Callum (The Murphy Boys Book 3)

by Holly C. Webb

  She wasn’t going to let Callum or Liam ruin her day. She was going to go down there and have some fun.

  “GEORGIE!” Macy exclaimed the moment she stepped back out onto the patio a few minutes later. Georgie smiled when she saw Macy was all ready to go swimming. “I want to swim.”

  “Okay, okay,” Georgie laughed, as Macy grabbed her hand and led her to the pool. She glanced over at Emmy, who instantly gave her a warm smile, but she resisted looking over at Callum, even though she knew he was watching her.

  She walked to one of the sun loungers next to the pool and checked Macy’s water wings to be sure they were on correctly. Then she kicked off her sandals and lifted her summer dress up over her head throwing it on the sun lounger. She was already wearing a white bikini, which, if she was honest, she liked on her. With her golden summer tan, it looked good on her and she felt good in it.

  She turned and walked to the pool, acutely aware that she was being watched. She was tempted to turn and see who was watching her, but instead, she focused on Macy.

  Sitting down on the edge of the pool, Macy sat down next to her.

  “Are you ready?” She asked the little girl with a smile.

  “Yep,” Macy nodded excitedly.

  Georgie pushed herself down into the water, then turned to lift Macy in. As she did, she stole a glance at Callum, and sure enough, he was watching her, as was Liam and to Georgie’s surprise, so was Dylan.

  “Uncle Liam,” Macy called out. “Come and splash me.”

  “My pleasure,” Liam replied without hesitating, as he quickly removed his t-shirt before he dive-bombed into the water, splashing both Georgie and Macy.

  Macy screamed, then laughed out loud as Liam picked her up.

  Georgie couldn’t help but glance at Callum, but she really couldn’t read his expression. He quickly looked away, and Georgie’s heart sank.

  “Daddy, come and splash Liam,” Macy called out. “Help, Daddy!”

  “Not right now, Peanut,” Callum said, allowing his eyes to find Georgie once more, just as Liam came up and grabbed her from behind, swinging her around with Macy.

  Macy squealed again, but Georgie knew this was just going to make Callum angrier.

  When Liam set her down, she instantly looked for Callum, but he was gone, and Georgie’s heart sunk even more.

  Chapter 17

  Callum felt like the day had been the longest one of his life. He had fucked up so badly, and he knew it. Still, he couldn’t shake his mood.

  The minute Liam starting flirting with Georgie, he tried not to react, but it was no use. He just couldn’t bear to see him look at her like he did. He knew he was being a dick, but he just couldn’t help how he felt.

  When she came out of the house after she had vanished with Emmy, he knew she was upset, and that just made him feel like the world’s biggest asshole. He knew he needed to snap out of it, but then she wouldn’t even look at him. Callum had no idea what he should do.

  The moment she took her dress off and showed off her perfect body in the stunning white bikini, he knew that he would never look at her the same again. She was stunning, and there was nothing more in this world he wanted than to have her in his arms. His eyes fell to her tattoo on her hip, and his cock was rock hard in seconds.

  But then he looked at his brothers. He wasn’t surprised to see Liam watching her, but so was Dylan and jealously gripped him.

  This is a fucking nightmare! He had sighed to himself. Then when Liam got in the pool, he just couldn’t watch any more. He turned, making his way into the house.

  “Are you okay?” Landen asked as he followed him inside.

  “Not really,” Callum sighed, knowing there was no point in lying.

  “Do you want me to talk to Liam?” Landen offered, surprising Callum.

  “And say what?” Callum asked looking at his brother. “That seeing him with Georgie is tearing me apart because I had to be stupid enough to fall in love with her.”

  “You’re in love with her?” Landen asked, but Callum was surprised that Landen didn’t seem more shocked. “Then why don’t you tell her.”

  “Because she doesn’t feel the same,” Callum admitted honestly.

  “You don’t know that,” Landen replied, giving him a sad smile.

  “Yes, I do,” Callum insisted with a sigh. “I kissed her.”

  “You kissed her?” Landen asked, this time Callum could hear the shock in his voice.

