by Erika Kelly
“So soon?” Brodie asked. “Didn’t they just meet?”
“Shut up,” Callie said.
“Yes. Oh, my God, yes.” Delilah hurled herself into his arms, knocking him onto his ass. Ruby climbed on, and the three of them hugged and laughed on the floor.
He kissed his fiancée and let the joy of his family wash over him. Nothing had ever felt so good, so right, so perfectly—
“Will.” His uncle’s voice broke through.
“What?” He shot him a look that said, What could you possibly need from me right now?
His uncle was watching the screen of his phone and shaking his head. “Well, guess the timing’s good.”
“What’re you talking about?” Will headed over to his uncle and reached for the phone.
“You both going to need wedding dresses sometime soon?” With a smile in his eyes, Lachlan looked at the women.
“Yes, why?” Callie said.
On the screen, it looked like a car had crashed into the bay window of someone’s ocean front home. And mowed down what had to be a dozen wedding gowns.
“What is this?” Will asked his uncle.
“Guess Gray had a little accident.”
“Is he okay?” Fin asked.
Lachlan pulled the phone back. “He’s the one who sent the picture.”
“What’d he say?” Will asked.
Lachlan read the screen. “’Got a good deal on some wedding gowns, if Callie wants one. Also, I might need some bail money.’”
Also by Erika Kelly
Thank you for reading THE HEARTLESS BOYFRIEND! It’s the second book in The Bad Boyfriend series:
* * *
THE WORLD’S WORST BOYFRIEND
THE HEARTLESS BOYFRIEND
THE CARELESS BOYFRIEND
THE THOUGHTLESS BOYFRIEND
* * *
Have you read the Rock Star Romance series? Come meet the sexy rockers of Blue Fire:
* * *
YOU REALLY GOT ME
I WANT YOU TO WANT ME
TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
MORE THAN A FEELING
* * *
And Erika Kelly’s super passionate Wild Love series:
* * *
MINE FOR NOW
MINE FOR THE WEEK
MINE FOREVER
* * *
Look for The Careless Boyfriend coming April 2019! Sign up for my newsletter to find out when it goes up for preorder and come hang out with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, and Pinterest or in my private reader group.
Preview
Here’s an excerpt from THE WORLD’S WORST BOYFRIEND, the first in The Bad Boyfriend series, out now!
Surrounded by the scent of laundry detergent, Calliope Bell leaned against the washing machine as she read the comments from Traci Allen’s Instagram page.
You rat bastard. There is no excuse. You hear me? None. I don’t care if you miss the Pope’s wedding, you don’t abandon your girlfriend when she needs you. Fin Bowie, you suck!
Oh, my God, you left your girlfriend alone in a hospital in a foreign country??? How heartless can you be? You are the worst boyfriend, Fin Bowie!
He totally is. Fin Bowie’s seriously the worst boyfriend ever. I can’t even.
Ha! Fin Bowie = world’s worst boyfriend!
#worldsworstboyfriend
What had Fin done?
A bark of laughter jerked her attention out the mudroom window to the rehearsal dinner going on in her parent’s backyard. The lowering sun glanced off silver bolo ties, gold bangles, and belt buckles. She should be out there with her brother and his bride, but these comments… so many women advancing on Fin with pitchforks in their hands.
As much as she wanted to revel in his just-rewards, she knew how horrifying this kind of attention would be to him. He wanted to be a known as a champion like his older brothers—not some social media celebrity.
Well, he’d brought it on himself. Since breaking up with her six years ago, he’d gone off the rails. At first, seeing him party with so many women had gutted her. Scooped out her heart and rendered her a puddle of goo. So, she’d blocked him. It had been the only way to get on with her life.
On some level she understood. Until the breakup, he’d only ever been with her. Of course he’d go hog-wild with other women. He was a passionate, wild man.
Only this time he’d messed with the wrong woman.
Her thumb flicked the bottom of the screen, unleashing a whole new wave of comments.
