Chapter 22
To Be With You
Cash
Callie has been radio silent since Sunday. It feels like something has changed, but I don’t know what.
I texted her on Sunday night— ‘I can still taste you on my tongue.’ Nothing.
I texted her on Monday—‘Want to grab lunch this week? Or you can come out to the ranch and see my buckles?’ Still nothing.
By Tuesday, I’m starting to panic.
Hurricane, did I do something? I thought, well, I thought it was perfect. Talk to me.
Callie
No, you didn’t do anything.
Then silence again.
Wednesday, I don’t text her. I stop by Waylon’s after work and Duke is behind the bar.
“Hey, Duke.” I give him a smile; he doesn’t return it. What the hell is wrong with everyone? Is there something in the water?
“What’s wrong, man?” I ask him when he puts the beer in front of me.
“Nothing, just figuring shit out.”
“Since when is being a grumpy asshole to me you ‘figuring shit out’?” His eyes darken at my words and I have no idea where I mis-stepped, but clearly, I said something.
“I’m not grumpy, I’m just dealing with shit. Not everything is for you, Cash. Fuck!” He throws a beer bottle into the sink, causing it to shatter.
“Woah, what the fuck? You seriously just threw that bottle?”
Duke has always been hyper aware of his temper. His dad did a number on him, and he’s worried someone will think he’s like Phil.
He drops his head, swearing.
“Sorry. Women will really mess everything up. They just blow in like a storm and set your world on fire. Then, tell you they are talking to someone else. And it’s fucking with my head.
I just want—I don’t know.” He blows out a breath and pulls the tequila from the wall, throwing back a shot.
Then another. “Do you think it’s possible to keep seeing someone after they tell you they are talking to someone else?
Like, be understanding that you’re not the only one?
” he asks me, looking desperate for help.
“Is she cheating on you?” I respond, already angry on his behalf.
He shakes his head. “No, we never even had a discussion about what we were or whatever. It’s new, you know?
We only hooked up once and it was like—” His eyes widen, almost to the point of it being funny.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it.
But after, she changed. Then she told me it’s because she can’t give me all of herself. And she’s trying to figure it out.”
I think back to my hot dog date with Callie, and how I saw she has someone else in the wings.
“I think you can. I think I am right now. I’m pretty sure Callie has at least one other guy she’s talking to.
We aren’t serious or exclusive. I want more, but she isn’t ready.
So, I just continue to give her my all until she decides what she wants to do. She feels...worth it, I guess.”
He nods affirmatively like he gets it. “Yeah, okay. I guess. Okay.” The hurt in his face hurts me to see.
The days and weeks after Indie left were the hardest time to be his best friend.
And I saw him his whole childhood cover for his dad.
Duke spent the better part of a month drunk.
Sitting in the house or at the bar, drinking day and night.
Sadie and I kept this place going while we waited.
One day, he just showed up, sober, and decided it was time to get on with things.
And at no point did he ever look as lost as he does right now.
“We’ll both get through it. Like we always have, together.” I reach my hand across the bar.
He takes it, clasping our hands. “Together.”
We share a few beers before I head home, deciding tomorrow is the day I get something from Callie. I thought Sunday, in her bed, was a turning point for us. The necklace, the worship. I pray it wasn’t just me.
Walking into Pete’s, I know there’s a chance I’ll find Callie. I grab a flat cart and head over to the horse pellets and load up. As I’m throwing my third bag of feed on, I hear a laugh. A laugh I recognize.
Callie.
Leaning out of the aisle trying to find her, I hear her laugh again and it’s the sweetest sound.
My stomach drops at the thought of someone else bringing that laugh out of her and I decide to leave her alone, for now.
Carrying on to the dog food, I add a bag to the cart before heading to the register.
“Cash?” Hearing her voice, I swivel my head, looking for the source and come face to face with the woman who visits my dreams every night.
And she’s just as cute as I remember with her little apron on.
Her khaki-colored slacks stretch across her round ass, and I remember how it felt to grab a handful. I shift a little.
“Hey, Callie. Fancy meeting you here,” I tell her with a smile and a wink.
She giggles and I feel like I’m floating.
That’s my girl. She comes closer and wraps her arms around my stomach, squeezing before laying her head on my chest. I pause for a second before wrapping her in my arms. I lean down a little to whisper. “Hey, Hurricane. How’s my girl?”
She pulls her head up, looks up at me, and smiles. It’s not quite the same smile I got before, but she looks like she’s trying. Just inside the collar of her black shirt, I see the glint of gold.
Sticking my finger into the opening, I pull the shirt away from her chest, just a little and look down, seeing my necklace nestled there. The thrill of it is enough for me to pull her close again and let her feel her effect on me.
She smacks my arm, laughing as she steps out of my hold. I reach down and adjust myself, taking the pressure off.
“Hurricane, I can’t even explain what seeing that does to me.”
“I can see what it does to you, Cowboy. So can everyone else,” she snarks, raising a sassy brow.
“You could actually see it, if you would answer my texts,” I scold her playfully, wrapping an arm around her as I try and steer my cart one-handed.
I’m not successful, but thankfully she grabs a handle to help me push.
I want so much more from her than I think she is able or willing to give but it doesn’t mean I will stop fighting for it.
“Sorry, Cash. I was just working through some stuff, but I think I’m good now.”
“Good,” I whisper in her ear, breathing across it and making her shiver.
“Because I really really want to slide inside you and feel you come around me,” I say it with barely any sound, and she turns red from the top of her head all the way down until all the exposed skin I can see is bright pink.
My cock twitches in anticipation of literally anything.
I’m so tired of my hand, and so ready for Callie.
“Cash,” she says my name as a breath, her breathing a little heavy.
“Yes, baby?” I ask her, trying to conceal a laugh.
“Go pay for your stuff. I get off at five, wanna stop by?”
“You get off at five? You’ll be off again by 5:45. Bye, Hurricane!” I wave as I walk away, leaving her in the aisle, her mouth hanging open.