22. Callie #2
Is it smart to engage in something casual with my boss? Is he even looking for something casual? It wouldn’t match the image social media portrays of him, but that never matched what he showed me himself.
I’m so confused, and I’m certain the only thing that will help right now is more vodka.
“Does anyone want another drink?” I push off the couch, a slight rush in my head as I wander over to the kitchen.
“I’m still going with mine.” Liv takes a sip of her gin fizz, her eyes trailing over the board.
“Same.” Maevyn raises her glass from where she’s seated cross-legged on top of the coffee table.
“What else is on the con side?” I ask, unscrewing the bottle of vodka and pouring a small amount into my glass.
“Just boss and playboy,” says Liv, surveying the board.
“What?” I top my glass with ginger beer. “That’s it? What’s on the pro list?”
“Thoughtful. Understanding. Likes kids, Navie specifically. Gorgeous. Good kisser. Gifted with his hands. Strong family values.” Maevyn rattles off each point.
“Jesus, it sounds like I’m interviewing candidates for a husband,” I whine. “Am I being a complete loser and making this bigger than it is? I bet he hasn’t even given what happened a single further thought.”
“Didn’t you say he wanted another—” Liv snorts, her face growing bright red as she muffles a laugh. “Taste.”
“Maybe he was just caught up in the moment?” I finish my drink with a squeeze of lime.
“I know talking about your brother is off-limits,” Maevyn says, the last part in air quotes. “But can I tell you what my experience was like as a single mum who had never dated before him?”
“Can you keep it PG?” I ask, a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth as I rejoin them in the lounge room.
“I’ll try.” Maevyn smirks. “I spent twelve years running from my past, leaning on a very small circle of people. I got very comfortable with relying on myself and holding people at arm’s length because letting them too close meant they started to ask questions, and I didn’t want to lie to anyone.
I became an expert at avoiding.” Her face softens as she takes a breath.
“Westley wouldn’t let me avoid him. He was patient but determined, never making things about what he needed, but his words and his actions let me know I was safe to explore what I needed.
” Maevyn looks up at me, eyes emboldened with experience.
“People weren’t made to be perfect. Beauty is in the flaws.
But no matter what you do in life, don’t half-arse anything.
I’m gonna tell you something his mum told me: ‘You never know what you’re looking for until you open your eyes to all the possibilities. ’”
My lungs fill easily, comforted by her words. “Thanks, Mae.”
I’m still not sure what the right thing to do is, but one thing’s for sure: these ladies make it hard to feel like a fuck-up. I love the way they both continue to pick themselves up over every hurdle they face, and whether they stumble or get knocked all the way down, they never fail to keep going.
I take a decent gulp of my drink, then tug Maevyn off the table towards me.
“Liv!” I call, pulling her from the daisy she’s doodling in the corner of the canvas. “Get in here.”
She laughs, diving on the couch as I pull up my phone and fit us all into the frame, taking a blurry photo of the three of us and posting it to my stories with the caption: Booze, boys and best friends.
Before I have a chance to put my phone away, a notification drops down.
@i.heart.mason liked your story.
My heart pounds in my chest. Butterflies swirl in my stomach. Liv wobbles as she stands from the couch.
“Is anyone else starving? I could totally do a pizza!”
My attention flicks from my phone to where Liv and Maevyn are now hovering in the kitchen, debating pizza options. Another notification pops up at the top of my phone screen, a direct message from Mason.
@i.heart.mason: you look like you’re having fun
“Callie?” Maevyn calls. “Pizza?”
I chew on the side of my lip. “Mason messaged me.”
Both my friends gasp as they come running back to the lounge room.
“What did he say?!”
I turn the phone around, showing them his message.
“Say something back,” Maevyn urges.
I’ve had just enough vodka to make me do something reckless, or at least something I wouldn’t have been brave enough to do without a bit of liquid courage and advice from trusted friends.
@itscallie: I am
@i.heart.mason: who are these boys you’re with?
My lips roll together, fighting a giddy smile.
@itscallie: there’s no boys. Just boy talk
@i.heart.mason: boy talk?? I’m a boy, anything I can help with?
