Chapter 14
fourteen
brEE
“What do you mean he’s going into work today? Doesn’t he know he’s supposed to be out here, whisking you off on a romantic, honeymoon-worthy adventure?” I tease into the phone.
Juliette’s laughter bursts through the line. “We’re leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow, so he had to go to the distillery to wrap some stuff up,” she says. “Besides, now I get to hang out with you all day. Get your butt over here.”
“Well, in that case, yes, ma’am. Let me just check with your aunt to see if it’s okay to borrow her car for the day.” I start heading toward the kitchen.
“She’s already good with it,” she assures me. “I texted her this morning.”
I chuckle. “All right then, I’ll be there in a bit!”
I hang up with Juliette, toss a quick goodbye to Rose, and grab the keys from the counter. As I slide on my boots—yes, the ones Callan gave me—I can’t help but give them an extra moment of attention. Like, seriously, how did a pair of boots end up making everything more…real?
Yesterday was wonderful. Callan is like the perfect cocktail of funny, witty, and so easy to be around.
Also, ridiculously hot. Even so, it’s not just his charm or the way he can make me laugh at the most random times.
It’s the way he makes the world lighter.
He’s got an energy I didn’t know I needed until he walked in and handed it to me on a silver platter.
When he brought me back to Rose’s place, I could practically feel the hesitation hanging in the air.
Both of us were trying to figure out how to stretch the moment without actually saying it out loud.
He didn’t want to say goodbye, and I sure as hell didn’t want to let go either.
It was like we both knew something, but neither of us was ready to acknowledge it yet.
Now, here I am, pulling up Juliette’s gravel driveway. She’s sitting on the porch, glowing in a way that only someone about to become a mom can, like the universe itself is shining down on her.
“Hello, precious mama!” I squeal, completely forgetting how to walk for a second and nearly tripping over my own feet as I dash up the porch steps.
I throw my arms around her, squeezing her like I might never let go.
It still doesn’t seem real. My best friend, the one who used to steal my clothes and gossip about the guys we used to think were cute, is going to have a baby. A baby.
It feels like just yesterday we were two clueless teenagers trying to figure out how to survive high school, and now…now she’s about to bring a tiny human into the world. It’s surreal in the best way.
“How is my future niece or nephew treating you?” I ask, plopping down on the chair next to her.
She flashes a grin, her hand instinctively resting on her stomach like it’s already second nature. “Not too bad. So far, I’m just horribly exhausted. And a little nauseous, but I’m not complaining.”
“Ah, the joys of pregnancy. This is amazing, Jules. You and Knox are going to have the most gorgeous baby on the planet. Seriously. I’m so excited for you.”
I swallow hard, trying to push the lump in my throat down before it decides to make an appearance.
The truth is, I wish I could be here for all of it.
The doctor’s appointments, the cravings, the late-night chats where she vents about everything.
I’m going to miss so much of this just because I’m too far away.
“Thanks,” she says quietly. She gives me a slight smile, but then her expression shifts. “So uh, I think we have something to talk about?”
Oh. Yep, that’s fair. I pause, and for a split second, it feels like my heart might launch itself straight through my ribs.
I give her an exaggerated eye roll, trying to pretend like I’m not internally panicking.
“You’re talking about me with my tongue down your brother-in-law’s throat in the middle of your wedding reception, I assume? ”
She leans forward with that glint in her eye, the one that means you better spill, and I know I’m not getting out of this. Looks like we’re definitely having this conversation now.
“I don’t know what to tell you,” I begin, dragging a hand through my hair, clearly avoiding eye contact. “The sexual tension between the two of us has been simmering since I was here last time. Like, straight up cooking. I couldn’t resist.”
She nods like she’s been expecting this and raises an eyebrow. “And…?”
I swallow again, stalling. “And nothing,” I admit, finally cracking. My shoulders slump a little, the weight of it all suddenly a lot heavier. “I went home with him. Chickened out. Did some…almost third base stuff. You know, the usual.”
She’s watching me closely now, waiting for the punchline. So I give it to her.
“But there was zero penetration…” I pause for effect, “from him,” I add quickly, a grin sneaking its way onto my face as I throw her an extra curveball.
She levels me with a flat look, eyes narrowing like she’s trying to decide if I’m messing with her or genuinely being this vague. “That’s all you’re going to tell me? I don’t think so. Spill. Like you would ever let me get away with so little detail.”
A laugh escapes my lips because, well, she’s absolutely right. “Are you sure you’ve got your hormones in check enough to hear the details? Because between your wedding night and what went down yesterday, they might not be able to handle it.”
She settles into her seat, folding her legs up on the chair and getting comfortable for a long, juicy story. She leans back slightly, her eyes practically glowing with anticipation. “Oh, I’m ready.”
This is about to get a whole lot more real than I was planning.
The words bubble up, threatening to spill over, and if I’m being honest, I can’t stop them now even if I wanted to.
So, naturally, I do what any semi-sane person would…
I bare every last detail, no matter how small, no matter how scorching hot.
The words tumble out in one wild, unfiltered confession. Every heated moment, every unsure thought, and every intense, spontaneous decision is out there. There’s no going back or pretending I didn’t just spill my soul all over the place.
When I finish, Juliette’s jaw is practically on the floor, her eyes wide, her shocked expression full of disbelief. “Holy hell, Bree. How are you feeling about all of that?”
God, I love her. She’s not cheering me on like some reckless friend, telling me to “go for it” without a second thought.
No, instead, she’s genuinely concerned about how I’m processing it all.
She’s always tuned in to the emotions of everyone around her, and right now, she’s all in, focused on me.
The way she cares so deeply makes my heart swell, and suddenly, all that chaos I just unleashed doesn’t feel so overwhelming.
