Chapter 11

Chapter Eleven

T revor watched Callie stomp out of the kitchen and through the backyard. Hannah came up behind him.

“That was mean.”

“What?”

“Everything you said to her. I don’t know why she likes you. You’re kind of a jerk.”

At least his little girl didn’t call him an asshole, which he’d both been expecting and deserved. Everything Callie said had made sense. He just wasn’t ready to hear it. He looked at Hannah. He wasn’t ready to talk to her, either. He put cash on the counter and said, “Order a pizza for dinner. We’ll talk later.”

Trevor went for a drive. He thought about going to a meeting, but alcohol wasn’t what his restlessness and poor attitude were about. Instead, he called Tess to see if she was free for coffee. As a fellow parent of a teenage girl, she would be able to relate to what he was going through. She was on her way home from work and since her boyfriend, Miles, was with her kids, she could stop to meet him.

He drove to the El stop where he knew Tess would get off. No need for her to walk or catch a bus to the coffee shop when he was driving there. When she emerged with the crowd, he honked his horn.

Tess jogged over to the truck and opened the door. “I thought we were meeting at Sunny’s.”

“I knew this was your stop, so it didn’t make sense for you to walk.” He pulled back into traffic and drove toward Sunny’s Diner.

“What’s up?”

“I need to talk.”

“Everything okay?”

“Fuck if I know.” He parked in Sunny’s lot and they got out.

When she walked around the front of the truck, she took a minute to study him. He knew that look. It was the one people gave when they were trying to figure out if he’d fallen off the wagon.

“Don’t worry. I’m sober.” They walked into the diner and grabbed a small booth instead of the large corner one they usually took in the mornings. As soon as the waitress poured them each a cup, he blurted, “Callie and I have been sleeping together.”

If Tess hadn’t paused with her cup halfway to her mouth, he might’ve thought she didn’t hear him. She said nothing.

“It was simmering there, you know. We both wanted it but didn’t think we should want it. Then we kissed.”

“Is that the problem?”

“Maybe. I don’t know.” He toyed with his cup, not drinking anything. “The whole week the kids were with their grandparents, we were a couple. I spent every night in her bed. Woke with her in the morning. But then the kids came home.”

The corner of Tess’s mouth lifted. “And you were back in the real world.”

He knew if anyone could understand his relationship with Callie, it would be Tess. She’d had to struggle with how and when to bring Miles into her kids’ lives. “Yup. I don’t think the kids are ready for that. We talked and agreed to keep our relationship under wraps for now.”

“How’s that working out?”

He blew out a heavy breath. “It’s rough.”

“I would think it would be harder. Miles and I dated during the day. It was easier to sneak around because he wasn’t literally living in my backyard.”

“That’s not the problem. I don’t think. Tonight, she told me that Hannah talked to her about some guy that asked her out. Callie talked to her about sex and safety and I lost it.”

Tess snorted. “Such a dude.” She set her cup down. “If you’re smart, you’ll go home and kiss Callie’s feet. She had a difficult conversation with your daughter. One you sure as hell don’t want to have.”

“Of course I don’t want to have those conversations. Hannah’s too young.”

“No, she’s not. You need to have those conversations early and often. If she’s not prepared, things might go bad. You can’t disseminate the information and advice after the fact.”

“I know. But she’s fifteen.”

“Zoe is almost there and we’ve been talking for a couple of years now. If you don’t raise your daughter to have expectations and high standards, she’ll be lost.” She took a sip of coffee. “I have a feeling that coming to terms with the fact that Hannah is growing up is only part of the problem.”

“She went to Callie. Not me.”

“Callie’s a woman she trusts. She lost her mom. Would you be bothered if she talked to Lisa?”

“Of course not.”

“I’m sure Callie knows that she’s not Lisa’s replacement, but she’s someone you want in your kids’ lives. You can’t pick and choose when you want her to have a role. If your relationship with Callie is serious, you can’t get mad at her for being involved.”

Trevor didn’t know what he’d wanted from this conversation with Tess, but it wasn’t a verbal slap-down. “Does it ever get any easier?”

“Being a parent or starting a new relationship while being a parent?”

“Both.” He drained his cup.

