fake rolls up her sleeves. “We have work to do.”
“It’s not that bad,” I groan.
Her brows lift and I relent. Yeah, I’m a sweaty mess from working out and I could do with washing my hair but there isn’t time for that.
“Up,” she grabs my hand and drags me to my feet. “You, shower. I brought an outfit.”
“Should I be scared?”
“Very,” she smirks. “We are going to a club tonight and you, my beautiful friend, are gonna rock in there and show everyone what a strong woman you are.”
I’m glad she doesn’t push about finding a man. Sin knows me well. The house in the magazine may be the catalyst for my mood, but it isn’t the real reason. She’s the only person in my new life that knows the truth.
As I head for the bathroom, Sin disappears into my bedroom. Standing still, I take in what I’ve made for myself here. Sin is right, it isn’t the life I envisioned. The one I was living for a time. But I’m happy.
“Sin,” I call out.
Her head pops around the doorway.
“Thank you.”
“That is what best friends are for.” She kisses two fingers and wiggles them in my direction. “Now shoo, I’m all for being fashionably late but I have a huge hang up about missing out on anything. I get the feeling tonight is going to be a good night.”