Chapter Twenty-Two
Calypso
A couple days have passed since Stefan and Jo’s unexpected visits.
One was much more of an appreciated surprise than the other. Stefan’s been quiet since Monday, though. When I saw Ruby at the grocery store last night, she was alone. She waved but we didn’t approach each other.
She’s been on my mind a lot.
Instead of focusing on Stefan, or trying to overthink my relationship with Liam, my worries have been placed on Ruby.
There’s not much I can do, no matter how badly I wish there was.
If what Stefan said is true, I’m hoping his disinterest in her is a better alternative to his obsession.
Calling Martha and her vicious claws the “better option” when it comes to anything feels unlikely.
Either way, they both have a twisted, archaic sense of ownership over us, and leaving Ruby to fend for herself feels cruel. Overstepping will most likely cause more problems for her, so being a friendly acquaintance seems like the best option for now.
Ruby is also the one who has given me the most courage to call Mia. Her contact number is pulled up already, and I have the entire kitchen to myself for once. Chuck and Juanita will be back from lunch soon, so my time is dwindling.
I press the call button and drop my phone on the worktable like a hot potato. Shaking out my arms, I wait for Mia to answer, only slightly hoping that she doesn’t.
It rings… and rings… and when I think I caught her voicemail, the line clicks.
“Hello?” When I don’t answer immediately, Mia sharply cuts in, “Calypso, are you there?”
I nod, immediately feeling foolish, then clear my throat. “Hey, yeah. I’m here. How are you?”
“I’m fine,” she slowly draws out. “How are you? How’s my cousin?” I can practically hear the shit-eating grin slide into place.
“We’re fine. I’ll let him know to check in soon.”
She laughs, lightening the moment enough that I take a deep breath and rest my hands on the metal table.
Mia’s quick to get back to business. “Is there a reason you’re calling, Calypso?”
I sigh. “Yeah. I’m sure you’ve heard that Stefan is back in Amada Beach.”
Papers shuffle on her end. “Oh, I’ve heard, and I plan to give his little cherub of a fiancée my business card as soon as I can.”
I huff out an amused breath. Mia sounds vindicated at the prospect of a round two with Stefan and his lawyer. Personally, I’d love to be far, far away from the ring this time.
“So, you’re calling about Stefan then? Is he bothering you?”
“Er, yes.” One thing Mia made me promise her early on was that I wouldn’t lie to her. After how much she helped me, it’s the least I can do, regardless of every instinct telling me to hang up and handle it myself. “He’s why I’m calling. He’s been contacting me.”
Faint scratching of a ball point pen comes through the line. “Recently?”
Grimacing, I tap my fingers on the table. “Ish?”
Whatever she’s writing comes to a stop. “I need a more concrete timeline than that.”
“It’s been a while.”
“Longer than a year?” I hum in acknowledgement, making her sigh. “Two years?… Three years?”
“Mmm. Something like that, yes.”
I imagine she’s shaking her head at me. “I need to move some things around but can you meet me at my office on Monday? Eight a.m.?
“Yeah.” It’s reluctant, my rationale ignoring the reason I called her to begin with. “That works for me.”
“I’ll see you Monday, but call me if anything happens before then.”
Juanita comes through the kitchen door, so I promise Mia I will and end the call.
Everything feels too overwhelming now—too real.
Tapping my hands against my thighs, I look around the kitchen. “Hey, Nita, where’s Chuck?”
She looks around the fridge door, concern creasing her features. “He ran to the store for a few ingredients. He wanted to test something. Is everything okay, mija?”
Nodding, I glance at the clock. “Everything’s fine.”
The room feels too small, and my skin too fucking tight.
“Will you be okay if I run out for a bit?” It is our policy to never leave anyone alone in the kitchen for an extended period of time. With our levels of experience, it’s unlikely any big accidents will happen but it’s not impossible. “If it’s not busy, I can ask Gav—”
She waves a frosting-covered spatula in my direction. “Chuck won’t be long, and I’ll be decorating these cookies for at least an hour.”
“Okay,” I breathe out and remove my apron.
I need to get out of here—feel the ocean air on my skin. The humidity cloaks me like a weighted blanket as the back door slams behind me. Without thinking about a destination, I take a walk around the neighborhood.
My feet don’t lead me to the beach.
The weather app didn’t say anything about precipitation this morning, but it started to sprinkle on my way to the dance studio. It’s enjoyable for now, but the clouds are moving in over the ocean.
I come to a slow, hesitant stop in the middle of the parking lot. Half the building is closed off due to construction, and I’m not here for the dancers. However, my current outfit—biker shorts, a t-shirt, and slip-ons—are probably not fit for an active construction site.
One quick glance around tells me Liam is here somewhere, because his 4Runner isn’t far from where I’m awkwardly standing. Coming here feels foolish now.
When things with my ex-husband start getting too “real,” this is what I do? Run to the fakest thing in my life?
That doesn’t feel accurate for Liam and me, even making me cringe a little. Maybe our relationship is fake, but his support and companionship have become a coveted constant in my life over the last two months. That has to count for something if craving his comfort can lead me to wherever he is.