“Parenting alone sucks. Having someone to lean on helps. The relationship part gets easier. You’ll fight and make up, but if it’s worth holding on to, you will.” She, too, finished her coffee.

“You want a refill?”

“Nah. I’m going home to my family.”

“I’ll drop you off.” It would give him time to think. He needed to deal with Hannah. Then Callie.

After dropping Tess off at home, Trevor stopped at a drugstore and then went home to have one of the most difficult conversations he’d ever have to have. At least he hoped it was the worst of it.

In his kitchen, the remains of a pizza sat on the table. He trudged upstairs with the box of condoms in hand. Knocking on Hannah’s door, he said, “Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

She sat at her desk doing something on the computer and twisted in her chair to face him.

“We need to talk.”

“About what?”

“Callie told me you talked to her.”

“Oh God.” She hung her head.

“I just…I want you to know that it’s okay to talk to me about stuff. I’m not going to pretend to be cool with it, but I don’t want you to run away, either.” He reached into the plastic bag and held the box of condoms. “I want you to be safe. Do you need to go to the doctor?—”

“Oh my God. I am not talking to you about condoms and sex. You’re my dad! Leave. Please.” She jumped out of her chair, face red.

Trevor stood, still totally confused. How had he made this worse? “Hannah, if you’re thinking about sex, you should be able to talk about it.”

“Not with you!” She flung her door open and stood at the threshold, hugging her middle.

He set the box on her desk and left. Downstairs, he put away the leftover pizza and figured he’d go try to fix things with the other female in his life. He couldn’t screw that up, too, right?

He knocked on Callie’s door, but she didn’t answer. She’d said she was going out to dinner, so he sat down and leaned against her door. The sun was sinking, sending a glow across the garden.

About three plants were thriving. The rest were struggling. He sat there as the air cooled. He didn’t know how much time passed, but the sky darkened. He just enjoyed the silence and peace.

When the gate creaked open, he sat up.

“Stalking me now?” Callie asked.

“If I were stalking you, I would’ve figured out where you were instead of waiting here. Technically, I’m just sitting in my yard.”

“I’m not in the mood, Trevor. Go home.”

He rose and waited for her to near. “I’m sorry I overreacted.”

She completed a slow eye roll.

“I tried talking with Hannah. I bought her a box of condoms with the intention of talking to her about everything.”

Callie’s eyes narrowed. “You gave your daughter a box of condoms.”

He nodded.

She burst out laughing. She laughed so hard, she doubled over and stumbled. Trevor caught her shoulders and a whiff of alcohol.

“You were right in that I do treat Evan and Hannah differently. But she’s my little girl.”

Callie stepped away from his grip. “How did that conversation go?”

“She shrieked and told me to leave her room.”

Callie fell into another bout of laughter. Maybe waiting for Callie to get home wasn’t such a great idea. She’d obviously been drinking, and she found every difficult thing he’d experienced hilarious.

“Are you done?” he asked when she regained composure. She inhaled deeply, and he watched the rise and fall of her chest. He reached for her hand. “You were right. She wanted to talk, and you handled it. I want her to come to me, but at least she’s talking to someone.”

Callie was still distant, not moving toward him or responding to his touch.

“Callie?”

She pulled from his grasp. “So happy I can be someone for your daughter.” She waved a hand. “Now can you move so I can go to bed?”

“But—” He closed in again.

Her hand flattened against his chest. “I wasn’t kidding. Not in the mood.”

Her face showed no sign of the woman who was laughing like crazy moments ago. “I don’t want you to go to bed mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, Trevor. Just tired.”

He held still for a moment and looked into her eyes. “If you’re not mad, why can’t I come in?”

“Because I’ve been drinking.”

“So?”

She tilted her head and stared at him. He had no idea what she expected.

“Callie, I’ve been sober for seven years, three months. I’ve been around people who drink. I’m not going to run off to a bar because I see that you’re buzzed.”

“But what happens when you kiss me and taste the alcohol?”

He hadn’t thought about that. Every date he’d been on and every woman he’d slept with since his divorce had been sober. Alcohol hadn’t been part of his relationship with Callie. She was painfully aware of his past, both the successes and failures.

The fact that she worried about causing him to relapse touched him. She didn’t want to risk what they had. She cared so much about his well-being and peace of mind.

