Every Kiss(83)

“Fine.” Clearly infuriated with me, Wes moves around the desk and sits, folding his hands neatly on his desk and glaring at me. “For the next fifteen minutes, I won’t say a word, but you better run like hell when those fifteen minutes are up because you won’t want to hear what I have to say to you when you’re done.”

He’s right. I don’t.





“OKAY, I’M HERE,” Eve says, hanging her purse on the back of her chair. “You catch me up on everything on your end, and I’ll tell you what I know.”

It’s been five days since I showed up at Wes’ office and forced him to listen to me about his mother. Just as I promised, I walked out when I was done, and he said nothing to stop me. I haven’t heard a word from anyone until Eve called me this morning, asking me to meet her for lunch.

“Well, as I started to explain earlier, I told him everything that Chesley told me. The reason why she disappeared. The reason why she didn’t ever try to come back into his life. And why she’s trying to now.”

“And?” she asks before sipping her water. “What did he say?”

I shrug. “Nothing. He didn’t want to listen to me, so I made him a deal. He had to listen without saying a word, and I would walk out for good when I was finished talking. I held up my end of the deal, and I haven’t spoken to him since. But then again, he doesn’t have my number anymore, and he doesn’t know where my parents live, so it’s not like he can contact me. Not that he even wants to. Have you spoken to him this week? Has he said anything about it?”

“Not to me, no.” She peers over her menu at me, her chestnut hair sweeping perfectly across her forehead. Is she ever not flawlessly put together? “Robert told me that he called him yesterday though. He actually talked to him about her, asking if she really disappeared from the hospital like she said. I think he’s looking to validate her story, which Robert did confirm. But there’s something I haven’t told you.”

That doesn’t sound good. “What?”

“She called me last night . . . right after Wesley emailed her.”

I slap my hands down on the table, causing the salt and pepper shakers to clink together. “You’re kidding, right? He actually made contact? Oh my God. Was it bad?”

Eve reaches across the table and pats my hand. “It’s good.” She beams a stunningly white smile, crinkling her eyes. “You did it, Callie. He’s going to meet with her this afternoon. He actually invited her over to his house to talk.”

I jump up from the table and tackle her in an embrace, garnering the attention of everyone in the restaurant. It wasn’t all for nothing. I actually somehow convinced him to meet his mother, regardless of his reservations. This could be such a life changer for him, and I’m kind of proud of myself now for stepping in. Sometimes, I guess, sticking your nose in someone else’s business can pay off.

“It actually worked. I can’t believe it.” I whisper when her arms tighten around me.

“Thank you, Callie,” she says, running one hand over my hair. “I told you that he’d listen to you before he would anyone else.”

Since the entire restaurant is focused more on us than their food, I slink back into my seat. “Well, let’s just hope that it all works out and doesn’t make anything worse. I’d like to think that this will change everything for him, but I know it won’t be immediate. It will probably take a while for him to alter his way of thinking, but if this doesn’t do it, I know there’s nothing else I can do.”

“Sweetie, I told you the morning you came over for brunch. There is something you can do. Don’t give up. Don’t allow him to walk away from you. I don’t think that this is going to be a magic fix; he’s still going to need someone to show him that they care enough to not let him run. You know that as well as I do.”

The waiter chooses this moment to come over to take our orders. As Eve gives her complex, none-of-this-and-extra-of-that order, I use that time to think about what she just said. I’m pretty sure she’s saying that she expects me to keep pushing him, to keep chasing him. I don’t know that I have it in me to do that anymore. I’m not going to chase a guy that’s constantly telling me that he doesn’t want me, no matter what his reasons. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love for him to finally say that he wants to take a chance with me. Being in a relationship with Wes, without any reservations or walls to climb, would be nothing short of incredible. We have an undeniable chemistry that clearly he can’t even seem to shake, regardless of what his insecurities are.