Who leaves their girlfriend alone in a foreign country? Kick that dog to the curb, Traci. Sending you healing vibes. #worldsworstboyfriend
Something about this whole thing was off, though. As far as she could tell, Traci Allen, the famous snowboarder, had posted a screenshot of a text Fin had sent her. Callie scrolled back up to read it again.
Thanks for a great time. Gotta jet. Talk soon.
But Traci hadn’t explained it. She’d just left an ambiguous comment.
When you’re in the hospital and Fin Bowie sends this.
Traci’s whole life was documented on her Instagram page, so if she and Fin had been romantically involved, wouldn’t there be pictures of him? Callie couldn’t see a single one. And Traci had only mentioned his name once, when she’d talked about going on one of his backcountry trips.
So how had that one post turned Fin into the World’s Worst Boyfriend?
Callie reread the initial responses. In the beginning, her fans had asked questions. When Traci hadn’t responded, they’d begun to speculate. And those assumptions had turned into a story: Fin had dumped his girlfriend to catch a flight back to the States so he could go to his friend’s wedding. Within a matter of hours, he’d begun trending.
And the hashtag was everywhere.
“Oh.” Her mom tossed an armful of damp kitchen towels into the washing machine. “What’re you doing in here?” She looked at the phone in Callie’s hands. Hope enlivened her tired features. “The fellowship?”
A hot flush of shame had Callie pressing the phone to her stomach. Between finals and graduation, she hadn’t been in touch with her family, so they didn’t know her plans. “No, the interview isn’t until August twenty-fifth.”
“Oh.” Her mom’s expression turned curious. “So, is it about a job?”
“No.” Because why else would she be holed up in the laundry room at her brother’s rehearsal dinner when she was only in town for three days? “Actually, I’ve decided to just work part-time at the diner and the bar. Julian’s parents invited me to hang out with them this summer so they can introduce me to the movers and shakers of the Manhattan art world. It would take me a decade to make the kind of connections they have.”
“Makes sense.” Pushing her long, gray-streaked hair off her face, her mom nodded to the phone. “So what’s got you so enthralled that you’d leave your handsome boyfriend alone with a bunch of strangers?”
The arrow hit right in the center of her conscience. Reflexively, she glanced out the window, searching for him. “Is he okay?” They’d only been dating six months, so she hadn’t brought him home yet. Julian didn’t know a single person in Calamity.
“Oh, come on. He’s Prince Charming. Nothing but gracious and kind.”
She wanted to be proud of her well-mannered boyfriend, but there was something slightly off in her mom’s tone.
Her mom made a gimme motion with her fingers, and Callie turned the phone around.
One glance, and her mom got it. “Ah. How many comments are we up to now?”
Callie couldn’t have been more grateful for a mom who never judged her. “Ten thousand.”
Her mom’s eyes widened. “Wow.” She rested her hip against the dryer and folded her arms across her stomach. “I don’t know. I’m having a hard time believing Fin could abandon his girlfriend in a foreign hospital.”
Callie gaped at her mother. “Are you kidding me?”
“Oh, stop it. It’s not the same thing. He’s not seventeen anym
ore, and you weren’t hospitalized.”
“Mom, he bailed on me three hours before we were supposed to leave for the airport.” To be with his brother. Just like he’d abandoned Traci for Ryder’s wedding. Fin and her brother might not be related by blood, but the bond went as deep.
Amazing how six years later the crap she’d buried could rise like steam and give her hot flashes. I thought I was done with this.
Her mom adjusted the fabric belt of her peach-colored dress. “Does it make you feel better knowing it wasn’t you? It’s just who he is?”
“No.” Nothing would ever make her feel better about how Fin had ended their relationship. The shock of it still moved inside her body, a live thing trapped and scrabbling against the walls. “Because you’re right. Something’s not right about it. Other than posting the screen shot, Traci’s been off social media. Her fans are making assumptions.”