Man, if he hadn’t already figured out how awesome she was, he’d totally fall for her right now. He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug, kissing her temple.

“Good night, Callie. See you tomorrow.” Then he released her and went to his own bed alone.

Callie had a fitful night’s sleep. She’d grown used to falling asleep with Trevor, even though he got up in the middle of the night and left. She liked having him here. Dehydration hadn’t helped matters. She lay in bed, trying to convince herself that she should get up, when there was a sharp knock on her door downstairs.

Was she supposed to drive Hannah to camp today? She scanned her memory, and as she did, the door swung open.

Trevor called, “Callie, you up?”

She sank back against her pillow. “More or less.”

The thudding of his boots on the stairs was a comforting sound. She’d never lived with anyone, but small things like that had become not only normal for her, but welcome.

When he came to her bedside, she opened her eyes.

He set a large cup of coffee on the nightstand and held out a hand.

Pushing herself up, she asked, “What?”

“Ibuprofen in case you have a headache. Gatorade.” He put a bottle next to the coffee. Pointing, he added, “And your morning fix.”

Taking the coffee, she said, “I thought it wasn’t cool for addicts to make jokes like that.”

He sat on the edge of the bed. “Shh. Don’t tell.”

After a sip of coffee, which was heavenly, she said, “Thanks for this. About yesterday…”

“I told you, I’m sorry. I’m not mad about Hannah.”

She clenched her jaw before speaking. “I didn’t do anything worthy of you being pissed off at me. I meant last night. When I didn’t want you to come in.”

“What about it?”

“It’s something we need to discuss, don’t you think? If we’re a couple, does that mean I have to live a life of sobriety, too? It’s not a big deal, but sometimes I like a glass of wine when I’m out.”

“I see no reason why you can’t do that.”

“But what if that triggers you?”

“Then I’ll go to a meeting. I know how to handle this. You don’t have to treat me like I might fall apart.”

She scooted farther up in bed and set her cup back down. “This is big, Trevor. It’s not like before. If you fuck up this time, the kids will be ruined. Diane will be here to snatch them up in a minute.”

“Where is all of this coming from?” His voice was soft, his eyes filled with concern.

Callie knew that look. She’d seen it on his face numerous times—when Lisa had separated from him, when she’d said she wanted a divorce. It was a look of despair, like he was losing everything. “I’m worried. I was on the sidelines during your recovery, but Lisa talked to me a lot. I don’t know how she lasted as long as she did. She had this never-ending hope that you would fix yourself.”

“I did.”

“After it was too late.”

He got off the bed. “I know.”

“I’m not Lisa.”

Rubbing a hand over his short hair, he said, “I don’t want you to be. I don’t need you to be.”

“What I mean is, I’m not as strong as she was. I won’t keep giving you chances. I can’t ride that roller coaster.”

“Are you saying you want this to be done? You’re not even going to give us a shot?”

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood in front of him. “No. I’m saying that you need to be sure. Your whole life has changed. Right after Lisa died, I thought you might start drinking again. I watched and I waited. I lived with the fear that if you drank, I’d lose the only family I have left.”

“I wish I could tell you that I’ll never drink again. I’d love nothing more than to give you that reassurance. But it would be a lie. That’s not how addiction works. I have a support system, and I know what to do if I feel like I might relapse. It’s something I have to live with for the rest of my life. You were right last night. I don’t know if kissing you would’ve triggered something in me. I hadn’t considered it because I’ve surrounded myself with sober people.” He stepped close and touched her hand, not quite holding it. “If you can’t sign on for that, I get it.”

He walked away but paused at the top of the stairs. Looking over his shoulder, he said, “But before you decide, think about why. If you’re doing it because you’re afraid, keep in mind that we’re all afraid, Callie. You talk about flying to the other side of the planet, and that freaks me out. Not knowing where you are or if you’re safe. But I wouldn’t want to lose out on us because of that fear.”

Then his boots were clomping down the steps again. Only this time, instead of comforting, the sound left her feeling at a loss.

She didn’t want to give up on them. She believed they had a chance to have something amazing. But she was afraid. If being with her risked his sobriety, she’d never be able to live with herself. Returning to bed, she finished her coffee and took the ibuprofen Trevor had brought her.

