Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Fuck!” I gritted out again, falling back to lean against the door. This was a disaster. The last thing I wanted to do now was to call Callum and tell him what was happening.
I went straight for my bedroom, closing and locking the door behind me. I’d tell Callum, then go upstairs and try to talk with Charlie again.
“Hey. How’s my lumberjack?” he said playfully, and while hearing his voice eased some of the tension in my body, I knew it wouldn’t last long.
“Your lumberjack is missing you…but I also have awkward news.”
“Okay…”
“Charlie invited Amanda and Dale to dinner and the bonfire tonight. I was backed into a corner and didn’t know how to say no.”
“Oh.” The tentative softness in his voice made my chest ache. “Should I not come?”
“What? No. Absolutely not. I want you here.”
“And I want to be there, but this is going to be weird. You know Amanda is attracted to you. And no one can know we’re together. Charlie hates me. Oh God. Do you think she knows? That we’re together and that’s why she invited Amanda? She wants you with a woman?” His words were coming so fast, I could hardly understand him.
“Hey, no. I think she senses something’s going on. I need to tell them. Given the circumstances, I don’t think today is the best day, but I’m going to talk to Carol and sit down with the kids on a video-call tomorrow, okay?” It wasn’t until I said the words that I knew they were true. Keeping it a secret wasn’t making things any easier, and Charlie would feel lied to later. “Even if this is something we have to work through with Charlie, I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want Amanda or any other woman. I want you, and I would love for you to be here tonight, but I don’t want to push you either.” I waited, but only silence greeted me. “I’m sorry, Cal.”
“I know.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” There was another pause, then, “How many pizzas should I bring? And what kinds?”
Though I didn’t know if it was the right decision or not, I breathed easier. Knowing he was there made everything easier.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Callum
At first I wasn’t sure I was going to go. I went back and forth, even after I confirmed with Knox I’d be there. Finally, there were three things that convinced me to go. First, I loved him. I wanted to be a part of his family. I wasn’t giving up that easily. Second, I wanted Charlie to know that she couldn’t push me away. That I liked her and I would keep trying to get her to like me, because that’s what you did when you loved someone—and I loved Knox, which meant I loved her too. Eventually she would see that, right? She had to see it. And third, no offense to Amanda—because it wasn’t her fault and she seemed like a nice woman; the poor thing was dragged into the middle of this—but I sure as shit wanted her to know he was my man.
Not that I could tell her, which okay, yeah, so maybe the last reason didn’t make sense, but it would at least feel like I was staking my claim if I was there.
I also wanted to curl into a ball and cry, but I was trying to pretend that wasn’t the case.
I picked up dinner at six and made my way to Knox’s house. My stomach tumbled with nerves, which it had never done before when it came to a guy. The truth was, no matter how much bravado I showed, I knew that Charlie had to be the most important thing. If she didn’t come around, then I couldn’t be with Knox. I refused to come between him and his daughter, and no matter how much he loved me, I knew he couldn’t allow it either.
Why had I decided to go tonight again?
When I pulled up, Knox was standing on the porch, waiting. He had his hands shoved into his pockets as he leaned against the house. Even seeing him made my heart pump harder and my body feel jittery. He was so fucking gorgeous, sometimes I couldn’t believe he was mine. That he was taking a chance, turning his world upside down for me.
My dad hadn’t loved me enough to really give a shit about me, to accept me. My ex had cheated on me. But Knox…Knox was choosing me, changing his world for me, loving me.
He came down the porch stairs, opened the passenger door, and slid in. “I feel like I’m fuckin’ this up. I should have told Charlie already. I should have told her right away.”
Part of me wanted to say he should have, but the other part knew it wasn’t true. Plus, what did I know about being a parent? “It wouldn’t have made things easier. She loves you. I don’t think…I don’t think she wants to share you with me, and all that would have done was make things worse.”