Chapter Twenty-Six
Calli
It’s been days since I saw Garrett. I sent a couple of texts but got no response. I mean, I’m not stupid. He was shitting himself about how things have changed between us. If that last morning was anything to go by. It took all my strength not to let slip I’ve got feelings for him.
Despite warning myself where Garrett is concerned, I forgot to guard my heart.
Now he’s ghosting me. He may be busy at the shop. Or his phone broke. Or he got out while the getting was good.
The alternative is, he’s preparing in case I leave. Maybe he’s protecting himself. Assuming he feels the same way I do. I’m halfway convinced I’m delusional. His lack of response is loud and clear.
It felt like we were getting closer. Spending time together, sharing our private tragedies and supporting one another. Am I the biggest fool on the planet?
Working with Vaquero Advisers on the most important building design of my career is weighing on my mind. It’s taken days to get my head around them tracking me down to continue our working relationship.
It’s another nice day in the city. The temperature is high, and the sun is warm, but it’s nothing like how hot it can get in Texas. I stayed back to clean up the coffee shop so Ruby could head out to meet her brother and sister.
It’s time I laid out my problems. Now I’ve had a chance to think without added distractions.
I wait on the sidewalk for Sin. Looking across the street, I remember how I almost mowed Garrett down with my bike. Stop it. This isn’t about him. I’ve got to think about myself.
“Hey.”
The shout breaks me out of my internal battle. Sin leans in and pulls me one armed against her. The huge purse and three bags hanging off her other arm prevent a real hug.
“You meant it when you said you needed retail therapy,” I eye the bags.
“I know. I went a little overboard. Can I leave this at your place before our walk?”
“We don’t need to go for a walk.”
“Course we do. I have on my walking shoes, see,” she lifts a foot and waggles a pair of bright yellow sneakers with a two-inch platform sole. “Besides, you could do with some sun. You look pale.”
“Gee thanks.”
“Let’s dump this, then we can talk, babe.”
It takes a lot to push back the emotion. I should have called Sin as soon as I found out about this. And that Garrett is AWOL. We make small talk back to my place and head up to stow her bags. She can’t resist showing me some of her purchases. All of them suit Sin’s style.
She presses a little black dress up against me, tilting her head this way and that.
“We should go out dancing tomorrow. You can borrow this.”
There is no point arguing. She bought the dress with me in mind. She tosses it on my bed instead of bagging it, confirming my suspicions, then we head back out.
“Whoops… Excuse you, sir.”
I peer around Sin at the man in the hallway. He stares at us both, then walks away.
“Rude,” Sin mutters. “Did you see that?”
“No, what happened?”
I pull the door closed and make sure it’s locked. The man has disappeared around the corner. I don’t recall seeing him here before, but then again, I’m not looking out for people. The only person I ever talk to is Caleb and I’ve not seen him for a few days.
“He was outside your door, and I walked right into him. He didn’t even apologize.”
“Right outside?” I ask. “Doing what?”
“Walking by, I guess. Manners cost nothing and take seconds.”
“You sound like your grandma,” I laugh.
“Oh God, please do not bring her up. She’s invited me and Jer around. I’m guessing there is a ‘when are you going to stop living in sin and get married?’ conversation in my future. We don’t even live together. For all she knows, we’re not even having sexual relations.”
“Oh God,” I laugh. “I’m under no illusion she believes there are no sexual relations, Sin.”
“Ugh, you’re right. What if I contract a highly infectious disease and need to cancel? No one’s elderly, anal retentive, nasty ass grandma needs to know about my sex life.”
Commiserating, I link her arm, and we head for the stairs. “You should tell her. It might stop her asking.”
“Or I could show her the picture of the banana with the piercings in it.”
I fake gagging. Also, that reminds me of Garrett.
“Okay, which way are we going? Park, or waterfront.”
“Waterfront,” I respond quickly.
“Good, my second favorite coffee shop is down there anyway and I’m craving a hazelnut macchiato. So tell Aunty Sinclair what is going on with you. Ruby already told me you had to take a personal day after our night of margaritas. And I thought she was the lightweight.”
“You must have been putting extra tequila in mine to loosen my tongue.”
She side-eyes me but doesn’t answer. Of course, Sin didn’t do that. I’m a lightweight too, I guess. Also, I was otherwise occupied.
“Come on, what gives? You’ve been down, babe.”
“I’ve been getting these letters postmarked from home.”
“Letters,” she frowns. “What is this, the nineteenth century?”
“I deleted my online presence, including all my email accounts.”
She chews on her lip and nods. “No one is supposed to know your whereabouts.”
“They don’t. Except my lawyer.”
“What did they want?”
I explain as we reach the waterfront. It’s no better coming here than the park. I have memories of Garrett here too. I suggest we grab our coffee first and we sit on a bench by the water.
“Are you looking for advice, or have you decided?”
“Advice?” I shrug.
“Tell me your thoughts.”
Inhaling, I watch a boat on the water for a while. Sin waits me out.
“I don’t want to go back.”
“That’s understandable,” she nods.
“But I also don’t want to pass up the chance to do this. I thought it was all over. I lost my business, my home, my life… This contract meant a lot to me. When everyone dropped me, this one hurt the most.”
