Chapter 19
NINETEEN
CALLIE
PRESENT
There weren’t any blackout curtains in Wesley’s room, so as soon as the sun rose over the hill, I was awake. Honestly, I was grateful, because while Wes looked like a sleeping warrior with that hard jawline and those high cheekbones. I was sure I resembled something that had crawled out of a sewer.
I thought back to how, after his shower last night and our harsh words, he had slid in next to me in bed.
I had held my breath, waiting for him to turn away from me, but he shocked me by pulling me to his chest and nuzzling my neck.
He didn’t say anything, but we both fell asleep like that.
Sometime during the night, I escaped his hold so I could reflect on what I was doing and why I was doing it.
I needed to focus on getting information and selling the property.
Stop fantasizing about tattoo shops and local farmers’ markets, and how good Wesley’s house would look with mint-colored curtains, or a bench at the end of his bed.
Closing my eyes to erase those domesticated images, I sat up in bed and then walked into the bathroom.
Gleaming, white tile stretched below me, cool under my bare feet.
The large soaking tub in the corner silently called to me, begging me to feel those jets against my aching back.
The glass shower was big enough for a group of people to join inside, although there was only one showerhead.
Seemed like a giant waste of space if you didn’t have a bench to sit, or a double spout.
Wes had a few masculine shampoos and soaps inside, and there on the small inlet on the back wall were my things; my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
He’d brought them in after unpacking for me.
Even my razor was lying over the top of the shampoo lid.
Wes was thoughtful, considerate, and an asshole all at once. It was maddening.
I bit my nail as I slowly turned, finally seeing myself in the mirror. My hair was a mess and looked like I’d been rolling around all night having rough sex. I laughed at the thought and stripped out of Wesley’s shirt.
Stepping under the hot spray of water, I took another look around the bathroom and practically lamented over how stunning it was.
It was so much nicer than anything I’d had at any point in my life, and while I was happy for Wes, it did leave me feeling a little insecure.
Wes had nice things growing up, and I was perpetually poor.
Then I grew up to be meager, and while I was confident in who I was, I wasn’t assured that I was good enough for someone as accomplished as Wes.
He’d gone to college, started his own business, and even had his own TV show.
All I had going for me were my skills with ink and the piercing gun.
A few people had tagged me on Instagram, showing off their tattoos and how good of a job I did.
I loved reading the comments about how amazing the detail was or how creative the design.
I got a few clients that way, and it always made me feel so damn special, like maybe leaving Rose Ridge was worth it.
Then the rent would come due, and I’d be right back to wondering what in the hell I was doing.
Wes suddenly walked into the bathroom, making me jump, and breaking me out of my thoughts.
His dark boxers molded to his muscular thighs and round ass so perfectly that I had to withhold a groan.
With a smirk in my direction, he pulled his morning wood clear of the constraint of his boxers, stroked once, and then shut himself inside the alcove with the toilet.
I quickly rinsed my hair and turned off the water.
There were clean towels on a shelf to the left, so I tugged one on, hoping to avoid Wes.
Once I darted into his bedroom, I shut myself in his closet and began to change.
It was stupid—he’d just seen me naked, and I was literally sucking his cock the night prior—but I was worried if he touched me again, I’d be simpering for him to finish what he’d started last night.
Once I was dressed, I walked downstairs while brushing out my hair. Laura was at the table, sipping a cup of coffee while scrolling through her phone. She wore last night’s pajamas, with her knee hiked up, her chin resting on it, her messy hair tied up in a twist on top of her head.
She yawned. “Oh good, you’re up.”
I smiled and turned for the coffee machine.
“How long have you been awake?”
Right as I opened a cupboard for a mug, the front door opened. Killian walked in, stalling once his stare landed on Laura.
She froze, mid sip, before rolling her eyes and pushing part of her hair off her neck.
“Six,” she replied curtly, right as Wes jogged downstairs.
Killian gave him a nod, then took a seat across from Laura. “Six what?”
Laura lifted a dark brow then circled the top of her mug with her finger. “Six, as in the number of men I kissed last night. Do you really want to know the details?”
Killian’s jaw went rigid and he leveled a narrowed glare on my best friend.
