Chapter Nine #3
Callie looked at Joel. She was frozen with fear.
He had already heard the worst. What could Ryan say that would be more shocking than the revelation that she had cheated on Ryan with his best friend?
She shook her head, confirming she wanted Joel to stay.
Ryan looked frustrated at Joel, but she didn’t care; if he didn’t want to speak with Joel in the room, maybe they would just leave.
“It’s fine,” Damian said, trying to encourage Ryan. “Just tell her. She needs to know.”
He glanced at Joel, who looked even more confused. None of their cryptic talk made sense. She had admitted to cheating on Ryan, yet they were apologizing to her, saying it wasn’t her fault. It was as if they were speaking about two different worlds.
“You were set up,” Ryan said slowly. “It was all intentional.”
Ryan repeated the same story he had told Damian, and Callie processed the knowledge that one of the worst moments of her life had been an intentional act meant to hurt her and sabotage their relationship.
She had suspected someone had slipped her something when Edward had asked for the urine sample.
But she never bothered to ask Edward for the results because it didn’t really matter.
Her memory had returned, and she could clearly remember having sex with Marco.
It haunted her, and she had panic attacks every time she thought about it.
“It’s not your fault,” Ryan concluded. “In fact, I’m probably more to blame than anyone else. I was stupid and threatened them.”
Callie looked at him in disbelief. How could he absolve her of all blame? She didn’t see the difference between being drugged and being so drunk she couldn’t remember what happened. Either way, she was responsible.
“You would have had no control over your actions,” Ryan continued. “It’s no wonder you can’t remember anything.”
“But I do remember,” Callie said, slowly, trying to hold back her tears. “I remember everything now. Sure, I thought I was with you in the moment, but my memory is clear now, and I can recall every detail. How could I be so stupid?”
“It’s not your fault,” Damian repeated, trying to reinforce Ryan’s position. “Callie, you didn’t know what was happening, and they did it intentionally to cause all this shit.”
“Callie, I’m so sorry,” Ryan said. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. Let us take you home. You don’t need to give up your entire life.”
Callie shook her head no as the thought of returning to the city sank in.
She didn’t want to go back. She loved Ryan more than she ever thought possible, but her heart was broken, and she knew she had nothing left to offer him.
The idea of returning to the city, where she had made so many poor choices and had nearly destroyed her own life, horrified her.
“I can’t,” she replied, tears in her eyes. “Why would you even want that?” Callie objected. “Our relationship has just been one hurt after another. You said it yourself; it was a shitshow. It’s as if the universe wants to ensure we stay apart.”
“It wasn’t the universe,” Ryan corrected quickly. “You know who it was.”
“How’s that any better?” Callie challenged. “If we get back together, they won’t stop.” Ryan was about to object, but Callie continued talking. “Go home. Forget me, both of you. Please just leave me alone.”
Both Damiana and Ryan continued to speak, repeating that it wasn’t her fault and asking her to come home so they could talk it through properly.
She felt trapped and wasn’t processing what they were saying anymore.
The room suddenly felt too small for all of them.
Callie stood. She wanted to run, and she wasn’t going to stop.
“Please just leave me alone,” Callie shouted, then she ran from the office, slamming the door behind her.
But when she stepped back into the restaurant, she realized her behavior had drawn the patrons’ attention.
The room fell silent, and they stared at her with grave concern.
Her panic escalated, and she felt trapped again.
She did the only thing she could think of and ran out of the store.
Edna tried to call after her, but Callie ignored her.
“Shit,” Joel swore, giving Ryan a scathing look.
But Joel didn’t have time to confront Ryan; a moment later, the door opened, and Edna came into the office in a panic.
“Joel!” she yelled. “Callie ran out into the storm.”
“Oh what the fuck!” Joel uttered in frustration, still glaring at Ryan.
“We have to go after her,” Damian said quickly, getting to his feet.
“Yes,” Joel agreed. “But that’s a hurricane out there, and the power is out everywhere. We won’t be able to see shit.”
Joel went to the closet and started pulling out items. He handed Damian a flashlight, keeping another for himself.