@itscallie: maybe…
@itscallie: I’m in a bit of a situation. I hooked up with someone and I’m not sure if I should have and what it meant to them. Now I don’t know what to do. Got any advice?
Bubbles dance on the screen as Mason types out a response. My foot bounces as I wait for his answer.
“Well?” Liv asks, trying to peer over the top of my phone. I hand it to her, and she presses her head against Maevyn’s as they both eagerly read our exchange.
Maevyn gasps, her eyes flicking up to mine.
“What?” My eyes jump between them as their faces light up with excitement, and Liv hands the phone back to me.
@i.heart.mason: I think you should definitely make a move the next time you see him.
“He didn’t say anything about what it meant to him,” I say, my gut feeling heavy with unexpected disappointment. I didn’t realise how badly I wanted the confirmation that he was thinking—obsessing—about what happened too.
“You’re pretending it’s not him you’re talking about, though,” Maevyn points out, making Liv nod.
“Yeah. Give him a more direct context to reply to.”
“I’m going to finish our pizza order while you do it,” Maevyn says.
@itscallie: but there’s a problem with that. He’s my boss. I don’t think I want to be anyone’s secret, and it’s not very professional. That’s something we promised it would be when I started working for him.
@i.heart.mason: what if he never looked at you like his assistant? What if he always wanted more, but didn’t think he had a chance?
@itscallie: you thought you didn’t have a chance with me?
@i.heart.mason: whoa are we talking about us? I thought this was some other guy you hooked up with?
@itscallie: very funny.
@i.heart.mason: thank you for noticing *wink-emoji*
@i.heart.mason: I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left the house. If I’m being honest, there’s rarely been a day I haven’t thought about you since we first met.
@itscallie who are you, Mason Heart?
@i.heart.mason: whoever I want to be when I’m with you
@i.heart.mason: can I see you?
I glance over to Liv and Maevyn, laughing in the kitchen.
It looks like Liv has decided to whip up something sweet for after pizza, and I’m not sure if any of us are sober enough to be trusted to operate an oven.
I should probably text my brother to double-check, but instead, I snap a picture and send it to Mason before I can overthink it, my heart beating erratically the whole time.
@i.heart.mason: you’re beautiful
@itscallie: should you be saying that about your assistant?
@i.heart.mason: I don’t know, but I’m gonna say it anyway.
@itscallie: do I get a picture of you?
@i.heart.mason: what are you gonna do with it?
@itscallie: no fair! I didn’t ask what you’re gonna do with mine
@i.heart.mason: look at it, obviously
@itscallie: well thats what i’ll be doing too
A few seconds later, a photo comes through. Mason’s lying in bed, shirtless, a low glow of light obscenely objectifying his chiselled chest, and a thick gold chain resting over his smooth skin.
@itscallie: you realise your hotness defies reason?
@i.heart.mason: you realise your pussy has my tongue in a chokehold?
I squeal, slamming my phone face down on the arm of the couch.
“What?” Maevyn shouts as Liv yelps in surprise.
“Nothing! Um, are you sure you’re not doing anything that’ll blow up my brother’s kitchen?”
Liv scoffs. “These are my go-to brownies. I could make them with my eyes closed.”
“Ohhh, let’s blindfold you!” Maevyn claps, running out of the room, heading in the direction of my bedroom.
I take a few deep breaths before I look at Mason’s messages again.
@i.heart.mason: too far?
@i.heart.mason: Callie?
@itscallie: I wasn’t expecting that! I just had to lie to the girls so they didn’t question why I screamed.
@i.heart.mason: *laughing-face-emoji* sorry. I can’t help myself around you.
@itscallie: you’re not around me right now, so behave!
@i.heart.mason: but it’s sooo hard *smirk-emoji*
@itscallie: Mason!
@i.heart.mason: Fine! I’ll behave, but just know it really is hard. And I’m not trying to be funny now, it’s hard to keep my thoughts straight when you’re around because i do really like you
I rub at my chest, his words filling me with an ache that’s bred from want, confusion, desire, uncertainty … hope.
@itscallie: i really like you too
But where does that leave us?