Wes came up behind me, taking the mug from my hand.
I grabbed a new one and waited as he poured himself a cup.
Opening the fridge, I grabbed the half and half and milk, rotating in time to hand him the milk as he handed me my mug.
We both poured a dash of liquid into our mugs, then we traded, repeating with the other beverage.
I didn’t even realize it was quiet in the room until I looked over my shoulder at Killian and Laura, who were both staring at us.
“What?” I asked.
Killian shrugged, smiling. “Just funny watching you guys, you’d think you’ve done this a time or two before.”
I glanced over my shoulder, seeing Wes already watching me. I broke my gaze and moved away from the counter, the awkwardness of how easily we’d fallen back into our roles trailing me.
“I need to get to the bus station.” Laura exhaled, setting her mug aside while standing from the table.
I sipped my coffee while my eyes flicked up to catch Killian’s expression. He was staring at Laura, his jaw tight, then he glanced at Wes. For what, I had no idea.
It felt like there were more secrets, and things I didn’t know, but I knew my best friend well enough that she wouldn’t tell me until she was ready. Maybe if I asked Killian, he’d tell me.
Laura went off to the room to get ready, and a piece of toast with apple butter landed in front of me.
I looked up to find Wesley glaring down at me. “Eat something.”
His attention was put on Killian next, where they began talking about different club members and plans that had been made earlier. I bit off pieces of toast while I gleaned what I could.
“Red says she needs more time to plan the barbeque.” Killian said, sipping from a glass bottle of orange juice he must have purchased before coming over.
Wes shook his head, staying across the kitchen while munching on his own toast.
“Don’t have the time. Just throw some fuckin’ hot dogs in there—that’s a Costco run. Tell her not to complicate it.”
Killian nodded.
“How was your conversation with the Roman?” Killian asked Wes, but his gaze flicked quickly to me.
Who was the Roman? I had never heard that name used before.
Wes stared down at the floor before saying easily, “Fine…there’s follow up that I’ll need to make. He needs to ask his mother if she’d feed us the intel we asked about.”
Fuck, I hated this.
I was dying to know what they were talking about, and it felt rude as hell they were doing this in front of me, but it wasn’t anything new.
My father had talked in code and half sentences, where bits and pieces were missing, my entire life.
Wes still let his gaze linger on me, as if he knew I was curious.
I tilted my head, and he just moved on to a different topic, ignoring me.
About to interrupt them, I opened my mouth right as the guest room door opened and Laura walked out with her bags on her shoulders. I jumped up to help her.
“Make sure she’s with you when you come back.” Wes told Killian, while pointing at me.
Laura winced, as if she’d run into a glass wall.
“Callie can just drive me in her car, we don’t need to be escorted.”
Wes stared down at his phone as he replied curtly, “He won’t ride with you, just follow.”
Laura locked eyes with me. “Seriously?”
I shrugged, blushing a little because it was ridiculous, but things were tense with the Raiders, and I knew better than anyone that it wasn’t something to take lightly.
Still, that didn’t mean I didn’t have my own plans to ditch Killian the first chance I got.
I wasn’t eighteen anymore or walking alone in dark parking lots.
I carried mace and a taser now, along with Max…
Shoot, I hadn’t even checked on him this morning.
“Max?”
There was the jingle of his collar and then I heard him clomping down the stairs.
“Why were you up there?” I asked, stroking his head.
Wes came up next to me and lowered to his haunches with a bowl of dog food. “I put his dog bed in the office. Figured he’d want to be close to you.”
Tapering my eyes on the food in the bowl, I realized it wasn’t what I had packed for Max. What Wesley gave him was something much fancier, an expensive wet food I couldn’t afford because it was more spendy than human food. Ignoring the kind gesture he’d made, I focused on helping Laura.
“Here.” Killian stepped up and took one of the bags from me, while we exited the house.
I allowed him to take the brunt of Laura’s things, packing them in the back of my car while Laura crammed in the rest. Wes watched from the porch. I took a break from the other two and sauntered over with my hands tucked into my back pockets.
“So, you said yesterday that you’d tell me what you’re worried about and why you’re afraid of selling. You gonna share, or keep talking in code around me?”