Every Kiss

by Tasha Ivey

  “Callie, I really don’t have time for this. And I didn’t take my number out of your phone, so you’d have a reason to stalk me at work. I need you to leave.”

  I plop down into the chair facing his desk. “No. Not until you hear me out.”

  “We’re not going through this again,” he growls. “I don’t want to see you anymore, and we have nothing else to say to one another.”

  “This has nothing to do with us, you stupid jerk. I didn’t come down here to try to convince you to be with me or anything like that. I came here because you’re running out of time. If you don’t stop being such a stubborn ass, you’re going to be too late, and you’ll never get anything resolved.”

  His aquamarine eyes cut right through me. “Fine. If it has nothing to do with us, then what could you possibly be here to resolve?”

  “I met your mother today.”

  “Oh that’s nice.” Wes jerks his arms free from his jacket and flings it onto his chair, crossing the room to stand in front of me. “So you went and whined to my mom about me? I did nothing but stick up for you when Shane told me what you said about me to Makenna. I told him they were stupid for treating you that way, when it was my fault to begin with. I told him that everything you said was true. And you repay me by bringing my mom into it more than she already has been? Complaining to her isn’t going to change my mind. She can’t change my mind.”

  Oh, hell. And he just thinks he’s pissed right now. “No, Wes. I didn’t speak to your mom today. I said that I met your mother. As in Chesley Adams.”

  Every muscle in his body freezes, except I can see the ones in his jaw flexing as he clenches it. “Get the hell out of my office,” he seethes through his teeth.

  This is the first time I’ve ever been scared of him. Not that I’m afraid he’ll hurt me physically, but that he’ll tear my heart to shreds. He looks like he could rip me apart right now, but I have to stand firm. I have to make him understand.

  “I will. But first I need you to listen.”

  He throws his hands in the air. “There’s nothing you have to say that I want to hear. You had no right, Callie. None. How dare you stick your nose in my business? My life isn’t any of your concern, and it never will be. I don’t want you in my life. I don’t want you talking to my parents or my brother or my friends. I sure as hell don’t want you talking to my mother. Why can’t you understand that I want nothing to do with you?”

  His words cut me deep, and I almost believe him. I know he’s trying to scare me off, but all he’s doing is pissing me off. “Would you just shut the hell up and listen for once? You think you know everything, but you have no freaking clue. I’ve put up with your shit countless times, and yet, for some reason I still care enough to try to help you. You don’t want anything to do with me? Fine. But you will sit your ass down and listen to what I have to say first. Then, and only then, will I walk away so you’ll never have to see me again. If you want to spend the rest of your life as a coward, well, I guess you have the right to do so. If you want to close yourself off to the rest of the world when life gets hard, be my guest. Because it’s you who’s going to be unhappy and alone. It’s you who’s going to lie in bed at night, wishing you hadn’t pushed everyone away. So this is my last effort to help you. Not because I’m under some stupid impression that I can be the ‘one.’ It’s because, no matter what you want from me, I care about you enough to want to see you happy.”

  “No, I—”

  “Would you just shut up?” I interrupt his rebuttal. “Sit down, be quiet, and give me fifteen minutes of your undivided attention. Trust me . . . you’re going to want to hear what I have to say. Then, when I’m finished talking, I’m going to walk away, just like you asked. You don’t have my number, and you don’t know where I live, so you can’t track me down and tell me how wrong I am. You just get the opportunity to listen. After that, we’re done for good. You won’t see me again. I’m not here to convince you to be with me. I just want you to hear what she told me, without interrupting me or sharing your opinions. You don’t get to talk. Understand?”

  “Fine.” Clearly infuriated with me, Wes moves around the desk and sits, folding his hands neatly on his desk and glaring at me. “For the next fifteen minutes, I won’t say a word, but you better run like hell when those fifteen minutes are up because you won’t want to hear what I have to say to you when you’re done.”

  He’s right. I don’t.

  “OKAY, I’M HERE,” Eve says, hanging her purse on the back of her chair. “You catch me up on everything on your end, and I’ll tell you what I know.”