“Have they explained why they’ve reached out again?”
She’s asking questions she knows aren’t related to my heart. I appreciate that about her.
“They love the design. They never wanted to pull out, but there was a lot of concern around the case and the money…” I wave a hand, not wanting to go into all that again.
“And now they realize they can’t get anything better they’ve come back to you?”
My nose wrinkles.
“That’s a compliment, babe. No one can beat you. Their shitty indecisiveness aside, they want you to come back on board. That’s the decision. Do it, or walk away. What is your heart telling you? Don’t think, just say it.”
“I want to build it,” I blurt out. “Sin, I dreamed about it so many nights, before and after…”
“Then what is the problem?”
“I’d have to go back.”
“And that is bad because?” She waves off the look I give her. “Those who shall not be named aside. What else?”
My back bows as I slouch in the seat. “It’s mostly that,” I say. “And it was all shitty the way everyone blamed me, believing I was in on it and walking away without bothering to ask. I thought I knew the people I was working with. That felt shit.”
“What else?”
“What are you getting at? Say it.”
“Is it more than good dick?”
“You have a way with words, you know that?”
Sin winks at me, but shifts so she is facing me better. “Tell me. We need to make an informed decision here and I need all the variables. Con, of course, you don’t want to leave me,” she ticks the air. “Pro, you’re back working on your dream project. Con, could run into mother from hell. Pro, the thing you love doing the most is back on the table. We’re even here. Step in any time about the men in this equation.”
“There is only one man. Jared doesn’t factor into this. He can’t see or talk to me.”
“Which leaves one tattooed, grumpy, pierced, dicked dude.”
My head drops into my hands and I squeeze my eyes shut.
“I’ll wait.” Sin sips her coffee with a smirk on her face. Then she holds up a finger. “Not that a man should have any sway over this decision.”
“The decision isn’t about him, Sin. I made a promise that my life will only be lived for me from now on. No one to tell me what to do.”
“That’s the way it should be, babe. And you’ve done a brilliant job since you got here. I don’t think you give yourself enough credit for what you went through, or how you’ve beaten back the darkness. You’re a beautiful person, Calliope. The best friend I could ever ask for. And for what it's worth, I don’t want you to go.”
The lump in my throat is like a golf ball.
“Enough of my awesomeness. What else is going on? Have you seen Garrett since our last talk?”
“Yeah. A lot. He came around to help with my hangover.”
Her brows lift, and I can’t help smiling. “We spent the day together.” I slap her arm because I can see exactly what is about to come out of her mouth. “He took care of me, Sin. Cooked, made me go outside. He was there when I opened the letters.”
“That’s kind of deep,” she nibbles on her lip again. “When did you last see him?”
The way she says that has me shifting on the seat.
“I bumped into Katja a couple of days ago. She said Garrett’s not been around.”
“What? At the shop?”
“Yeah, something came up, and he had to take some time off. She said he does it sometimes. Something to do with some guy called Nero. She doesn’t know much about it, but when he goes away, no one hears from him. I asked Jer, and he said he didn’t know either. I was gonna call Lucky, then figured you didn’t want me getting all up in your business asking after him.”
Nero… he was the man at the shop the other night. The one from the motorcycle club. Phoenix’s half-brother. Is that why he hasn’t called? My heart hammers as a myriad of things run through my head. Garrett gave no sign he was afraid of the MC. Or that they would do anything to harm him.
I got the impression he was more tied up with them than he let on. Should I be worried?
“Have you heard from him?”
I shake my head. My mind is racing. If his close friends don’t hear from him, there is no reason I would. My feelings about that can be dealt with later. I have an overwhelming need to know he’s safe. There is only person I know who can tell me that. The question is, will he tell me?
Sin leans back in surprise when I get up. “Where are you going?”
“I need to speak to Phoenix.”
A slow grin creeps across her face.
“It changes nothing about the decision I have to make.”
“Doesn’t it?”
“No. Besides, there is another option.”
“Hmm?”
“Do the job from Baltimore. I can commute to oversee it when I need to.”
She clenches her fists, trying to contain herself. “I knew there was a reason I chose you as my best friend. Smart and gorgeous.”
My mind is elsewhere, but I thank her. Sin gets up and tosses her empty cup into the trash can beside the bench.
“What are you doing?” I ask as she walks away.
“Going to Blackhawk Ink, of course. Are you coming?”
“You’re too nosey for your own good.”
“Well, on the walk over, I still have time to explore this idea of yours to build your dream without having to go away and leave us. Me,” she amends with another wink.
I’m too busy worrying about Garrett to correct her. It’s the perfect solution. If Tim Vasquez really wants me back, he’ll agree to those terms. If he doesn’t… Well, that’s a choice I’ll have to consider another time.
When we arrive at Blackhawk Ink, Shane is tattooing, and Sumner is talking to a heavily tattooed guy at the counter while Katja sits on a stool reading a book. There is no sign of Phoenix or Garrett. Shane looks up when we walk in and waves, then goes back to working.
Sumner finishes up with the guy, who eyes both of us, Sin a little longer, before heading out. Sin is smirking when she turns back to see us watching her.