Neither Damian nor Ryan was dressed for the weather.
But their comfort was not Joel’s concern.
He hurried out of the store with Ryan and Damian right behind him.
The wind hit them hard as they stepped onto the street, making it difficult to stay upright.
Ryan wondered how Callie would have. Suddenly, he felt a hurt that quickly turned into pure panic.
Callie was in danger, and he was responsible.
He had scared her away instead of convincing her to come home.
He had shut off his heart, and maybe she felt it.
Now, as they searched through the storm, fear set in.
He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if something happened to her, nor could he picture life without her.
With the dark and the rain, they couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead.
Although Martha’s house wasn’t far, the trip felt like it took forever.
They had to dodge debris flying at them in the strong wind.
The water on the street was more than ankle-deep and rushing, making it hard for them to stay on their feet.
More debris came flying at them, and Joel tried to yell a warning.
Damian moved out of the way in time, but a large piece of wood hit Ryan in the knee, and he fell, yelling in pain.
Damian quickly went to help, pulling Ryan back to his feet and supporting him as they continued.
When they arrived at Martha’s house, it was dark, as expected.
Since Martha hadn’t been at the restaurant, Joel knew she would be home.
He banged on the door several times until she opened it.
When she saw the men, soaked and injured on her porch, she quickly waved them in.
Damian helped Ryan to the nearest chair and assessed his injury.
The leg wasn’t broken, but there was significant bruising.
“Martha, did Callie come home?” Joel asked.
“No!” Martha said. “Why would she? You’d be crazy to go out in this storm!”
“Are you certain she’s not here?” he pressed. “She didn’t slip in while you weren’t looking.”
“Joel, I have been reading in that chair with my candles for the past 2 hours,” Martha replied. “I would have seen her come home.”
Joel turned toward the door, and both Ryan and Damian started to follow.
“You definitely can’t come!” Joel protested, looking at Ryan, who could barely stand. “You’ll only be a liability out there, City Boy.”
“I’m coming,” Damian insisted. Before Joel could object, he added, “I’m a paramedic.”
Joel and Damian returned to searching for Callie in the storm. They made their way back toward the restaurant, paying close attention to every detail.
“We didn’t mean to upset her,” Damian said apologetically. His heart was pounding, and he was terrified for her safety.
“Good job,” Joel snapped back, clearly frustrated with them.
“When we find her,” Joel continued. “If she wants you to leave, you’d better.
If not, I’ll make sure you do, and in a way you won’t be able to come back.
I don’t give a shit if that’s Ryan Grant.
There are some things even he isn’t entitled to. ”
“How do you know Ryan?” Damian asked.
“Maybe you should answer that before I do,” Joel replied. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Damian,” he said, but Joel glared at him, waiting for an explanation. “I’m a friend of Callie’s, but when the situation between Callie and Ryan happened, I sided with Ryan.”
“Great friend,” Joel snorted.
“You heard what happened. We were all fooled,” Damian defended. “But yes, I was a jackass.”
Joel seemed satisfied with Damian’s admission and acceptance of blame.
He avoided Damian’s question about how he knew Ryan; there was no point making the situation more complicated.
The wind picked up with the rain, and fortunately, they couldn’t continue their conversation.
They persisted in their search, shining their flashlights on anything the size of a person.
The situation was becoming very dangerous, and staying out, even to find Callie, risked their lives.
By the time they reached the restaurant, they still hadn’t found her.
Joel pulled the door open, and the townspeople inside asked whether he had found Callie.
When they heard she was still missing, everyone asked how they could help.
“Edna,” Joel called over the noise. “Can you call Martha? Maybe Callie’s made it back, and we just missed her.” Edna agreed and dialed. “Everyone else, call anyone you know who isn’t here. Maybe she took shelter somewhere else.”
People started dialing their phones. Joel waited for Edna to finish her call. He couldn’t hear her side of the conversation over the restaurant’s noise. She returned, shaking her head.
“Callie never came back,” Edna confirmed. “And Martha said to tell you, the pretty boy you left behind, took off only a minute after you left.”