  It’s been five days since I showed up at Wes’ office and forced him to listen to me about his mother. Just as I promised, I walked out when I was done, and he said nothing to stop me. I haven’t heard a word from anyone until Eve called me this morning, asking me to meet her for lunch.

  “Well, as I started to explain earlier, I told him everything that Chesley told me. The reason why she disappeared. The reason why she didn’t ever try to come back into his life. And why she’s trying to now.”

  “And?” she asks before sipping her water. “What did he say?”

  I shrug. “Nothing. He didn’t want to listen to me, so I made him a deal. He had to listen without saying a word, and I would walk out for good when I was finished talking. I held up my end of the deal, and I haven’t spoken to him since. But then again, he doesn’t have my number anymore, and he doesn’t know where my parents live, so it’s not like he can contact me. Not that he even wants to. Have you spoken to him this week? Has he said anything about it?”

  “Not to me, no.” She peers over her menu at me, her chestnut hair sweeping perfectly across her forehead. Is she ever not flawlessly put together? “Robert told me that he called him yesterday though. He actually talked to him about her, asking if she really disappeared from the hospital like she said. I think he’s looking to validate her story, which Robert did confirm. But there’s something I haven’t told you.”

  That doesn’t sound good. “What?”

  “She called me last night . . . right after Wesley emailed her.”

  I slap my hands down on the table, causing the salt and pepper shakers to clink together. “You’re kidding, right? He actually made contact? Oh my God. Was it bad?”

  Eve reaches across the table and pats my hand. “It’s good.” She beams a stunningly white smile, crinkling her eyes. “You did it, Callie. He’s going to meet with her this afternoon. He actually invited her over to his house to talk.”

  I jump up from the table and tackle her in an embrace, garnering the attention of everyone in the restaurant. It wasn’t all for nothing. I actually somehow convinced him to meet his mother, regardless of his reservations. This could be such a life changer for him, and I’m kind of proud of myself now for stepping in. Sometimes, I guess, sticking your nose in someone else’s business can pay off.

  “It actually worked. I can’t believe it.” I whisper when her arms tighten around me.

  “Thank you, Callie,” she says, running one hand over my hair. “I told you that he’d listen to you before he would anyone else.”

  Since the entire restaurant is focused more on us than their food, I slink back into my seat. “Well, let’s just hope that it all works out and doesn’t make anything worse. I’d like to think that this will change everything for him, but I know it won’t be immediate. It will probably take a while for him to alter his way of thinking, but if this doesn’t do it, I know there’s nothing else I can do.”

  “Sweetie, I told you the morning you came over for brunch. There is something you can do. Don’t give up. Don’t allow him to walk away from you. I don’t think that this is going to be a magic fix; he’s still going to need someone to show him that they care enough to not let him run. You know that as well as I do.”

  The waiter chooses this moment to come over to take our orders. As Eve gives her complex, none-of-this-and-extra-of-that order, I use that time to think about wha
t she just said. I’m pretty sure she’s saying that she expects me to keep pushing him, to keep chasing him. I don’t know that I have it in me to do that anymore. I’m not going to chase a guy that’s constantly telling me that he doesn’t want me, no matter what his reasons. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for him to finally say that he wants to take a chance with me. Being in a relationship with Wes, without any reservations or walls to climb, would be nothing short of incredible. We have an undeniable chemistry that clearly he can’t even seem to shake, regardless of what his insecurities are.

  “Ma’am?” The waiter’s voice snaps me back into consciousness. “Would you like to order?”

  Eve laughs and shakes her head emphatically. “Don’t overthink all of this, Callie,” she says after I give my sandwich order and the waiter shuffles away. “Just let it play out and decide what to do. You’ve done something that a woman hasn’t done for him in a long time. You made him question his own rules, and you got under his skin, making it incredibly hard for him to cut you loose. But with that said, he’s complicated, and I understand if the extra effort isn’t worth it for you. I’m just saying that, if you care about him at all, just wait it out.”