  “The other night,” Callum sighed again. “I was drunk, I kissed her, and she freaked out. Oh, she was sweet about it the next day, but I could see it in her eyes. She doesn’t have those kind of feelings for me.”

  “But you think she does for Liam?” Landen clarified.

  “I don’t know,” Callum shrugged. “Maybe.”

  “Fuck!” Landen sighed.

  “Are you boy’s going to hide in here all day?” Nell asked from the doorway. Callum quickly looked at Landen and gave him a pleading look. Landen just smiled. They both turned and walked back towards the door, but Nell stopped Callum before he passed her. “Are you okay, Sweetheart?”

  “Yes, Mom,” Callum assured her then kissed her on the cheek.

  He spent the rest of the day, sitting by the pool, chatting with Landen, Finn and his father while Dylan and Liam played with Macy in the pool. Georgie hadn’t stayed long in the pool, and Callum could tell that she was completely uncomfortable. He hated that he had made her feel that way.

  When Nell suggested that she take Macy and Henry home with her and Sean, Callum was relieved. He felt guilty that he was relieved Macy was gone, but he knew in his mood, he was no good to her right at that moment.

  Now he was sitting there with his brothers, Georgie, Amelia, Emmy, and Nikki, and as much as he tried to, he couldn’t lift his mood.

  He listened as his brothers talked, glancing at Georgie from time to time. She was sitting with the girls, and they were deep in conversation, though Callum noticed that Georgie seemed a little quiet. She was wearing her dress again, and her hair had dried into loose curls around her shoulders. Callum thought she couldn’t have looked more beautiful.

  Just then Liam stood up and walked to where Georgie was sitting, crouching down next to her. Leaning in, he whispered into her ear. Georgie smiled, but she didn’t reply. Instead, she just shook her head, and Liam laughed as he stood up.

  Callum’s heart was racing, wishing he knew what Liam had said to her. He hated feeling this jealous, but he did.

  It was almost raw and primal, like Liam was stomping all over something that should be his.

  Suddenly Georgie stood up, and excused herself, heading into the house to use the bathroom.

  Callum blew out a long, frustrated breath, as Liam made his way back over to where he was sitting.

  “You’ve been very quiet today,” Liam said, sitting down next to him, handing him another bottle of beer.

  “I hadn’t noticed I had,” Callum replied coolly as he took the bottle, twisted the lid off and brought it to his lips.

  “Seriously, Dude,” Liam said with a laugh as he looked at Callum. “You need to lighten up.”

  “Yeah,” Callum sighed impatiently, setting his beer down. “I’ll get right on that.”

  They sat for a moment in silence. Callum glanced over at Landen, and he wasn’t surprised that he was watching him.

  “You know,” Liam finally said, leaning into Callum, “Georgie is pretty amazing.”

  “She is,” Callum nodded, trying desperately not to react to his comments.

  “And hot,” Liam added, as he leaned in, and continued in a lower voice. “I mean did you see her in that bikini today? And that tattoo!”

  Callum picked up his beer, taking a sip, trying his hardest to keep control of his temper. Still, his heart was thumping so fast, as his eyes flicked towards Landen once more, and still, his brother was watching him.

  “Tell me that you’ve hit that,” Liam chuckled as he punched Callum in the arm.

>   “No, Asshole,” Callum hissed through his teeth. “I, unlike you, have fucking self-control.”

  “Jeez, Cal,” Liam snorted. “What’s crawled up your ass?”

  “Maybe I just don’t like talking about women like they’re a piece of meat,” Callum said, not caring that his voice was now raised and everyone could hear him. “Or maybe I don’t like sitting here and watching you falling all over my daughter’s nanny like some horny teenager. I mean, don’t you care that you could hurt Macy.”

  “I would never do anything to hurt Macy!” Liam exclaimed, pushing up from his seat. “I adore that kid. Jesus Callum, what the hell is your problem?”

  “You’re my problem, asshole,” Callum yelled as he stood up too.