With the exception of last night, she hadn’t had a drink since before Lisa’s death. She hadn’t missed it. Why was she so worried about not drinking?

She knew the reason. It was the lack of freedom. She didn’t like having choices taken from her. It was instinct for her to rebel. She was old enough that the need to rebel should’ve been exhausted. She’d been living her life on her terms for decades. Maybe she didn’t know how to compromise.

Or maybe she just didn’t really want to.

Rolling over, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Life was simpler in her dreams, where she and Trevor shared a bed without any disruptions from the real world.

Trevor didn’t know how he’d been suckered into hosting a barbecue for the Fourth of July. He’d never been much of a party host. Okay, maybe in his twenties when it was all about getting drunk and all he had to do was buy a keg and some bags of chips.

But this year, Tess and Evelyn had decided to make it a family outing, and they suggested his house. When he’d mentioned it to Callie, she’d practically jumped in excitement, so he couldn’t say no. So here they were—Tess and Miles and her kids, Callie and his kids, and Evelyn and Owen—sitting in his backyard, snacking on watermelon, and playing Frisbee and bags. It was everything Lisa had imagined when she’d bought the patio furniture. It didn’t seem fair that he was living the life she’d always wanted.

Trevor had already gone a round with water guns and the kids, so he took off his shirt and leaned back on a towel in the grass. Maybe if he closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep, everyone would leave him alone. He couldn’t focus with Callie running around in shorts and a tank top. Her clothes weren’t skimpy, but he kept picturing her naked. Maybe because he hadn’t seen her so in about a week.

He didn’t know where they stood, but he couldn’t help but think that alcohol had cost him another woman. Even with his eyes closed, he felt a shadow pass over him. Squinting behind his sunglasses, he watched as Callie plopped down next to him.

She nudged his leg with hers. “I know you’re not asleep.”

“How?”

“Your body isn’t relaxed.”

Pushing his glasses up, he gave her a once-over. “You’re too much of a distraction for me to relax.”

“Why, thank you, Mr. Booth. You do have a way with words.”

“I have a way with other things as well.”

“Such promises.”

“Let me come over tonight and I’ll deliver on those promises.”

“Okay.” She slid lazily down until she was lying next to him.

“Did you say okay?”

“Yep.”

“Just like that?” He rose up on an elbow and turned to look at her face. “What about everything you said the other day?”

“About drinking?” She lifted a shoulder. “There are things I enjoy a lot more than a glass of wine. Many of them involve you being naked. So if I have to pick, I choose you.”

Her declaration was a little silly, but his heart suddenly filled his whole chest. “I’ll be sure to make it up to you.”

“You better,” she said. “I also expect to tell Hannah and Evan soon. Sneaking around was a rush when I was a teen. No so much anymore.”

“I get it. We’ll tell them soon. I promise.” He lay back down with the back of his hand brushing hers. Not quite the touch he wanted, but he could wait until tonight.

After a few minutes, Tess gave up on the beanbag game and sat down on his other side. “What’s going on with Evelyn and Owen?”

“Huh?” Trevor asked.

“Evelyn and Owen. Don’t you see it?”

“Oh, yeah,” Callie said. “There’s some hotness simmering there.”

Trevor sat up and looked to where Evelyn and Owen stood side by side at the bags platform. “What are you talking about? They’re just talking.”

“Yeah, like I talk with Miles or you talk with Callie.”

Heat rose on his neck and into his face, and Trevor was grateful for the blazing sun. “They’re friends.”

“Please tell me you aren’t that dense,” Callie said.

“What are you seeing?”

She sat up, putting her shoulder to shoulder with him, the soft skin of her arm warm against his. “Look. Right there.” She pointed to where Owen brushed Evelyn’s hair back from her face. “If we were watching a movie, we’d all expect the long-awaited kiss right about now.”

“I don’t get it.”

Callie sighed.

Tess touched his arm. “Would you move Callie’s hair like that?”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“Bullshit,” Callie answered. “You’ve actually done it.”

In his defense, her hair was soft and silky, and he liked to touch it. But he wasn’t about to admit that now. “Okay.”

Tess said, “But would you make the same move on me?”

