by LS Anders
“Callie, listen to me. He reserved that whole damn restaurant just for the two of you, so you wouldn’t be bothered by the public, so you could have a date in private. Right?” Dylan was trying to sound convincing, but Callie could hear the underlying strain in her voice as if she were desperate to convince Callie of her words. “You said the way he was looking at you Tuesday night was all intense and you thought he had feelings for you. And, then Wednesday, he was burning up your phone with text and flirty pics, even some naughty ones of him.”
“I know what I fucking said, Dylan!” Callie bit out.
The silence on the air waves was positively deafening. After her anger subsided, Callie was left with the acrid stench of guilt for yelling at her friend who was just trying to help.
Callie rushed to apologize. “I’m so sorry, Dylan. Please don’t hang up.”
“I would never. I’m sorry for pushing you. Let’s just think about this rationally. Ok?”
Callie brushed away fresh tears and nodded her head even though Dylan couldn’t see her.
“If he didn’t really want to impress you or do something special for you, then why in the hell would he go to all that trouble?” Dylan questioned.
“Why would he need to go to all that trouble unless he was trying to hide from Regina?” Callie threw back.
“The man is gorgeous and wealthy, Callie. He doesn’t need to reserve a restaurant to get laid. He can fuck anyone he wants without going to any trouble at all. Stop being so critical of yourself.”
Callie’s laugh was heartbreaking. “Yeah, ok.” Vehn had said that very same thing to her Tuesday night.
Callie could tell Dylan was beginning to get pissed at her, but she couldn’t help how she felt. She wasn’t sure if she could trust him. She wanted desperately to believe what Dylan was driving at, but there was truth in everything. How could that girl just make up a complete lie like that? There had to be some truth to her story, otherwise she had just lied to the whole damn world.
Plus, she just couldn’t forget that Vehn had pretended to be someone else when they'd first met and had kept up the charade for an entire week before coming clean. She thought she understood his reasons for pretending to be someone else, but now she wasn’t so sure.
Then he took her out to dinner in the most private setting he could create. She couldn't help but think he didn't want to be seen with her and he was just cheating on his girlfriend.
Correction! Make that fiancée.
Callie's stomach rolled at the thought of Vehn being engaged to that girl. Jesus, it felt like her insides had been yanked out through her belly button, run over by a truck, then jammed back inside all tangled up covered in muck and skid marks.
She had seen so many magazines featuring them together, laughing at parties, holding hands, smiling at each other. They looked like the perfect couple.
How could that year-long relationship have been a lie?
It couldn’t have been. No wonder he never talked about Regina. That he stayed so focused on her ex-boyfriend. It wasn’t because he was genuinely concerned about her safety, like she ignorantly thought, it was because he was still with Regina and he probably didn’t want to talk bad about her because he was in love with her.
Callie had never felt so used, stupid, and pissed the fuck off in her entire life!
Her mind was spinning out of control from listening to Dylan hypothesize about what ifs and trying to make sense out of everything she had heard on the news. She didn’t want to hurt Dylan’s feelings again, but she needed quiet and some solitude so she could ponder and reflect.
“…just don’t believe everything you read or the pictures you see in the media.” Callie caught the tail end of what Dylan was saying.
“I know, Dylan. I just need time to sort this shit out, ok? I’ll text him and tell him I need some time.”
“Callie—” Dylan began, but Callie cut her off.
“I love you, Dylan. I love that you are so concerned for me. But I need to step back from this so when I do talk to him I can be more prepared. It’s all too fresh right now.”
“Ok. That makes sense. Just don’t forget you’re someone special, and if you start to get depressed, call me, and go see Dr. Z, alright? Don’t let yourself sink into a deep depression. Go get help if you need to. Promise me.”
Yeah, she was special all right. She was so gullible it was almost crippling. What she needed to do was start wearing a goddamn helmet and stop being so naïve.
“Ok, I promise.” She hadn’t had a chance to call Dr. Z the day before but had planned on calling today as soon as his office opened anyway, just not for the same reason she would be calling him for counseling now.
Callie could hear Dylan release a breath that sounded like she had been holding throughout the entire conversation. She knew Dylan worried about her, especially after she had unexpectedly lost her mother, and then the Ryder apocalypse had taken its toll.
After ending the call, Callie’s mind was racing with all the endless possible truths, mulling over and considering everything Dylan had said, trying to sort through all the events that had happened since she’d first met Vehn until now, examining and re-examining every single word he had ever spoken or text he had ever written, trying to make sense of it all, but it was all giving her a massive headache.
What if some of what Dylan had guessed was true? That Regina was just a scorned woman getting revenge for being dumped. Dylan was right in saying the girl had been a complete unknown until she had hooked up with him.
But then again, anyone would be thrust center stage if they were seen with him. That was why he said he didn’t want their relationship made public yet. That he wanted to keep her for himself for as long as he could. That he didn’t want his personal relationships plastered all over the tabloids.