  “I honestly can’t tell you what I want to do,” I admit, nervously winding a ribbon of hair around my finger. “Maybe we’re both too stubborn to ever work things out. I know I can’t keep doing this to myself, though. Really, I think this is something that he’s going to have to decide for himself. Once he realizes he’s tired of being alone for no reason, maybe he’ll find the right person and take that blind leap.”

  “You might be right about that.” Eve straightens in her seat and nods confidently. “He’s never been one to leap, so I just hope I’m there to see it happen when it does.”

  And I’m holding out hope that I’m the one he’s leaping with.

  “OKAY, UNIVERSE . . . HAVEN’T I had enough drama this week?” I grumble to myself as I approach the driveway to my house.

  Makenna’s car is parked in my usual space, and as I approach, I can see the silhouette of two figures. There’s no doubt in my mind that Shane is the other person in the car. I guess I should’ve expected this because I know Makenna never stays mad at me for long, but if she’s looking for some sort of apology from me, she’s not going to get one. I’m sick of being the one she’s always blaming anytime Wes decides to be an ass.

  “Hey, Cal,” Makenna says sheepishly when I get out of my car. “Do you have a few minutes to talk?”

  “Uh, sure. My parents are gone, so the house is empty. Come on in.”

  They follow me inside, and I turn to face them after tossing my purse onto the island in the kitchen. Shane steps forward to speak first. It’s a little strange to see his direct gaze for a change, instead of a passing glare.

  “How was lunch with my mom today?” he asks, making an uncomfortable attempt at small talk.

  “Good. It’s always nice to see her.” I guess she told him she was meeting me today.

  “It is.” He looks down at his shuffling feet. “Look, uh, what happened in Gulf Shores . . . I feel terrible about how I acted.”

  Makenna takes a step forward. “How we acted. Callie, Wes told Shane everything that’s been going on with the two of you, and I wish you’d told me. If I had known, I probably would’ve agreed with everything you said that morning after he left. I knew he was difficult, to say the least, but I don’t think anyone really realized exactly how messed up he is.”

  “I know I didn’t.” Shane’s shoulders slump. “I’ll be honest, when he asked how the week in Gulf Shores went, I told him what you’d said about him. He unloaded on me, saying that we didn’t have a right to treat you that way and that it was all his fault. He said that you were right. It wasn’t until I pinned him down a few days ago and made him tell me why you were right that I finally understood. Although, I’m sure there’s a lot that he left out.”

  I’m absolutely positive he did. “Makenna, I would’ve told you if it was my story to tell. Wes has confided in me on some deeply personal issues, and there’s no way I’d break that trust by telling anyone. I guess I could’ve told you exactly that, but I just avoided it. I think I was so hard on you that morning because, every time Wes takes off or acts like an ass, you ask me what I did wrong. I was already reeling from the fight with him the night before, so I didn’t take it well.”

  Makenna steps forward and rests a hand on my forearm; the simple touch is a peace offering of sorts. “I’m sorry, Cal. I have a lot of respect for him, and he’s a nice guy. I guess I forgot for a second that I know you. I know you don’t play games with people, and I know you always try to do what’s right.”

  “I’m sorry, too.” I reach out and snatch her shoulders, pulling her into me so fast she squeals. Shane wraps his arms around the both of us and murmurs his apology, as well.

  “You know his biological mother is supposed to be at his house right now, right?” Shane pulls back from us. “I’m kinda freaking out a little bit for him. I know he must be losing his mind.”

  “Right now?” I look over at the clock on the wall.

  “Any minute now. No offense, but I can’t believe it was you who set all of that up, especially after the way he’s acted.”

  Makenna elbows him. “What was she like? Does he look like her?”

  I think back to her kind smile, troubled eyes, and the ticking time bomb counting down the final days of her life. And all she wants is a few minutes with her son. Just the thought makes tears prick at my eyes. “She’s been through a lot in her life, but it doesn’t seem to have affected the way she treats people. She was very sweet to me, but it’s clear that she’s lived far too long with regret eating away at her soul. I think this will be healing for both of them. And yes, they do look a lot alike.”