He looked at his friend. “I don’t know.” Now they’d put the idea in his head, so he thought about it. While he and Tess were close, there had never been anything other than friendship between them. They hugged on occasion, but in general, he wouldn’t be standing close enough to play with her hair.

He turned back to Owen and Evelyn, who had slipped her arm around Owen’s elbow as she laughed after he threw a beanbag and missed by a mile. “Point taken. But if they’re not addressing it, they probably don’t want you guys talking about them.”

“You’re no fun,” Callie said.

“Tell me about it,” Tess added. “He’s such a grumpy Gus most of the time. I will admit, though, that since you’ve been back in his life, he’s had a sunnier disposition.”

“Christ. That’s my cue to leave this chick talk.” He walked away from Tess and Callie. “Time for me to start the grill.”

He turned the grill on and went into the kitchen to get the meat. While he should be happy that Tess and Callie got along, it made him nervous. They each knew him from different points in his life. Seen him at various levels of his worst—because every time he didn’t think things could get worse, they did. Callie was the first woman he’d introduced to his group of friends, but he wasn’t sure he was ready for her to be comparing notes.

It made him glad that Nina had a party to manage for a client. She’d be all over his relationship with Callie. And he was sure she’d have input about Owen and Evelyn. The women in his life were too nosy.

He pulled the steaks and chicken from the fridge and seasoned them. The back door opened, and Callie came in. She slid her sunglasses to the top of her head, pushing her hair back in the process. Setting her camera on the counter, she smiled as she neared and rose up to kiss him.

It was a quick kiss, but he loved the naturalness of it. Like she belonged right here with him.

When she backed away, he asked, “What’s with the camera?”

“I’m just snapping some shots.”

He’d watched her throughout the party. Her camera was like an extension of her body. It amazed him that she could do that, take pictures like a job, but still interact, converse, and make friends.

She picked up the camera and turned the screen so he could see it. Pressing a button, she scrolled and pictures flashed on the small screen. It was like watching a movie of their day.

“This is my favorite.” She stopped and handed him the camera.

It was a picture of him with Evan and Hannah. The kids had ganged up on him with their water guns to soak him. Callie had captured the looks of pure joy on their faces. Even his.

“Can I get a copy of that?”

“Sure.” She took the camera back and set it on the counter.

“The only thing missing in that picture is you.”

“I was taking it. Some other time I’ll insert myself into a family photo.” She pointed at the food he’d taken out. “What can I help with?”

“Make the salad and see what we have for vegetables. I think Tess brought corn on the cob.”

Callie moved around the kitchen as if it were her own. He suddenly wondered if she would feel weird living here, like he’d worried when he first moved in. It had been Lisa’s house, and while he felt like he’d more or less made it his own, he hadn’t considered what he and Callie would do. What about when their relationship progressed? Would she be willing to move in here?

Fuck. He hated having to worry about every little freaking thing. He went back outside and put the meat on the grill. Moments later, Tess walked past him saying something about helping Callie.

Callie joined him at the grill, handing him a can of pop. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he said, a little rougher than he’d wanted.

“That was totally believable. Want to try again?”

He sighed and shook his head to clear it. “I was just thinking about us and this damn house. Where do we go as a couple?”

“What are you asking?”

“At some point, we’ll live together. Where does that happen?”

“Whoa.” She raised her hands and took a step back. “Moving a little fast there, don’t you think? You haven’t even told the kids about us.”

“Just thinking ahead.”

“Borrowing trouble.”

“What?”

She came close again and held his hand. “You’re worrying about something that isn’t happening yet.”

“But—”

“But what? We’re not in a position to talk about living together. We’re still figuring out how to be a couple. Let’s just enjoy that.”

He looked at her smiling face and decided that she had a pretty good plan. He spent a lot of time worrying about things—things that might happen, things he had no control over, things that scared the shit out of him. Maybe she could teach him how to step back and just enjoy, because that was something that Callie was really good at.

Trevor had fun hosting a party in his backyard. Most of his closest friends spent the day. His kids laughed and had fun. Callie and Tess had formed a friendship. By the time night had fallen and everyone was exhausted, Trevor told Tess to leave with her family. She offered to stay and help clean up, but he insisted he could handle it.

