Chapter Thirty-Five
Liam
The last few weeks leading up to the wedding have flown by.
After the incident where Asher found the wedding invitation, the fundraiser went well.
I can’t imagine how much that hurt him, but I have even more respect for the man after he pulled his shit together to be there for his baby sister and the fundraiser she hosted.
Asher’s been a little distant, especially with Calypso. She won’t admit how deeply it hurts her, but we all know it does. He needs this space though.
Thankfully, there have been plenty of distractions on her end.
She’s thrown herself into helping Vivi as much as possible, preferring to focus on the logistical side of things: the wedding cake, alteration appointments, making the center pieces, calling to check on reservations, and so on.
It takes her focus, and guilt, away from thinking too much about the actual ceremony today.
Things on the Stefan front have been as expected. Calypso never called him after he left the flowers at her house, so he’s taken it upon himself to call her multiple times. She blocks every number he uses, but he always finds another way to contact her.
I almost wish Mia’s PI had found something—he didn’t, and I am glad about that.
Neither Calypso, nor I, could stomach knowing he invaded her privacy worse than the nights he waited at the hotel for her.
Which was only twice, after their first run-in two years after the divorce.
However, we discovered he had a PI of his own who kept tabs on Calypso.
The man didn’t peek through her windows or hack her phone records.
Everything he did to get information on Calypso was fair and decent, at least in the eyes of the law.
It certainly doesn’t seem that way, and I can only assume how Calypso feels.
There’s a lot we don’t know, but I’m still questioning Stefan’s motives for moving to Amada Beach, and why the timing lined up with my arrival so perfectly.
Assuming that Stefan looked into the men in Calypso’s life as well, however long they were a part of it, he must have known I was moving to town after our night together.
At that time, Calypso and I had no plans to ever see each other again. Maybe Stefan thought it was something more, something he needed to be worried about.
That’s my guess at least, and Calypso thinks there’s some validity to it.
She’s still unsure about filing a protective order, though I wish she would.
Not only is she worried about shutting out Ruby, but I know she doesn’t want the stress of going to lawyers and courts again.
I get that—fucking hate it, but I get it.
We’re both putting any thoughts of Stefan to the side in favor of celebrating Vivi and Grady’s wedding today.
Standing outside of Bonnie’s house, I’m helping Adrian and Lucas bring in crates of liquor. Their bartender had to pull out at the last minute, so Jo offered to help out. It’s such a small wedding with only a few drink options. It’s an easy gig for her, plus she was going to be here anyway.
Jo has financial support from Paul, and she takes advantage of it sometimes—like her birthday and the yacht trip—but she’s insisted on supporting herself since graduating from college, so it’s not uncommon for her to pick up odd jobs.
She’s just happy to be with everyone and to have something to do on a Saturday night. I’m glad she’s here.
Calypso’s pretty face pops out from the front door. Her makeup is done and her hair is pinned up to hold the curls in place. “Vivi wanted me to check on the bar. Were you able to get everything for the specialty drinks?”
I nod and walk up the porch steps.
Behind me, Adrian says, “There wasn’t any blood orange flavoring but Sammy said he’d make a few batches and drop them off.” Sammy owns Spotlight Lounge, one of Vivi’s favorite places.
Calypso lets out a sigh of relief. “Great, thank you. And Grady?”
“He’s at his parents’ house with Knox and your brothers,” Lucas answers as he leans against my 4Runner and crosses his arms. Grady’s parents live directly behind Bonnie, and they installed a fence between their yards.
The ceremony will be held at the Davies, and the reception dinner will be at the Millers.
“We have a few more boxes to help Jo with, then I’ll head over there. ”
She nods and looks up at me. “Hey.”
I step forward and push the door open wide enough to snatch her waist and pull her against me. She snickers and runs her hands up my chest.
She’s in a matching pajama set and silk robe. It’s so far from her typical lounge attire but she’s doing it for Vivi.
And she looks sexy as fuck in the little short and tank top set.
“Hey, honey,” I murmur and drop my mouth to hers.
It’s the first time I’ve seen her today. She, Lexi, and Blake stayed with Vivi at their mom’s house last night. It’s the first time in three months that we haven’t spent a night together, and now I’m even more certain that I never want to do it again.
“You need anything?”