“Calypso Rainn, there you are.” Pippa’s melodic voice wraps a warm embrace around me before her arms do. “I’ve been asking that man of yours when you were going to visit me.”
Pippa has always been one of the most beautiful women in my eyes.
She is only an inch shorter than me, and has always carried herself with the confidence of a queen.
Even as she holds my shoulders at arms-length, there isn’t a wrinkle in her leotard or a strand of caramel brown hair poking out of her bun. I mean, it’s raining for God’s sake.
“Oh…” I blush, feeling guilty about my absence. It’s been months since we’ve had dinner, and I’ve declined two offers since the renovations started. “Sorry.”
Her eyes crinkle with amusement. “And you aren’t here to see me today, are you?”
I break under her stare and grimace at myself. “I just need to talk to Liam about something.”
“Mmm,” she hums with a meddlesome smile. “Well, let’s go find him and get out of the rain.”
Letting Pippa hook her arm through mine, we go into the studio.
She excitedly tells me about the plans she and Liam have worked up, pointing out different projects as we walk through the south side of the building.
Their expected timeline is four months, and they’re only a few weeks into the project.
I’m glad to see her attitude has changed so drastically, though.
Pippa leads me to the offices, which is an area I had only been called to when I was in trouble. It feels weird despite being an adult and long graduated from her program.
Not far from the entrance, Liam is huddled over a desk with one of his employees. Hazel, I think. She’s one of the project managers, and Liam’s closest friend at work.
Between whatever Hazel is saying and the incessant buzzing of drills, there’s no way I should have caught Liam’s attention, but he looks up almost immediately. Worry and happiness fight for priority as he stands and makes his way toward me.
“She looked lost,” Pippa teases with a wink.
A bright grin pulls at Liam’s lips. “Thanks for returning her.”
Rolling my eyes, I cross my arms and watch Pippa sashay out of the room. When I turn back to Liam, his head is tilted but his eyes are roving my body.
“You’re wet.”
I can’t help but snort. “Wait until we’re alone next time.”
His nostrils flare before letting out a deep breath. “Not what I meant.”
“You said it.” I shrug and pretend to look at my nails.
Shaking his head, Liam gently grabs my chin and forces me to look at him. “You walked here in the rain. What’s going on?”
“It was more of a sprinkle.” Exasperation threatens to take over his expression, so I cut him some slack. “I called Mia. And I just… wanted to tell you?”
The hand holding my chin is now wiping a smile off his own face. At least, he’s making a poor attempt at it. “You called Mia and needed to tell me right now?”
Well, when he says it like that, it’s not lost on me that I could have called him. Or waited until we both got home.
Not his home—my home.
My nose scrunches in embarrassment. “It felt like a good idea at the moment but now I am regretting it.”
I turn to leave but Liam catches my hand first. Interlacing our fingers, he pulls me into one of the empty offices. There aren’t any blinds, or even a door, but it creates a little more privacy.
Spinning me around, Liam pushes me until I’m resting against the abandoned desk and fits his legs between my knees. It’s an intimate position but lacks any sensuality at the moment. There’s only warmth and protection pulsing between us.
“What did Mia say?” he asks.
I shrug. “Not a lot. We didn’t get into the details yet, but she asked me to meet with her on Monday.”
He nods slowly, assessing me for a long moment. “Do you want me to go with you?”
Yes.
Thankfully, I don’t blurt that out. Instead I go with, “Do you want to go with me?”
“Yeah.” His chest drops at the admission, like he was physically holding that back. “But I won’t overstep on this.”
Biting my lip, I let my eyes move around the empty space and focus on his musky cologne.
Liam already knows everything that is currently going on, but there’s a lot about our divorce I’ve never shared.
It’s less about not wanting him to know, and more about not wanting to think about those years with Stefan for a second longer.
My instincts tell me to run, as fast and far as possible, but Liam is always ready to fight and protect the people around him. Stefan has made it clear that he won’t give up. Not until I’m worn down and hopeless, at which point I’d willingly go back to him.
No, never again.
Looking up at him with raw vulnerability, I know I need a little bit of Liam’s influence to get through this. “Yeah, you can go with me.”
A smile plays at his lips but he bites it back, quite aware his smugness wouldn’t be appreciated right now.
“I’m proud of you for calling her,” he says in a low, smooth voice and brushes his calloused thumb along my cheek.
I sneer and flinch back. “Praise is not my kink.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not trying to turn you on right now.” He lets out a dark chuckle and leans closer. “If I were, I’d be on my knees already.”
Squinting at him, I push his chest and create some much needed distance. “I’m leaving now.”
“I’ll drive you,” he says, already pulling his keys out.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to argue with him, but the rain is now falling in a heavy sheet against the window and roof. With a look of concession, I follow him out of the office and accept the work jacket he offers me before we step outside.
By the time we make the short drive back to Brighter Daze, my anxiety has folded itself back into the ratty, old box in the corner of my mind. It will rear its ugly head soon enough, I’m sure. Probably as we’re stepping into Mia’s office next week, but Liam will be there. That’s something.