  “Okay,” Finn said, standing up, stepping in between Callum and Liam. “Why don’t we all calm down, today has been a good day, let’s not ruin it now, and say things you’ll both regret.”

  “Then tell this asshole to shut his damn mouth,” Liam said, clearly upset by Callum’s comment about Macy.

  “Why don’t you make me,” Callum growled back, unable to hold back the anger anymore.

  “OKAY!” Landen yelled, jumping up from his seat. “Enough! This is my home. Both of you, sit down, and stop this now.”

  “He started it,” Liam insisted. “Saying I was all over Georgie.”

  “You were!” Callum retorted, trying to calm his breathing down. He knew he was losing it, and he needed to get a grip “All you were short of doing was fucking her in the pool.”

  “Well maybe if you’re not man enough for the job, “Liam hissed back. “I should.”

  Without even thinking, Callum drew back, and punched Liam square in the face.

  “Callum!” Finn shouted, quickly jumping in front of Callum, taking hold of his arms as Dylan helped Liam up from the ground. “You need to calm down, right now.”

  Callum stared at Liam for a moment, blood pouring from his nose, as he realised what he had just done. His heart raced and his stomach heaved that he would have done this to his brother.

  “Liam,” Callum said, taking a tentative step towards his brother, but he stopped, having no clue what to say.

  “Cal,” Landen said, suddenly. When Callum turned to look at him, Landen nodded toward the door to the house. When Callum turned, his heart almost stopped when he saw Georgie standing there, tears dancing in her eyes.

  “Georgie,” he said, taking a step towards her, but the look in her eyes stopped him instantly.

  She stared at him for a moment longer, before she turned and hurried back through the house.

  “Fuck!” Callum sighed, as he hesitated for just a moment, before he hurried after her. He had just reached the front door when he heard a car engine roar from the front of the house. Callum hurried out through the door, just in time to see the tail lights of his Audi disappearing down the driveway of Landen’s house.

  “FUCK!” He exclaimed, pushing his hands through his hair. “YOU FUCKING IDIOT!”

  “Callum,” Landen said from the doorway. Callum quickly turned and gave him a look of desperation.

  “What the fuck do I do now?” He asked, giving his brother a panicked look

  “You go after her, and you tell her how you feel,” Landen said as he pulled his phone from his pocket.

  “And what about Liam?” Callum asked giving Landen a look that said he knew he had messed up.

  “Liam will be pissed at you,” Landen replied honestly. “But you can talk to him, and sort it out. It’s Liam; you know he will not hold this against you.”

  “Okay,” Callum said as Landen brought his phone to his ear, calling Mike to come to collect Callum and take him home.

  It was almost thirty minutes later when Callum slipped his key into the lock to his apartment door. He took a deep breath before he pushed open the door, then slowly walked inside.

  He was surprised to find the apartment still in darkness, but his car was parked in the garage, so he knew she had, at the very least come back here. He walked down the hallway into the living room and stopped for a moment, the only sound was his heart thundering in his ear.

  Tell me I haven’t missed her, he thought to himself miserably, having no clue what he should do next.

  Suddenly there was a noise from the top of the stairs. Callum looked up as relief washed over him to see Georgie standing there. However, his relieve didn’t last long, when he spotted a bag in either hand.

  She had only made it down a couple of steps when she looked up and spotted Callum standing there. She instantly stopped dead.

  Even though the apartment was cloaked in darkness, the light from the moon offered enough light for Callum to see that she was still upset.

  “Georgie,” he said, taking one step towards the stairs. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I don’t want to hear it,” Georgie sobbed, almost breaking Callum’s heart. “I just want to g…g…go.”

  She continued down the stairs, as Callum's heart hammered in his chest. He knew he had one chance to make this right, but he was beyond terrified that he was going to mess it up.

  “Please don’t leave, Georgie,” Callum pleaded, as he hurried across the room, stopping in front of her as she reached the bottom of the stairs. “This is not what I want. Tell me how to fix this; what do I have to do?”

  “I can’t,” she whispered without looking up at him.

  “What about Macy?” Callum asked, hoping that this would make her want to try fix this with him.