“Then why are you so interested in reading the comments?”
“Because it’s happening to Fin. That’s pretty crazy, right? That my ex has turned into a meme?”
“Well, he’s a Bowie. They’re celebrities.”
“Yeah, in the world of extreme sports.” While trophies and awards motivated—validated—his brothers, Fin was a true artist. He trained and hit the slopes to push himself, his body, and to find the limit of his capabilities. Being known as a scoundrel would strike at the very core of his identity. “He doesn’t want this kind of attention.”
Her mom’s gaze flicked outside, clearly anxious to get back out there. “Oh, I don’t know. A man with his own website can’t be too worried about attention.”
Fin probably only ran it to prove to his brothers he wasn’t just playing around out there. That he was as serious an athlete as they were.
Like she knew anything about him anymore. She hadn’t talked to him in six years.
But she’d have to talk to him today, wouldn’t she? The minute she left this room, he’d come for her like a heat-seeking missile. Her skin crackled with anxiety.
“Come on, let’s go.” Her mom started for the door but hesitated when Callie didn’t follow.
“I’ll be right behind you. I just…” You what? She wasn’t ready. “I need to take a quick look at my emails.”
Her mom watched her for a moment before letting out a harsh breath. “He’s the best man, Callie. You’ve had a lot of time to prepare for this.”
“I’m not…” She didn’t want her mom to see her as the drama queen teenager she’d once been. “Look, I haven’t seen him in a long time. It’s just…it’s going to be uncomfortable.”
“Isn’t that why you brought your boyfriend with you?”
Normally, she loved that her mom pulled no punches. Tonight, though, a little pretending wouldn’t hurt. “God, Mom.” She stuttered out a bitter laugh. “I wanted you guys to meet him.” But her bluster collapsed under her mom’s unrelenting stare. “I mean, obviously, on some level…” Oh, just say it. “Yes, okay? That’s one of the reasons I brought him.”
“So, there you go. Find your shield and stand behind him.”
Oh, ouch. All at once she could see her mom’s attitude was anything but casual. “Why are you angry at me? So I need a few minutes to myself. It’s not easy for me to be around him.”
“Yes, Callie, I get that. We all get that. But it’s been six years. And if you’d just talk to him, you wouldn’t have to keep avoiding him.” Her mom blew out a frustrated breath. “Don’t you want to move on?”
The words stung. Move on? She’d done exactly that. With her undergrad and graduate degrees from NYU, she’d made her dream of living in New York City a reality. A few years from now, she’d—hopefully—become a museum curator.
She wanted to say, Look at me. There was none of the old Callie left. How could her mom not see that? “Are you kidding me? I have completely moved on. I’m a few months away from working at the MoCA. I have the best boyfriend in the world.” Who couldn’t be more different from Fin. “He and his parents have been wonderful to me. I love my life.” And, frankly, it hurt that her mom couldn’t see it.
“Yes, you’ve done a bang-up job of reinventing yourself. Congratulations. But I don’t know how you think you can start a new relationship when you haven’t closed out of the last one. You’ve got the degrees and clothes and bank account of an adult, so now act like one. Go out there and talk to Fin. Face the terrible decisions you both made so you can move on.”
Frustration and anger got her blood pumping. “I’m not an adult because I won’t talk to my ex-boyfriend? There’s nothing to talk about. He made his decision, and I made mine not to put up with his crap anymore.” It wasn’t like her mom could relate. She’d married her high school sweetheart. “Mom, he’s never going to change. This meme proves that. He’s always going to put his brothers before anyone else.” Before me. “Moving on means accepting Fin for who he is and not trying to change him. That’s closure.”
“Then why are you hiding in the laundry room at your brother’s rehearsal dinner?”
“Ellen?” The caterer leaned in. “We’re about to pass out the champagne. You want to give the heads-up to anyone giving toasts?”
“Sure.” Her mom nodded warmly, and then turned back to Callie. “Put your phone away and be here for your brother, okay?”