  Shane pulls out his phone and checks the screen. “Mom is supposed to call as soon as she hears from him.”

  “I don’t want to know. Unless it turns out really good. Okay, and if it turns out bad. I might want to hide out for a few days.” I press a hand to my stomach. “Why did I do this? I just had to get involved.”

  “As always, you were being selfless and trying to help a friend. It’s what you do. And we love you for it.”

  “Love you, too, Mak.” I drum my fingertips on the counter and look back over my shoulder at the clock again. “Wanna stay and watch a movie? It’ll help kill a couple of hours, and maybe before it’s over, we’ll hear how it all went.”

  “Sounds perfect, but no musicals,” Makenna pleads. “If I have to watch any more characters dancing and singing their way through a plot, I swear I’m going to hurl.”

  Sinking into the couch, Shane cranes his neck around to see me. “I’ve been making her watch my Gene Kelly collection. Needless to say, she’s not a fan. This may be a deal-breaker for me.”

  “You watch Gene Kelly movies?” I point my finger at him accusingly.

  He shrugs. “Yeah. So?”

  “I love Singin’ in the Rain and Brigadoon. Just another reason why I love your mom.”

  A sly grin breaks his stoic expression and he starts singing. “It’s almost like being . . .”

  “In loooove!” I belt out dramatically.

  “Seriously . . .” Makenna pretends to stick her finger down her throat. “I just don’t get the obsession with these old movies.”

  “Classic movies,” I correct. “Don’t worry . . . hang around with us long enough, and we’ll convert you. Then you’ll be the one singing ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly’ from My Fair Lady.”

  “What the hell’s a loverly?”

  Shane and I just shake our heads and laugh. If she has to ask that question, we have our work cut out for us.

  With Makenna’s blessing, I pop in the Mean Girls DVD and we all curl up together on the couch to watch it. Just an hour ago, we still weren’t talking, so I’m glad we’re finally past all of that. It seems weird that everything is all puppies and rainbows with us again, but that’s how it’
s always been with us. No sense in dragging shit out when everyone is over it.

  But no matter how much I try, I can’t seem to get into the movie. And I guess Shane can’t either. He keeps looking over Makenna’s head at me and checking his phone. I know he’s just as worried as I am about Wes’ meeting with Chesley. Trying to put myself in his situation, I don’t even know what I would say when I opened the door. “What’s up, Mom?” or “Whatcha been up to the last twenty-six years?” Yeah, umm, I hope he’s having better luck with that than I am.

  My cell phone rings, and I have to turn on my side a bit to dig it out of my pocket. I stare at the number on the screen, not recognizing it. Probably the same telemarketer that wanted to sell me erectile enhancement products earlier today. I start to decline the call, but Shane startles me by reaching over and grabbing my hand.

  “No, answer it. That’s Wes’ number.”

  Well, I’ll be damned. Looks like he didn’t delete my number, after all.

  “WES?”

  “How’d you know it’s me?” His voice is soft. Deeper than usual.

  “I didn’t, but Shane is here and told me it was you. Is everything okay?” Walking out of the room, I hold up a finger at Shane, whose questioning stare is boring into my skull.

  “Not really. Look, uh, I know I told you that we couldn’t have anything to do with each other, and I want to apologize now for being an ass . . . again. I just don’t have anyone else that I can talk to about this. Do you have a minute?”

  “Of course, I do. No matter what happens, I’m always here for you.” And I mean that, too.

  “I’ve told you all this time that I didn’t want to talk to you about my mother, but I did listen to what you said. It took me thinking about it a couple of days, but since you thought it was something I should do, I decided to contact her. I didn’t think it would hurt to at least listen to what she had to say. I grew up thinking the worst possible scenario, so whatever story she had to tell, it couldn’t be worse than what was already planted in my head, you know? So I took the card that you left on my desk, and before I could lose the nerve, I sent her an email, inviting her to come over here today to talk. Within fifteen minutes, she responded, saying she appreciated the opportunity, and she seemed excited about it.”