Callie went inside to wash dishes with Evan, and he and Hannah tackled the mess in the backyard. Through the screen door, he heard Callie’s laughter, and it made him smile.

Hannah scooped up the beanbags and shoved them into a plastic container. “Callie makes you happy.”

The remark caught him off guard. “She’s a good friend.”

“Yeah, right.”

He stopped gathering cups and glasses to take inside. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Dad, do you really think we don’t know?”

“Know what?”

She groaned and rolled her eyes. “That you wait until we’re in our rooms so you can sneak over to Callie’s house to spend the night?”

He froze. He had thought they didn’t know. He’d tried to shield them. Being caught now, though, he decided to take it head-on. “Okay. You’re nosier than I thought. How do you feel about it?”

“About you and Callie? It’s awesome.”

He sighed. This was what he’d been afraid of. “It’s still really new. We’re figuring things out. So don’t…” He didn’t know where to go with that. Don’t what? Get your hopes up? Think it’s going to be forever? He’d been cautious, but part of him had already bypassed all of that. He was falling hard for her. The only thing that held him back was his fear that it wouldn’t last.

“Don’t what? Plan the wedding?” She burst out laughing. “That might kill Callie.”

Hmm. Hannah thought Callie would be the problem in moving their relationship forward. “Does Evan know about us, too?”

“Of course. We’re not blind. Anyone with half a brain can see it. Every time you guys look at each other, you’re all googly-eyed.” She set the tub of bags down. “You think you’re being sneaky touching each other and holding hands, but you’re not that good.”

That would teach him to try to hide things from his kids. He should’ve known better. For her entire life, Hannah had always managed to figure out where they’d hidden birthday and Christmas presents. The girl was like a bloodhound once she caught a scent.

“I’m not making a big deal about it. I just wanted you to know that we know.” Then she turned and finished cleaning up the games.

Trevor carried the glasses into the kitchen and put them in the dishwasher. Callie had the rest of the dishes done and was wiping down the counter. “Where’s Evan?”

“Went upstairs to talk to his girlfriend.”

“I just had an interesting conversation with Hannah.”

Callie tossed the sponge in the sink. “Whatever it was, I didn’t do it.”

He chuckled. “She let me know that we’re not as sneaky as we think we are. She knows I’ve been spending the night at your place.”

“Yeah?” she asked with hesitation.

“Yeah. She’s good with us being together. She sees you make me happy.”

A smile brightened Callie’s face. “I’ve been known to have that effect on people.”

He moved in and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. “How about I walk you home?”

“Will you spend the night? Like all night?”

“I could probably arrange that.” He kissed her then, taking a small taste because he couldn’t do what he really wanted to here in the kitchen.

From the side of them, he heard, “Gross,” and the same time from behind he heard, “Just because we know it happens doesn’t mean we want to see that.”

He and Callie separated and looked at the kids. “Time for bed.”

Evan groaned. “Nothing I want to think about my dad doing.”

“I meant you. See you in the morning.”

“Good night,” Hannah said. She gave him and Callie a hug.

“Hey,” Evan said. “If you’re spending the night at Callie’s, that means I could sneak out and you wouldn’t know.”

Hannah smacked her brother’s arm. “You probably shouldn’t announce your plan if you want it to work.”

Evan laughed, but Trevor made a mental note to install an alarm that would let him know when the doors opened.

Then, holding Callie’s hand, he went across the yard to take her to bed.

For the first summer in years, Callie enjoyed time in Chicago. She’d always had a good time in the short term—a few weeks here and there—but she’d forgotten how much fun the city was. Festivals in every neighborhood. Crowded beaches. Walks at the zoo. Concerts at outdoor venues. She loved it all, but she had no luck finding a steady job. She’d spent every day taking in the sights and sounds of the city, taking pictures of everything so she could at least add to her portfolio. Some of those shots she’d be able to sell online.

But she’d had no offers for permanent work. Definitely nothing that could compete with the offer from Around the World Travels. As much as it stung, she began to think her options were limited and she’d have no choice but to take the job.

