55. Callie
CHAPTER 55
CALLIE
A fter Sadie and Adam dance alone, the emcee summons Mom and Adam’s father out to the floor. Is this customary? I suppose since they’re both single parents, it makes sense for them to dance together. Or maybe Mom arranged it for her own devious purposes.
From everything I’ve witnessed over the past couple of days, she needs to give up her dreams of turning Mr. Hargrove’s head. I haven’t seen a hint of interest there. Even now, as they’re dancing, he looks stiff as he keeps several inches between them.
A server sets a piece of cake in front of me, and places another at Miles’s empty spot. I’m surprised he isn’t back yet, but maybe a lot of people decided they need drinks before they start dancing. Either that, or Aunt Iris has him cornered.
I grin at that thought, and realize I feel more fondly now toward Aunt Iris and her inappropriate meddling. It was her urging Miles and me to kiss that kicked everything off, and I can’t be mad about that.
I pick at the cake while I wait for Miles. He’s still not back when the parents’ dance ends and the emcee opens the floor for everyone to dance. I’m glad Sadie decided to skip all of the elaborate pairings, so I don’t have to dance with the groomsmen, but I’m definitely hoping to get Miles out on the floor, if he’s up for it.
I’ve eaten nearly half of my piece of cake when there’s some commotion at the back of the room. There are a couple of raised voices, and a few gasps. My first thought is that it’s early for someone to already be drunk enough to cause a scene, but when a hush falls over the crowd, I get up so I can see what’s going on.
A man is running toward the door, where a familiar figure in a light gray suit has just exited. Was that Miles?
I quickly look toward the bar—he’s not there. I don’t see him anywhere. Other people are rushing out of the room, and I hurry to join them.
Just as I exit, a deep voice commands everyone to stay back. People shrink against the walls, giving me a direct view of Miles, a gun in his hand, as he advances on several people who are cornered in the hall.
One of those people in the corner is Max, and my mind scrambles to make sense of what I’m seeing. Miles is pulling a gun on Max? That can’t be!
Then I realize it’s Mr. Hargrove and the greasy-haired stranger who are being held at gunpoint, and Max and another man are slapping handcuffs on them.
What the hell is going on?
I’ve heard of a citizen’s arrest, but I don’t imagine it would look like this. Why do they have guns and handcuffs, and what did Mr. Hargrove do?
Suddenly, everyone is talking all at once, and somewhere behind me I hear a woman yell Rick’s name. I turn to see Rick running in the opposite direction and Alexis calling after him.
Then Sadie’s at my side, along with Adam, who’s taking in the scene for the first time. “Dad?” The look of shock on his face is even greater than mine.
My sister looks back and forth between me and the men. “Callie …what’s going on?”
“I … I don’t know.” What am I even looking at?
I can’t make any sense of it, except to know that whatever is happening is very, very bad. My stomach goes sour as the three of us, along with most of the reception attendees, who are all now crowded into the hallway, gape at the scene playing out in the corner.
“Callie …tell me I’m seeing double.” Sadie’s voice is shaking like mine.
“What’s going on here?” Adam starts toward his father, but Miles promptly orders him to stay back. Adam finds his sister behind me and pulls her into his arms.
“What’s happening?” my mother demands. I don’t know what delayed her but she’s just now arriving. Her mouth hangs open as she takes it all in.
Max pulls on a rubber glove, picks up a small wedding gift from the floor, and drops it into a white plastic bag. I feel like I’m watching it all happen on a movie screen rather than in real life, because it’s all too incredible to comprehend.
Miles is holding his watch up to his mouth, talking into it. Another man I don’t recognize still has a gun aimed at the greasy-haired man and at Mr. Hargrove, who is loudly and angrily demanding a lawyer.
“Callie, who is that man you brought to the wedding? Why are there two of them, and what are they doing!?” Mom is screeching, on the verge of hysterics.
I’m in shock and can’t speak. I’m trapped in a dream—the worst dream ever—and I have no idea how to wake up.
I’ve been sharing so much with these men—my room, my body, and my heart. I’ve been falling for them, and I don’t even know who they are.
Horrified, we all watch as Mr. Hargrove and his associate are led away. Mom isn’t done with her meltdown. “Callie, how could you do this? How could you bring these men here and ruin your sister’s wedding?”