  But it didn’t. Instead, she looked at him, as suddenly her eyes filled with anger.

  “Fuck you, Callum!” She growled through her tears, stepping closer to him, pressing her hand against his chest, pushing him back a step. “You don’t get to act like an asshole, and use how I feel about her to make this right.”

  “I wasn’t…” he began to reason, knowing he had just made a huge mistake mentioning Macy.

  “Who the hell do you think you are, anyway,” she cut him off as her temper let loose. “Liam was being nice to me, that’s all, and you humiliated me in front of your whole family. And for the record. I’m not some cheap slapper that will shag the first fella that looks at me. So, even if he was flirting with me, you should have trusted me. I told you I would never do anything to hurt Macy, and I meant it. Now, move, before I move you.”

  “No, I’m not letting you walk away like this,” Callum insisted, refusing to get out of her way. “We can fix this, just please, let me try.”

  “Don’t you get it,” Georgie shot back at him. “You can’t fix this. You blew it. Now, get the hell out of my way.

  She shoved him again, pushing past him and heading for the door.

  “Georgie, please don’t leave like this,” Callum begged, and he followed her to the door. “You’re right; I should have trusted you. I should have acted like a fucking grown up, but it’s just hard for me.”

  “What’s so hard, Callum?” Georgie stopped, turning back to look at him closing the distance between them both. She pinned him with a look that made Callum feel like the biggest asshole in the world. “Keeping your word as you promised. Not acting like a giant-sized asshole all day. Jesus, Callum, you hit your brother.”

  “I KNOW!” He exclaimed, angrily, knowing every word she said was true.

  “And you made me feel worthless,” she said as a sob escaped from deep inside her. “You hurt me, and I don’t think I can ever trust you again.”

  “Please don’t say that,” Callum begged as suddenly tears burned his eyes and his voice cracked. “I know that this whole mess is my fault. I know I fucked up, but please. I will do whatever it takes to make this right. Please, we can’t lose you. Macy can’t lose you. I don’t know what we will do without you.”

  “Please don’t,” she whispered as her anger suddenly gave way to heartbreak. Callum knew that leaving Macy was killing her. “I need you to understand that I just can’t stay. It’s just too hard now.”

  She stepped forward, and to his
surprise, she kissed him on the cheek.

  “Tell Macy I’m sorry,” Georgie whispered as once again tears trickled down her face. “Tell her that I love her.”

  She turned around once more, heading for the door. As she reached it, Callum knew that this moment, this was his very last chance.

  He closed the distance between them, pressing his hand against the door, stopping her from opening it. Georgie didn’t turn around, but much to Callum’s surprise, she didn’t try to pull the door open either.

  “I can’t lose you,” he whispered, as he leaned in as close as he could without touching her. His heart was hammering in his chest. “Georgie, I love you. I know that you don’t feel the same, but I love you so much it scares me. I was jealous of Liam. I know that makes me sound stupid and pathetic, but I was. I thought that you might like him too, and I was jealous. I know that doesn’t make how I behaved right, and if you still want to leave, then I guess there is nothing else I can do. But I’m begging you, don’t leave me! Macy will be heartbroken, and I…I can’t do this without you. Please.”

  “You love me?” She whispered, still not turning around to face him.

  “More than I have ever loved anyone else,” Callum replied, holding his breath. “I know I’m asking a lot, hoping that maybe you could learn to love me too. But I promise you, I will never hurt you again as I hurt you today. Please, just give me a chance.”

  She didn’t reply for what felt like forever.

  But then suddenly, she turned towards Callum, taking his face in her hand, kissing him like it was the only thing that would stop her from spinning off the ground.

  For a moment, Callum held his breath, stunned by what she had done, but then he returned her kiss as he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her into his embrace.

  Kissing Georgie was everything Callum had imagined it would be. It felt like coming home. It was just perfect.

  But he wanted more; he wanted all of her. He wanted her to love him too. He wanted it all.

  “I love you,” he whispered, breathlessly against her lips, still not releasing her from his embrace.