Look at me, borderline whining about having someone pay me to travel all over the world. Twenty years ago—hell, ten years ago—this would’ve been a dream job. In many ways, it still was. She’d had a few more email conversations with the tour company about their vision and where they wanted to send her. She’d get the chance to visit places she’d never been. She’d be able to visit the best beaches, places of spiritual or historical significance. The chance to see the Wonders of the World was reason enough.

If she timed her trips well, she could probably bring Trevor and the kids with her to some locations. By the time she did one run, she’d have enough flyer miles to cover tickets for everyone. She started to get excited at the thought of hopping on a plane again.

Then she thought about Trevor and the fact that he never traveled. He didn’t even take a nearby vacation. He had a business to run, and it was rare for him to take a day off.

She liked the life she had here. She and Trevor shared a bed most nights. They stayed in his room the other night because he’d started to think that the kids would take advantage of his not being in the house. As a person who had routinely sneaked out of her parents’ house, she couldn’t argue. Being in his bed, in his room, wasn’t as weird as she thought it would be.

Even though Lisa had bought the house, it was no longer hers. Trevor had stamped his mark on it pretty quickly. Of course, her reaction might be different if he had used Lisa’s bedroom, but since he was downstairs, she hadn’t been as squicked out as she’d expected to be.

Sitting in her living room, she felt restless. Trevor was at a meeting and said he’d be late tonight. So she used her free evening to play on her computer, scrolling through some of the locations she would be able to travel to. She made a list of requirements that she would expect for this job to happen. She needed to be able to come home often. They would have to cover the bill for decent accommodations. She was done spending the night in tents and not sleeping because she feared her equipment would be stolen.

As she filled a sheet of paper with ideas to gather her thoughts, her phone rang. She answered without looking because she assumed it was Trevor letting her know he was home. “Hello.”

“Callie?” Evan sounded weird, but there was so much background noise, it was distracting.

“Evan? Where are you?”

“At a party.”

Trevor hadn’t said anything about that. “Does your dad know?”

“Nuh-uh. I’m not okay to drive. Can you come get me?”

Before he finished his sentence, she was already sliding into her flip-flops and grabbing her keys. “Text me the address right now. Then sit on the front porch so I can find you.”

“’Kay.”

She ran through the yard and looked for Trevor’s truck out front. He was still at his meeting, so she couldn’t call him. As she started the engine in her car, her phone buzzed with a text. She plugged the address into her GPS and took off.

She was happy that Evan was smart enough to call for a ride instead of trying to drive himself after partying, but fear niggled at her as she drove. It was still early. What time had they started for him to be drunk before ten o’clock? Or had something happened that made him want to leave the party?

As she neared the address Evan sent, the street was filled with cars. There was little doubt which house was having a party. Every light was blazing; thumping music could be heard down the block. Her car crawled closer, and she called Evan since she didn’t see him on the porch. She really didn’t want to have to go into the house to get him.

The phone rang in her hand, and she saw a shadow emerge from the side of the house. Evan wove crookedly toward her car. He opened the passenger door and fell onto the seat.

Eyeing him, she asked, “Want to talk about it?”

“No.” He leaned against the window and closed his eyes.

“Thank you for calling instead of driving drunk.”

One eye eased open. “Can we not tell Dad about this?”

She shook her head. “Sorry, honey. I can’t keep this from him.”

Evan groaned.

“Are you gonna be sick?”

“Don’t think so.”

“Must’ve been a good party, huh?”

“It sucked.”

Not quite the answer she expected. At seventeen, sneaking out and getting drunk at a party came with bragging rights, usually claiming to have done a lot more than you actually did. “You didn’t have a good time?”

He looked at her with watery eyes filled with sadness. Her heart lurched, and her fear became reality. Something was seriously wrong.

“What happened, Evan? Are you okay?”

“My girlfriend broke up with me this afternoon, and she showed up at the party with some other guy.”

“Ouch.”

Evan closed his eyes again.

Callie left him alone. He was going to feel like crap physically and emotionally. Heartbreak was no joke, especially for a teenager. “When we get home, make sure you drink a bunch of water even if you’re not thirsty. It’ll help you feel better.”

“Doubt it.”

“I know.” She reached over and patted his leg.

Part of her wanted to go find this girl and yell at her for being cruel, but she knew it would be pointless. There was nothing Callie could do to fix this for Evan, but she wanted to.