She just couldn’t help herself from scrolling back through the flirty text messages he had sent her the day before while she worked. She had been having enough trouble concentrating as it were, and then he had sent a couple of naughty shots of various parts of his delicious anatomy in between outfit changes at the shoot he was working.
Would he dare send her photos of himself, as in full-on frontal of his hardening cock, if he was going to fuck her over later? She could sell these and make a small fortune if she wanted. But, since he was soon retiring, would he really care if his career had a little scuff at the end?
Besides, it wasn’t like the man was deformed or anything. Unless well-endowed was considered a deformity. Hell, he’d probably get offers to pose nude in magazines.
The possibilities of the actual truth were endless, but what it all boiled down to was one not so simple question, Did she dare trust him or not?
Callie: i promise i won’t talk to the press. i’ll delete all your texts including the naked ones you sent. yesterday. please do the same with mine and stop contacting me. i'll call you when i'm ready to talk.
She reread what she had typed. Her thumb was hovering over the send button much the same as her ass was hovering on the edge of the couch. She could hardly draw breath through the density of her indecision.
What if Dylan was right and this was all a mistake? She could very well be throwing away the best thing that had ever happened to her based on lies told by some jaded ex-girlfriend. But, if she gave him a chance to explain and he was lying to her, she would have to relive this moment times ten all over again, and she just couldn’t do that.
Her thumb was so close, it was almost touching the screen. Closing her eyes briefly, her thumb darted to the left and… tapped the delete button.
Sheesh! What could she say that wouldn’t make her look like a bigger dumbass than she already felt she was if he had been using her? Blocking him was a coward’s way out, but giving him a chance to possibly lie to her again was so scary. Then again, it wasn't nearly as scary as losing him forever if he was telling the truth.
Expelling a frustrated breath, she threw her head back on the couch cushion. She stared h
ard at the ceiling hoping that by some miracle she would find enlightenment, so she could figure out what the hell she was going to do next.
The buzz from her intercom startled her, jerking her out of her pondering. Rushing over to the console, she reached out to press the answer button, then stopped, hovering above the thing. It buzzed again and she jumped away.
What if it’s him? Should she answer it? It could be one of her friends.
Running over to the living room window, trying not to disturb the drapes, she peered down to the street below. The top of Vehn’s head came into view as he stepped back out from under the awning, looking up to scan the third-floor windows. Callie took a step back, tripping over a basket of magazines and spilling its contents.
“Fuck!” she cursed, rubbing her bottom where she'd landed.
The magazine covers became wavy from her unshed tears as she took in the mess she had created. Ironic how the person causing the mess in her life was the same person making the mess she had scattered all over her floor.
Her vision would clear for only a moment as her tears became too heavy and slid down her cheeks, but blurred again as fresh ones took the place of the ones that had fallen.
There he was, staring up at her from the covers. There they were, those same soulful green eyes that had caressed her while they had sex, the same eyes that crinkled at the corners when she made him laugh. Those same eyes that were outside staring up at her condo right now.
She was such a fool to think that a man like him would want her. He was only at her condo to do damage control so she wouldn’t talk to the press. That had to be the only reason for his visit. He was worried about his reputation, because nothing bad had ever been said about him. He was one of the good guys, and people liked him for his pristine reputation.
She stayed where she was, unable to gather enough energy to pick her ass up. She just needed to cry. Just needed to get it all out and move on. She was right to block him, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to buzz him up.
She should text him, telling him just to leave her alone. Reaching for her cell, she trembled as she located him in her contact list.
Callie: i have to block you for now. i promise not to talk to the press. i need time to think about all this.
She hit the send button on a sob and tossed the offending object away. Turning the basket upright, she grabbed magazines by the handful, not caring if the pages were crumpled as she shoved them back inside.
She jerked up, tearing a few of the covers when several hard thuds landed on her door. Gasping, she threw her hands over mouth, unable to move.
Vehn’s voice sounded through the door, but self-preservation kept her rooted to the floor.
“Callie! I know you’re in there. Open the door, baby. Please talk to me,” he pleaded.
Callie: i have to block you for now. i promise not to talk to the press. i need time to think about all this.
Vehn: Regina is lying! let me explain!
Not even a milli-second after touching send passed when a blocked message appeared on his cell’s screen.
“Fuuuuck!” Vehn stepped out from under the awning looking up at the exterior of the building, not exactly sure which set of windows belonged to Callie. The only time he had stayed with her he hadn’t paid much attention to the location of her condo; he only knew that it was on the third floor.
Miracles of miracles, a lady and her dog were just leaving. Spotting Vehn, she raked her eyes slowly over him, pausing at the open door.
“I forgot the code. Do you mind?” Vehn asked, indicating the door she was holding open. He smiled through the necessary lie, hoping the lady would let him in.
Not uttering a single word or blinking for that matter, she stepped to the side leaving just enough room for him to pass, but still close enough that he had to turn to the side facing her. Her little Yorkie was wagging his entire body sniffing at Vehn’s shoes as he squeezed by. Normally, he would stop and pet the dog, but his mistress might take that as an invitation, and this cougar didn’t need any kind of encouragement whatsoever. So, he pushed by, willing himself as flat as possible.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime,” she said, flirtatiously throwing her hip out.
