Claiming Callie: Part two (22 page)

“Really, we
’
re more…informal, I guess you could say. We
’
re not so stuffy, more laid back. I think it
’
s a very California attitude to have, don
’
t you?”

“Quite. It does sound tempting,” she says, not entirely lying, but
the truth is that she
’
s never considered anywhere but GGF. She
’
s known from the second she chose her major that she wanted to work for the biggest, the best, and somewhere located near her hometown. She’s never considered other options. Even now, the thoug
ht of working somewhere else sounds nice in theory, but it
’
s not her reality and seems almost unthinkable.

“So, maybe you
’
ll consider us, then?”

Callie purses her lips.
“
I don’
t know…”

Brian puts a hand over his chest, as if it hurts to hear. “I
’
m in a
losing battle
, aren
’
t I? My uncle has once again outwitted me with GGF
’
s hefty starting salary, his crow’s-feet, and salt-and-
pepper hair
that women love so much.”

Callie chuckles.
“Maybe I
’
ll give it some thought.” It
’
s a lie and he probably knows it, but
reciprocating his charm helps ease the nerves of what is to come the moment he steps on the elevator.

He claps his hands together and flashes her his gorgeous smile one last time and says, “Well then, mission accomplished. I
’
ll be staying here a few weeks
on business, so I hope to see you around. Maybe I
’
ll do some more
convincing
.” With that, the elevator doors open and Brian steps in with a polite wave.

The second Brian
’
s gone, the heavy weight of the evening awaiting Callie descends on her. Brian was an
unexpected reprieve. One she needed, and the thought that he is just the kind of guy Callie should be dating crosses her mind. But the clock above the elevator reminds her that there
’
s no escaping reality, and now is not the time for daydreaming about a
possible love match. It
’
s time to go home. Time to meet the parents.

DEAN

Dean pulls the knit cap down further over his head and shuffles his way into the dorm. He just spent the last two hours meandering around the mall talking himself
out of purchasing a Valentine
’
s Day gift for Callie. Maybe he used the lovers’ holiday as a distraction to keep his mind off of the coming evening, but he wishes so badly he could get her something. He
’
s unsure, though, of what her reaction would be, consi
dering they
’
re not really a couple. Would that be weird? Would it freak her out?

He shakes his head.
Having to straddle the line of winning her heart and appearing innocent in all this is going to give me a hernia
.

Dean pauses at the elevators and stabs th
e button with his finger. He has no idea what to expect tonight, but he
’
s resolved himself over the course of the week to simply enjoy the evening. It may be torture in the long run, if this thing with Callie doesn
’
t end the way he hopes, but what else can
he do? He needs to live in the now, enjoy this, despite how awful he feels about lying to his parents.

No matter the guilt gnawing on the edge of his conscience, he discussed this with Callie several times already. They
’
re going along with the charade,
which means he needs to erase any reminders that he and Callie are not really together. He has to truly feel as though they
’
re a couple. If he can
’
t pull that off, his mother—the all-powerful Oz—will know something
’
s up. So, for one night, instead of focus
ing on how he can get Callie to fall for him, he
’
s going to let himself feel how he would be if he and Callie were really together. Foolish or not, he
’
s going to allow himself to believe it
’
s truly genuine, and there
’
s only one thing that would make it all
feel more real. A kiss.

When the elevator doors slide open, he steps out into the small lobby and turns to head to his room.

“Dean!”

The voice stops him mid-step. Swinging around, he blinks at the person standing before him, as if he’s imagining things. “
Maya. What’re you doing here?”

She
’
s dressed in skintight black pants and a matching leather jacket. She
’
s pretty, not like Callie, but in an edgy way that Dean first found appealing because of the stark contrast of the two women.

“I needed to talk to you.
I told myself a million times I shouldn
’
t but… Just hear me out,” she says, taking a step forward. She reaches her hand out in front of her and envelops Dean
’
s in her own. “I know you
’
re with Callie. And I realize she
’
s the girl you
’
ve had feelings for al
l this time, but something
’
s not right with you two.”

Dean
’
s frowns, taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

“She
’
s...” Maya glances away, then back to him again, her green eyes studying him more than he likes. “She
’
s going to hurt you. I can feel it, a
nd I can see it on her face. She doesn
’
t care for you like you want. She doesn
’
t feel the same—”

“Stop.” Dean steps back and wrenches his hands from hers, fisting them at his sides. “You have no idea what you
’
re talking about.” Except that she does, and
that thought burns him. “And, I
’
m sorry I hurt you, but this really isn
’
t your
concern.
”

“See, that
’
s why I
’
m here. It is my concern.”

“How?” He shoves his hands in his pockets, forcing his fists to relax.

“Because…I know the other day I said that I
’
ve mov
ed on and I
’
m happy, but the truth is that I still have feelings for you. And seeing you with her has just reminded me of that. And the fact that I know she
’
ll just end up hurting you makes me feel so sure in what I
’
m saying and how I
’
m feeling.
”

“But…” De
an
’
s mind goes blank. This is exactly what he didn
’
t want to happen. He had figured Maya hated him after he dumped her the way he did, and when she said she was happy and over him the other day, he believed her.
Why is it women couldn
’t just say how they r
eally felt.

She steps toward him again and brings her hand up to his face, tracing the line of his jaw. Dean swallows and leans away from her, but not before she can say, “I
’
m going to get you back, Dean Michaels. And if she hurts you before then, I
’
ll be
standing by, waiting to pick up the pieces. And this time, you
’
ll have eyes for no one but me.”

#

Dean storms inside his room. “This is so fucked-up!” he yells.

Emmett practically falls out of his desk chair at Dean
’
s sudden entrance. Ripping the earbuds
from his ears, he says, “What the hell, man?”

“Maya just confronted me in the lobby.” He runs a hand through his hair and lets out a deep breath.

“Oh, shit. What’d she say?”

“She wants me back. And she thinks Callie’s going to hurt me. I don’t know how but
she senses something’s off with us.”

Emmett whistles. “Teaches you for dating smart, intuitive chicks. Maybe you need to dumb it down next time you choose your girl.”

“Dude, shut the hell up,” he says, not in the mood for Emmett’s sarcasm.

Emmett sighs. “
Okay, fine,” he says, as if being serious costs him something. “What are you going to do?”

“No idea. If Callie finds out about this, it’s all over. She’ll think we accomplished our goal and that will be it. Maya wants me back. Game over.”

“Yikes.” Emmett p
laces his hands on his hips. “Seems to me you need to resort to drastic measures. Pull out the big guns or some shit like that.”

Dean scrubs a hand over his face and nods. “Yeah. I need to kiss her.”