“Honestly?” I ask.
She nods. “Always.”
“I do like him, which is terrifying,” I admit. “And I apparently have some intimacy issues. but none of this matters because I leave in a couple days and don’t have plans to come back, unless it concerns you.”
Juliette tilts her head in the way she always does when she’s really listening.
She hears what I’m saying and what I’m not.
The stuff I’m trying to hide behind, the bravado, and the walls I’ve built up over the years.
She’s looking at me like she already knows everything, like she’s been reading me the whole time without me even realizing it.
“What, I just opened the verbal floodgates and left you speechless?” I ask, trying to deflect with humor, but there’s a little wobble in my voice I can’t hide.
She smirks, a small laugh slipping out. “Not speechless. Just…processing.”
It’s almost like she’s seen this kind of mess before, and it doesn’t faze her at all. She doesn’t rush me, doesn’t judge.
Oh, right. She has been here before.
I nod, the realization sinking in. “I guess you understand better than anyone, huh?”
Her eyes soften even more, her expression gentle but knowing. “I do. I also learned the hard way that the things that scare us the most are the ones worth fighting for.”
She reaches out and takes my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Bree, I’ve seen you go through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I’ve never seen you light up the way you just did, even while you were panicking.”
A lump forms in my throat, and I have to bite my lip to keep the tears from falling. It’s like she just reached into my chest, pulled out all the chaos, and made it feel…okay.
“This is probably just infatuation. I mean… You’ve seen him. You married what might as well be his twin.”
She shakes her head. “Infatuation doesn’t make you terrified. It doesn’t make you question your life plans. What you’re feeling? That’s real.”
I let out a frustrated sigh, half laughing, half groaning. “Well, shit. That sucks. So much for my blissful bubble.”
She quirks an eyebrow, and I wave her off, trying to brush it aside. “Let’s just keep this to ourselves for now, please? Callan hasn’t made any moves that tell me he feels this…strongly. I’m pretty sure he’s just having fun.”
“It’s your life, Bree. I won’t interfere. Unless, of course, I deem it necessary.”
“Brat,” I mutter, sticking my tongue out at her.
She smirks, unphased, and sticks her tongue out right back. “Real mature.”
I roll my eyes, but she doesn’t let up. “Seriously, though,” she continues, her tone shifting slightly, “you couldn’t have chosen a better guy. Cal is great.”
I let out a breath, a little too long for it to be just a casual exhale. “Yeah, I know,” I admit. That’s kind of the problem.
Juliette and I are at Rose’s for dinner. Knox is picking Juliette up on his way home. The kitchen smells like roasted garlic and fresh bread, and my stomach is already preparing itself for an overload of carbs.
Rose leans forward, practically buzzing with excitement. “Let’s talk baby names!”
“Oh, hell yes,” I say with a grin. I’m all in. “Girl names or boy names first?”
“Girl names,” Rose answers without hesitation. “I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a girl.”
Juliette leans back in her chair, arms crossed casually, a slight smirk on her lips. She’s watching us with the kind of amused patience only she can pull off.
I start mentally sorting through names. “Okay, girl names. What about—”
“I’m not naming her after you,” Juliette cuts in, her voice dry but full of that familiar sass.
I laugh, throwing my hands up in surrender. “Come on, Brianna Marie is a classic!”
Rose glances between us. “Well, if I had to pick something classic, I’d go for Grace or Ella.”
“I like the sound of Ella,” Juliette considers. “It’s simple but elegant.”
“Hmm… What about something with a little more edge? Classic with a bit of flair?”
Rose rolls her eyes. “You two are impossible. This is supposed to be fun, not a debate over whether the baby’s name will sound like a rebel or royalty.”
Juliette leans forward. “I’m listening.”
I give a playful shrug, rolling the idea off my tongue. “What about…Maisie?”
The moment the name leaves my lips, Juliette’s eyes light up. “Oh, I love that!”
“Yeah, see? A little edge, a little charm. It works.” I smirk, watching her nod. “Maisie MacKenzie. Sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” she admits.
“And then her middle name can be Brianna,” I say, not even trying to hide the smug grin spreading across my face.
Juliette throws her head back and laughs. “Nice try, but no.”
I shrug. “Worth a shot.”
Then, my phone buzzes in my hand.
“Oh, is it lover boy?” Rose teases in an overly curious tone, but I’m already glancing down at the screen, my stomach giving a little twist.
“I highly doubt that,” I say, but when I see the name, my brain short-circuits for a second. “Oh, uh…it is.”
“You going to get back to him?” Juliette asks.
I shake my head, a tug-of-war pulling inside me. “Nah, not right now. We still need to discuss baby boy names. And eat.” The last part comes out with a bit more enthusiasm, but I’m starving. It’s also easier to focus on food than whatever is going on with Callan right now.
Juliette and Rose dive right back into their baby-name debate, but my attention drifts.
It’s not that I’m not interested. Hell, I’m completely invested in whatever name they choose for the little one, but my mind keeps wandering back to Callan.
I try not to think too much about it. It’s just one message, right?
An hour later, Knox swings by to pick up Juliette.
I do my best to hold it together as I wave them off, watching their car disappear down the road.
They’re about to have the best honeymoon, and I’m so freaking happy for them.
The pit in my stomach isn’t because of them, though.
It’s because I know I might not see Juliette again for a while.
And the idea of that… Well, it’s hard to swallow.
I shake it off, trying to ignore the sudden flutter of nerves in my stomach as I pull my phone out of my pocket. There it is. The message from Callan. My heart does this weird flip. I stare at the screen for a second, not sure of what to expect. Maybe some casual “Hey” or “What’s up?”
Instead, I get…
Callan:
You. Me. Ghost tour in Edinburgh.
Well, how could I possibly say no to that?