He tried to appear casual as he made his way over to the bank of elevators. He might as well have been dragging the woman behind him, her stare so intense she had attached herself to his back.
Pushing the up button, he couldn't stop himself from glancing over to where the woman was still holding open the door. Her Yorkie had begun bouncing on the end of the leash, clearly not interested in him but for a place to relief himself. Raising his hand in a slight wave, he gave the woman a tight smile before turning away, silently praying for the elevator to open.
Out of his periphery, he saw the woman give up trying to gain his attention and wander off, with her dog pulling hard on the lead. Relief washed over him.
Not able to wait a second longer for the incredibly slow-assed elevator, Vehn punched through the door on his right, taking the stairs two at a time to Callie's floor. Finally reaching her door, he pounded on it in heavy-handed desperation.
“Callie! I know you’re in there. Open the door, baby. Please talk to me.”
Nothing!
“Callie, please let me in,” he begged.
He could hear the desperation in his own voice. Surely, if she were in there, she wouldn’t leave him out here to beg like an idiot. He checked the time. It was too early for her to be at work. Hell, she could be anywhere—the store, the gym. But wherever she was, she was aware of Regina’s bullshit story, hence the text message.
FUCK! She was in there; he knew it. He could feel her in his soul.
What the fuck was up with that text? “I promise not to talk to the press”. What did he care if she talked to the press? Regina was fucking lying! Surely Callie wasn’t buying into any of her lies.
Fucking Regina! If he ever got his hands around that scrawny bitch’s throat, he would likely choke her to death.
Callie was a smart girl. No way would she believe any of that shit. She had to trust him a little after all they'd done together. He couldn’t have been wrong about the look in her eyes, because he didn’t want to believe that it was just lust for her and nothing more.
He didn’t understand why she needed time to think, since there was nothing for her to think about. If she was really in love with him like he was her, she wouldn’t come to hasty conclusions and not talk to him first. He had never done anything to make her not trust him.
For fuck’s sake, he had laid his heart and soul out there for her to take!
As he raised his fist to knock again, Tegan's words rang out clear and concise inside his brain, “You just gotta learn to not take people at face value. Start questioning other people’s motives. Make ‘em earn your trust and stop freely giving it.”
Damn it! He had gone and done it again, allowed his over-trusting nature to cloud his judgment once more.
Succumbing to this new heartbreak, he gently laid his palm flat against the wood, leaning his forehead there as well. Reluctantly, he pushed himself away, dragging the weight of his sadness back the way he'd come.
But by the time he'd reached the lobby, he had managed to put the lid back on his paranoia. By putting himself in Callie's shoes, he had gained a different perspective on the situation.
His first reaction to seeing the entertainment news had been extreme embarrassment. That had quickly turned into rage at having his privacy so completely violated. He could only imagine the humiliation she had to be going through.
He had turned somewhat numb to having his personal business plastered all over creation a while ago. However, nothing nearly as personal as this had ever leaked. She had to be mortified at the very least. He had to believe she loved him back and was simply reacting in the extreme to what had happened.
Deciding to not give up on her without a fight, he figured his next stop would be Exotic Ink to see if she was there. Maybe
even find out what was going on with her from one of her friends. Someone had to have heard from her. It might wind up being foolhardy of him, but he had to try.
After the most excruciatingly slow cab ride of his entire existence, he was finally looking at the front entrance of Exotic Ink. The studio was still closed due to the early morning hour, looking just like he felt, dark and desolate.
“Keep the change.” He practically threw money at the cabby before he rushed to the entrance of the studio.
Cupping his hands to the glass, he looked in and saw nothing. Sprinting to the gate behind the shop, he punched in the code releasing the metal panel. A few moments later, Evana answered the intercom and was at the door with a welcoming smile.
“Sorry to bother you.”
“Oh, that’s ok. But, you can look at the photography studio any time you want. Just enter the code and take the elevator up.”
“You haven’t heard...” Vehn dropped his head and ran his hands through his thick hair.
Panic ripped the smile off Evana’s face. “Oh God, what happened?”
Vehn explained everything to her in such a rush that the woman just stared wide-eyed at him for a moment, trying to comprehend everything he had just thrown at her.
“Oh shit! Let me call her and make sure she’s ok.”
“Please do!”
Vehn stepped in behind her as she walked away dialing Callie's number and followed her into the office.
“Hey, Callie. Are you…” Evana’s hand fluttered to her throat. “Listen, I’m on my way to your place. Just calm down and I’ll be there shortly. Ok? See you soon. Bye.”
Vehn breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He didn’t think she would do anything drastic, but after he saw the frightened expression on Evana’s face, it gave him a moment of pause. Shit! If Callie hadn't answered Evana’s call, he would have gone back to her condo and broken down the damn door.
“She’s really, really upset. I think you should let me talk to her first, and then I promise I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on.”