Chapter Twenty-Four
CALLIE
I hummed along to the pop song blaring through my earbuds as I tidied up the apartment. Dust rag in hand, I was wiping down the coffee table when my phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen.
Mom.
I paused the music and swiped to answer.
“Hey, Mom! What’s up?”
“Hey, sweetheart! Guess what! Your father and I decided to make an impromptu visit. We’re about an hour away from Columbus.”
I froze. “Wait, what? You’re coming here? Today?”
“Yep! Our plans were canceled so, since we had a free Saturday, we figured ‘what the heck!’ We can’t wait to see you and catch up on everything!”
“Um, wow, okay. This is...unexpected. Where are you staying? Do you need me to book a hotel or something?” My mind reeled. Thoughts ricocheted from my empty fridge to the clothes piled on my bedroom chair.
“No need, dear. We’ve already made reservations at The Westin downtown. I’ve booked us a table at Gianni’s for five o’clock, but Dad wants to see your apartment, so I figured we’d head there first.”
I glanced at the wall clock. 3:17 p.m. Shit.
“I mean, it’s not my apartment. It’s Marco’s.”
“We know, sweetie, but you’re living there! And Dad hasn’t seen it. Oh, shoot. Mary is calling. We’ll see you in an hour!”
The line clicked off, and I stood motionless, rag dangling from my hand and a strange dread brewing in my stomach. Spending an evening wining and dining with my parents was not how I envisioned this Saturday. Then a jolt of realization hit me.
“Shit, Emmett!” I quickly unlocked my phone and pulled up our text thread.
CALLIE
Hey, change of plans. My parents sprung a surprise visit on me. Rain check on tonight? So sorry!
As I hit send, a pang of disappointment mingled with the anxiety churning in my gut. An evening with Emmett was infinitely more appealing than fielding Mom’s loaded questions and tolerating Dad’s awkward silence.
I tossed the phone on the couch with a sigh and surveyed the cramped apartment. Time to shift into damage control mode. I began furiously dusting every surface in sight.
As I removed recyclables and random piles of clothes, resentment simmered under my skin.
I knew how these visits went. Mom, impeccably groomed and sporting designer labels, would cast a critical eye over my outfit and cluck disapprovingly at my hair.
Then she would casually pivot to my newly single status and lament the fact that I hadn’t found a suitable replacement for Hugh.
I pictured the look on her botox-smooth face if I announced I was dating my boss. I snorted out loud at the thought.
But was I dating Emmett? Sure, we were sleeping together, and he told me he loved me, and we spent nearly every evening together. But that was all behind closed doors. The only people who knew were me, Emmett, and Marco.
My phone buzzed with Emmett’s reply.
EMMETT
No worries, baby. What are you guys getting up to?
CALLIE
My mom made reservations at Gianni’s. They’re picking me up in an hour, so I must make myself presentable enough for Lydia Winters’ high standards.
EMMETT
You could walk into that restaurant wearing a trash bag and you’d still be the most beautiful woman there.
Warmth spread through my chest. The man was too sweet for his own good, but he also had a filthy mouth when he was buried inside me. The perfect combination.
CALLIE
I don’t know about all that, but I appreciate the sentiment.
EMMETT
Have fun at dinner.
CALLIE
Ugh, maybe. As long as my mom doesn’t try to marry me off to an optometrist again. I’ll text you later!
Determined to make the apartment presentable and conceal any evidence of my decidedly un-country club lifestyle, I grabbed the vacuum and got to work, a plan crystallizing in my mind.
I could handle one dinner with the parents. Smile, nod, deflect. Then maybe after, Emmett and I could rendezvous for a nightcap—a little incentive to get me through the evening.
* * *
A little over an hour later—the apartment tour complete—Dad pulled up to the valet stand at Gianni’s.
Inside, the warmth of the restaurant instantly wrapped me in a blanket of comfort. It was my favorite for a reason. The sizzles and pops from the open-plan kitchen welcomed me back, and the smell of simmering sauces and freshly baked bread had me salivating.
“Hello, there. We have a reservation under Winters.”
“Ah, of course, Mrs. Winters. The other member of your party just arrived a moment ago.”
“Other party?”
“Yes! Right this way.”
My stomach dropped as she led us toward a table. I saw the back of a head of sandy brown hair, sitting atop wide shoulders—shoulders my legs had recently been wrapped around while their owner licked me to a screaming climax.
Shit, what is he doing here?
“Here we are!”
Emmett turned, and his handsome face came into view—complete with blindingly beautiful smile.
I forgot to breathe.
“Emmett?” I stammered.
He flashed me a wink before turning to my parents.
