56. Callie
CHAPTER 56
CALLIE
S omehow, I make it back to my room, but I have no recollection of the path I took to get there.
Once inside, I dash for the bathroom, as everything I ate at the reception demands an immediate exit. When that’s done, I’m still shaking, my chest heaving, my mind racing with no place to settle.
I slept with them. And they’re strangers.
What have I done?
I throw my belongings into my suitcase, trying to ignore the presence of everything in the room that belongs to Max and Miles, because it all makes me feel sick again.
I’m about to rush out, when I realize I don’t have a way to get home. Max drove me here. If Max is even his real name.
I swipe across my phone in search of the rarely-used ride app, and when I find it, my fingers are shaking as I try to make arrangements.
There’s a knock at the door, and I freeze. If it were my mom, she’d pound on the door, but it’s a soft knock; maybe it’s Sadie. I don’t answer it. I have no idea what to say. What can I say? I was such a fool.
The knock persists, a little louder this time, and then the door slowly opens.
Fuck! I should have gotten out of here quicker. “Stay out!”
“Callie …” He’s entering slowly, and I can’t tell which of the twins it is, because the voice is different from how I’ve ever heard them. It sounds tortured, pained …or at least that’s how he’s acting.
“I said stay out. This is my room.”
“Callie, I’m sorry.” It’s Max, and there’s concern and hurt in his eyes to match his voice, but it’s meaningless to me.
“Sorry?” Never has a word been so inadequate.
“Callie, please let me explain.”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I really don’t, though there’s so much that doesn’t make sense.
“John Hargrove doesn’t just own a shipping company. He’s a drug trafficker, and we caught him in the act tonight.”
“We? Who exactly are you?”
“Miles and I are special agents for the State Bureau of Investigation.”
I blink at him. “Get out, Max.”
His eyes go to my suitcase. “Don’t leave, Callie, please. I can’t stay with you right now, but I want the chance to talk to you later, to give you a full explanation. Miles will want to talk to you, too.”
I need him to go, because tears are threatening. “How could you do this to me? You used me!”
“Callie, we didn’t want to hurt you.”
I’m trapped in a nightmare. Everything has been a lie. My sister’s wedding is ruined. Her new marriage may very well be over. My family’s never going to speak to me again, and they’ll be completely justified in hating me.
“Get out now, Max, or I’m calling security.”
The only good thing that happens all day is that my roommates aren’t home when I get there. I can’t bear to face them, either.
Earlier, I was texting them about how well everything was going. I was giddy with happiness, looking forward to telling them about Max and Miles. Now, my life is ruined, and even worse, Sadie’s life, too.
Somehow, I manage not to vomit again.
All I want to do is go to bed, but I need to shower first. My skin feels dirty, like I’ve been touched by strangers, which I have.
Once I feel sufficiently clean, I pull on shorts and an old t-shirt, turn off my phone, crawl under the covers and cry myself to sleep.