“Must be my walking shoes,” she shrugs and moves to the counter beside Sumner. “So, tell me, Irish, where is your fearless leader?”
Katja looks up from the book and gives me a concerned look. Sin is not subtle. I seem to have surrounded myself with people who have no chill.
Sumner turns to face me. Something in the way he looks at me says he knows more than everyone else. “I’m hurt you’re not here to see me,” he tells Sin.
“Sorry.” She sounds the furthest thing from sorry.
Time to take over. I excuse us from the counter, and we walk to Sumner’s station.
“I’m looking for Phoenix,” I tell him.
Sumner’s face changes and he grips the back of his head, rubbing it up and down over his shorn hair. “That could be a problem right now, lass.”
Before I can ask why, shouting comes from the back of the shop and Lucky storms in. Phoenix is behind her, his face is like thunder.
Sumner and I exchange a glance. I guess that’s what he means.
“Fuck you, Phoenix. Just… Fuck you!”
“Lucky for fuck’s sake, you don’t need to make a big deal out of this.”
She pivots around and Phoenix has to draw up fast to avoid barreling into her. It would be comical if this didn’t look like a serious situation. Sin looks over at me and I shake my head, telling her to stay out of it.
“Don’t tell me what I don’t have to do. Your opinion means fuck all to me right now.”
“This had to happen, eventually.”
“Not like this!” she yells.
If she notices us all looking, she doesn’t care. She grabs her jacket and storms out of the shop, slamming the door behind her.
“Fuck,” Phoenix bursts out, running a hand through his hair. He at least notices us all. He frowns at Sin and then sees me. His expression changes. “What are you doing here?” he asks.
I don’t know if it’s because he is still mad, but I don’t appreciate the tone.
“She came here to see G,” Sumner says for me, and I appreciate him stepping in. If I say anything right now, it’ll piss him off more.
“He’s not here.”
“Phoenix. You need to take a moment.” There is a warning in Sumner’s voice. “I’ll sort Calli out.”
“You better fucking not let G hear you saying that.”
What does that mean?
Sumner heaves out a heavy sigh. “I mean, I’ll look after whatever it is she needs right now.” He doesn’t sound impressed.
Phoenix glares at Sumner. Everyone says how fun and easygoing Phoenix is. I’ve never seen that side of him. On the other hand, I have seen how he is with Lucky. They’re not over each other. This encounter seems bad.
“Katja, cancel my appointment for this afternoon. Something has come up.”
He doesn’t look at anyone else and walks out. There is a prolonged moment of stunned silence after he’s gone.
“Garrett will lose his shit over this.”
“Not now, ey, Shane.”
“Sorry,” he mutters.
“Apologies for the interruption,” Sumner tells Shane’s client. “Shane, why don’t you get finished up? Calli, let’s go in back for a moment.”
Sin is taking it all in and Katja is wide-eyed behind her. She tells me she’ll wait out here and I follow Sumner into the private tattooing room at the back. Another Garrett memory or two assaults my brain.
Sumner doesn’t close the door. He leans against the frame. “My mam used to say there was a touch of gypsy running through our family,” he says. “I guess all my wandering lends that some truth.”
“No offense, Sumner. What does this have to do with anything?”
“I don’t have to be a psychic to figure what’s happening with you and the boss. Even if mam thinks we’re touched,” he winks.
There is no point denying it. I could, but Sumner has figured us out.
“Those men the other night, they weren’t here to threaten Garrett or Phoenix. He told me one of them is related to Phoenix,” I add.
“Aye,” he nods. “That’s the truth. And no, there is no reason to be scared they’re out to harm either of ‘em. But they’re not good people.”
“Garrett is mixed up with them?”
“Lass, I wish I had the answers yer looking for. That’s the one thing they never discuss with us. It’s separate from this place. Now, I know yer concerned, but Garrett has these moments of working outside the shop. He always comes back unscathed and,” he lets out a small laugh. “As normal as Garrett can be. If anything, he’s more antsy to get that tattoo gun back in his hand.”
“I know I don’t have any right to ask about this.” I fidget with my sleeves.
“Nah,” he shakes his head. “I’ve seen how he looks at yer. He’s a man of few words, but like I said, nothing gets by this gypsy. Trust me, Calli, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“That is easier said than done, Sumner. But thank you.”
“Ah, it’s my pleasure. Anything else I can help yer with?”
“No. Wait. Is Lucky okay?”
“I’ve stopped trying to figure those two out. It’s best to let them work through it.”
“Ok, thanks.” I head for the door, but he stops me, resting his hand on my forearm.
“I’ve not known him long, but working so close and speaking with him more than a few times, I have a deeper understanding of Garrett.”
“That Irish psychic thing again?” I smile.
“Aye. He’s got his faults, as do the best of us, but on the whole, he’s a good man. He struggles to believe that about himself.”
A few weeks ago, I would have disagreed and said Garrett is the only man I’ve met who knows exactly what he wants, and he doesn’t give a shit who he upsets to make sure that remains true.
“See, I got a good feelin’. You’ll be hearing from him soon enough.”
If only I knew how soon.