“Mr. and Mrs. Winters. I hope you don’t mind me crashing your dinner.”
My heart pounded in my ears as my mother’s eyes widened. “And who do we have here?” she asked.
Emmett spoke before I could open my mouth. “I’m Emmett, Callie’s boyfriend.”
Dad blinked at him, but quickly recovered and extended a hand. “Emmett, nice to meet you. Please, call me Paul.”
“Paul, great to meet you, as well.”
“Callie didn’t tell us she had a boyfriend.” Mom surveyed Emmett head to toe, no doubt assessing his suitability.
“Well, I suppose it’s still quite new.” He shot me an apologetic glance. “But we’re both very happy.”
There was a heavy silence as my mother continued to scrutinize him. “Well, do join us then, Emmett,” she said, her chilly demeanor finally melting into politeness. As the evening unfurled, I watched him weather the storm of Mom’s curiosity with unfaltering charm.
“So, Emmett, what do you do?”
“Actually, I’m Callie’s boss. I lead Special Projects at Price Industries.”
“You’re Emmett Price?” My mother turned noticeably giddy.
“The one and only.”
I nearly choked on my wine. Of course, she would be thrilled that Emmett came from money. My mother lived for prestige and status. She was probably already mentally planning our wedding.
“How lovely,” she said, eyeing Emmett like he was a juicy filet mignon. “Callie never mentioned she was seeing someone so...accomplished.”
I squirmed, irritation prickling under my skin. I knew that subtle jab was directed at me. Emmett must have sensed my discomfort because he reached under the table to squeeze my hand.
“Well, we try to keep things professional at work. But I was quite taken with your daughter the moment I met her. She’s remarkable.” Emmett smiled warmly at me, and my heart fluttered.
My mother preened at the compliment, no doubt picturing the status she would gain as the mother-in-law of a Price.
“Remarkable indeed,” she said. “I always knew Callie would land a big fish someday.”
I squeezed Emmett’s hand harder. My mother would see this as something to boast about to her country club friends.
She didn’t care about my actual feelings for Emmett.
In her mind, he was a trophy to elevate her status.
Anger simmered in my chest. I was tired of her judging my worth by the man on my arm or the size of the ring on my finger.
I stood abruptly. “Mom, can I talk to you for a minute? In private?”
I didn’t wait for her answer, just strode purposefully toward the restroom hallway. With an exaggerated sigh, she rose and followed me.
In the privacy of the hallway, I wheeled on her. “What is your problem?” I demanded.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. You know exactly what I’m talking about!”
My mother blinked, feigning innocence. “Callie, I’m simply happy you’ve found someone special. A woman wants a man who can provide for her.”
“Is that all you care about? What someone can provide for you?”
She tilted her head. “It’s wise to consider such things. Love doesn’t pay the bills.”
I stepped closer and kept my voice low. “I can pay my own bills. And even if I couldn’t, I wouldn’t care if Emmett was penniless.”
Shock flashed across her face. “Callie! Don’t be foolish. You’re not going to want to work forever. You’ll need someone like him to support you.”
I let out a mirthless laugh. “You’ll never get it, will you? I work because I want to—because I enjoy it. And I love Emmett for who he is, not his bank account.”
She looked at me like I had three heads. I sighed and softened my tone. “Mom, I’m not you. I want more than just a cushy lifestyle. I want a partner who respects me and supports my dreams. Emmett does that. He sees me for me.”
I could tell she didn’t understand, but she stayed silent.
“Well, I’m going to use the ladies’ room,” she said eventually.
I nodded, and when she stepped around me, I saw our topic of conversation leaning against the wall.
I cringed. “How much of that did you hear?”
“Most of it.” He sounded casual, but I didn’t miss the grin threatening to break through his cool facade.
“You have a bad habit of eavesdropping, Mr. Price.”
He pushed off the wall and prowled toward me.
“Love, huh?”
I leaned my forehead into his chest. “That’s not exactly how I wanted to tell you.”
“I’ll take it, regardless.” He wrapped strong arms around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’m sorry if I made this dinner harder. I just thought it might be best to rip the band-aid off, you know?”
“It’s not your fault. She’s impossible.”
Emmett stroked a soothing hand up and down my spine, holding me while my anger dissipated.
“Better?”
I nodded against his chest. “Good, let’s go get you some pasta, baby.”
He knew me so well.
Our relationship was more than money or status or job titles. In no time at all, he had become my rock, my safe space, my biggest supporter.
“I love you, Emmett.”
He closed his eyes, like he was savoring the words. “I love you, too, Cal.”
His kiss made my knees buckle, but he caught me. He always would.