Chapter 60 Callan #2
“You know I never agreed.” He swivels to face me.
“This is fate, Hunt. I don’t give a fuck what anyone says.
You did the right thing, the honorable thing.
You walked away even though you missed her every single day.
You’re still suffering. I hate that you can’t move on, but maybe that’s the point.
You were never meant to. She’s back, and it’s a sign. ”
“She’s engaged, Trav. She’s got a massive fucking rock on her finger and a billionaire fiancé who already looks like he wants to wipe me from existence. I can’t compete with someone like him.”
“Bullshit. Astrid never gave a shit about material things, and she loved you like crazy.”
“Loved. As in past tense. She hates me now.”
“She won’t when she knows what really happened.”
“That is not a foregone conclusion, and how can I tell her? This isn’t just about me. That prick wouldn’t think twice about kicking us off the project. I wouldn’t be surprised if he left to meet with his legal team to do just that.”
“I’d like to see him try,” Travis scoffs. “We have a watertight contract, and we haven’t done anything to breach it. He can’t terminate the agreement without massive legal penalties.”
“Come on, mate. He wouldn’t give a fuck about that. He’ll orchestrate a scenario where we were in breach of something to get out of the contract, or he’ll just pay us what we’re owed. He’s rich as fuck. He can afford to throw money at it to make me go away.”
“He’s got a tight schedule, and there’s no way he’d find another competent contractor to slot in at such short notice. I don’t doubt he wants you gone from what you’ve said, but it’s not that easy.”
“We have to protect the business and our livelihoods. Our reputation is on the line, which is why we need to assign Riley to work in my place.”
I don’t have huge savings, having used the last of the money I got from my football contract to pay for my house and start the business.
We’re plowing a lot of the profits back into the company to grow it, and the next few years are critically important for us.
We can’t have Seán Devlin fucking up everything because he’s a jealous bastard.
I need to provide for my daughter, and it’s better for my sanity if I’m not around Astrid Nevan all day, every day.
Being so close to her when she’s no longer mine would be the worst form of torture.
So this is the only play.
“He doesn’t have the right experience. Hell, Riley barely even knows how to use our system yet.”
“He’ll learn. He has Dave, and I can work with him behind the scenes as long as I stay out of sight.”
“I suppose it helps that he knows Astrid, and he took her side.”
“We can sell this to Devlin and salvage the project and our reputation.”
“What about you and her? What are you planning to do?”
“Nothing.” I drain the rest of my drink and reach for the bottle. “I can’t do anything. She’s made her feelings clear, and I’m not going to push. I don’t want to derail her life. I did that once before, and I swore I’d never hurt her again.”
“What about you? When do you get to prioritize you?”
I shrug, pouring more bourbon into both our glasses. “This isn’t about me. It never has been.”
“Don’t do this, Callan.” He eyeballs me as I drink from my glass. “Don’t give up without a fight. Isn’t she worth fighting for?”
“Of course, she is, but she doesn’t want me. She wants him.”
“You don’t know that for sure. She’s been blindsided the same way you have.”
“The difference is she still thinks I did her dirty.”
“Which is why you need to tell her. The truth has the power to change everything.”
“Or nothing.” Astrid is probably right about that. “We’re different people now, and what happened changed both of us. I need to let her go. It’s what’s best for her.”
“Do you really believe that? No bullshitting, man. Search your heart. Is that really what you want?”
I don’t have to think about it for long. I swallow over the lump in my throat before shaking my head. “Of course, it isn’t. I still love her. Seeing her today only reconfirmed what I’ve always known. It’s her or no one.”
“Then please don’t give up. You deserve to be happy, Callan. More than anyone I know, you deserve that. She might wear his ring, but she’s not married to him yet. There is still time. She fell in love with you once before. It could happen again.”
“When did you turn into such a sap?” I tease, needing to lighten the mood before I do something epically pathetic like cry.
“I learned from the best.” He drills me with a look, and I laugh, which is a fucking miracle when it feels like my heart is shredded in my chest.
“I was a fucking sap, wasn’t I?”
“You were in love, and you wanted to give her the world. There is no shame in that.”
“We were so good together. So perfect.”
“You could have that again. Say you’ll at least think about it?”
“I can’t do anything, Trav. The ball has got to be in her court. I’ve thrown out the bait. It’s up to Astrid now if she wants to bite.”