She tilts her head, thinking it over. “No, I’m okay. We have a stocked house.”
“Call me if you think of something.” I twirl one of the curls she left out, framing her pretty face.
She rolls her eyes but agrees. “I will. I should go bac—”
“What the fuck?” Lucas sneers from behind me at the same time an engine shuts off. There have been cars driving by all morning, but none of the guests should be arriving yet.
Peeking around me, Calypso’s face drains of color. She shakes it off quickly and walks forward, closing the robe tightly around her.
Turning on my heel, I catch Stefan stepping out of his sedan.
Adrian looks a little confused but he’s standing close by Calypso, as is Lucas. It only takes a matter of seconds until I’m stepping up behind her. To my surprise, she takes a small step back, closer to me. I grab her waist protectively, possessively.
“What are you doing here, Stefan?” she asks, exasperated.
He buttons his suit jacket, an air of arrogance wafting off him. “They say weddings bring people together.”
Calypso leans over, looking into his car. “Yeah, where’s your fiancée, then? I’d love to have her here.”
He ignores the question. “I thought with Vivi’s nuptials, it would be the perfect day to talk—catch up finally. Since you refuse to answer your goddamn phone.”
“Sounds like you’ve kept up with her life more than enough,” I say with an easy shrug.
Lucas is glancing between us. I’d never go behind Calypso’s back, so I haven’t talked about the PI with anyone, and I doubt Mia has either.
Stefan never takes his eyes off of Calypso. “You’re being ridiculous. Calypso, I just need to talk with you. That’s it.”
“Talk then,” she shouts and throws her arms out. “Why are you here, Stefan? What do you want? Why now? I have a million questions, but I’ll never get an answer from you.”
“Not here,” he says calmly but his left eye is twitching. The mask is slipping.
Calypso shakes her head. “Then we aren’t talking.”
They have a silent standoff—him on one side with his hands stuffed in his pockets and Calypso next to me with her arms crossed. There is an entire conversation happening between them that none of us are privy to.
I hate that.
Even now, I fucking despise the fact that he knows Calypso in ways I don’t. That he has his own things with her that half a decade can’t erase.
Slowly, his gaze moves to me and he offers me a slimy smirk. “You should leave now before she has the chance to kill everything you’ve ever wanted.”
Calypso’s body stiffens, and I swear she goes cold through the thin fabric.
“Seems like you can’t take your own advice,” I retort. “So why don’t you leave before Lucas calls some of his friends at the police station?”
He works in corporate law mostly, but he knows quite a few of the local police officers in Amada Beach, as I’m sure the Davies do.
“You and I are going to talk soon,” Stefan says darkly and jabs a finger in the air toward her.
For once, Calypso doesn’t have a retort for him. She’s standing quietly in front of me, arms tightly wrapped around herself. Whatever expression she’s wearing brings a smug smile to his face.
“Tell Vivi I said congratulations,” he mocks and steps into his car.
We all watch him drive away before Lucas and Adrian silently grab another load of bar materials and walk to the back, leaving Calypso and me alone.
It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what he meant. I don’t. Not now—not here.
“I’m going to go check on Vivi.” Her tone is as dull as the lifeless look in her eyes.
I grab her wrist. “Calyp—”
She shakes me off and glares at me. “Don’t.”
Instantly, I drop her arm. We stand there, staring at each other in silence for a few seconds before she strides up the porch stairs and locks the door behind her.
The ceremony was beautiful but quick and the dinner hour has passed.
Now, there are about fifty people scattered across the Millers’ and Davies’ connected backyards as we listen to the speeches. Even Jo took a break from the bar to sit next to me.
Calypso is up there now, putting on her best face to recollect her years of memories with Vivi and Grady. How, much like everyone else in their families, she always knew they’d end up together eventually. How important both of them are to her and that she couldn’t think of a more perfect fit.
Word of Stefan’s visit has spread through her family. Bonnie tried to pull Calypso aside which almost caused an argument until Asher stepped in.
Really, he’s the only person she’s been willing to spend time with tonight. Other than for appearances, she’s avoided me as much as possible. We shared one dance but she refused to speak, even when I avoided the topic of Stefan entirely.
Something about what he said deeply affected her. I don’t know if it was the part about how I should leave her—not happening—or how she “killed” everything he’s ever wanted.