Callie ran her fingers over the heavy, jeweled bracelet Julian had given her for graduation. “Of course.” Heart pounding, she followed her mom out the back door. As she crossed the scarred wooden deck, she dropped her phone into her clutch, accepting that her mom was right.
Callie had lost touch with her brother; she barely even knew his bride. She wanted to get to know her four-year-old nephew and spend time with her parents without the constant worry that Fin might show up. It was time to put the past to rest and just…be home.
Stepping off the deck, she thought of Julian’s mother, the way she so fluidly and elegantly worked a room. Yes. Be Mrs. Reyes. She’d simply act like she was at an art gallery opening, and Fin was just someone in the room.
Well, someone she’d had sex with. A lot. In pretty raunchy ways. Oh, Lord.
Stop it.
Think about the meme. Because if Fin had bailed on Traci like that, then he hadn’t changed. And that emboldened her. Because it meant he could never hurt her again. She’d never give him the chance.
When she stepped onto the grass, she put her weight on her toes to keep her sharp heels from sinking into the dirt. She scanned the yard. The moment her gaze landed on Julian, the pressure on her chest lifted.
Urbane, polished, and charming, her boyfriend stood out among the other guests in their Western-wear and more casual attire. In his custom-made Brioni suit and crisp, white dress shirt, his hair slicked back off his handsome face, Julian looked like a model for a watch ad.
Callie made a bee-line for him. Weaving through round tables covered in white linens, she noticed the pink and lavender flower centerpieces with flickering candles were the only nod to décor. But with the Grand Tetons as a backdrop, what else did they need? The striking sight never grew old, especially now when twilight cast purple and peach shadows over the starkly rugged peaks.
With a smile in place, she glided past familiar faces. A jolt of anxiety zinged through her when she saw a wall of muscle blocking her boyfriend. Two of Fin’s brothers reached for champagne flutes on a wicker tray. Crap. The heel of her five-inch stiletto sank into the grass, breaking her stride. A cold sting of embarrassment shot through her, but she quickly corrected. Perspiration sprang out on her forehead. She stopped herself from patting it away so she didn’t mess up her foundation.
Fortunately, they’d moved on by the time she’d gotten there, revealing Julian’s companion.
Megan. Of course she’d known her friend would be at the wedding; she just would’ve preferred if their first reunion in years didn’t take place in front of her boyfriend. No one understood her better, though, so she had to hope her friend got why she’d fallen out of touch.
“Megan. It’s so good to see you.”
But when she leaned in for a hug, her friend’s arms remained at her sides. “Hey.” She didn’t even smile.
Heat raced up Callie’s neck, enflaming her cheeks. Trying to cover for her embarrassment, she placed a hand on Julian’s biceps and channeled his mother. “I see you’ve met Megan.”
“Yes, I have.” Julian gave a gracious nod to her old friend. “We’ve been chatting about her yoga studio.”
“Well, it was nice to meet you.” But Megan’s flat tone said otherwise, and she turned to go.
Underneath the shock of her friend’s blatant rejection ran the horrifying awareness that Callie had earned it.
How in the world had she assumed Megan would understand what she’d gone through when Callie had never told her? “Megan, I—”
Her friend stopped and turned to her with a challenging expression.
Did she really want to have this conversation in front of Julian? Later tonight, she’d pull her aside and they could talk. But for now…For now, Callie needed to keep it together. “It’s great to see you. So you teach yoga? Where?”
When Megan didn’t immediately respond, Julian said, “Here. In Calamity.”
“That’s great.” But she couldn’t hide her surprise. Megan had always wanted to be in theatre.
“I keep trying to get Calliope to use my yogi, but she refuses,” Julian said.
Having grown up with obscene wealth, Julian had no understanding of her financial situation. Not only couldn’t Callie afford yoga classes, but she wasn’t about to sponge off her boyfriend. Crashing at his place is bad enough.