Page 88 of Fate Forever and Always

Chapter thirty-six

Nick

Callie and I hadn’t spoken more than ten words to each other in the past two weeks. She hasn’t apologized or told me what happened Thanksgiving night, but whatever it was, it affected her enough she has become a completely different person.

I've been trying to get Aubrey to tell me what was wrong with Callie, but she didn’t seem to know what I was talking about. She hadn’t seen Callie since Thanksgiving, but she said she had talked to her a few times on the phone, and Callie seemed fine. So, apparently, she was just mad at me.

I knew something had happened on her phone, something that she didn’t want me to see, but I still couldn’t figure out what it might have been. My immediate thought was that she was cheating, and I almost caught her doing it. That thought only lasted two seconds. I knew her better than that. Plus, with how her relationship with Jake ended, I honestly couldn’t see her being a cheater.

Of course, my second thought was Jake. Was she talking to him? Trying to fix shit with him? I honestly didn’t know what it could be outside of that.

I heard Callie’s bedroom door open, and goddamn, she looked fucking cute. Her hair was down and curly. I could tell she spent time getting ready this morning. Her curls only look like that when she takes the time to do it. Her black jeans were tight, and she was wearing a white long-sleeved crop-top sweater and carrying a few other articles of clothing in her hands. Clearly, she was going somewhere. I felt jealousy coil inside me.

She placed her belongings on the kitchen island and went to the fridge to get her energy drink. I could tell she was trying her best to keep her eyes off me. I loved watching her when she was all awkward. I knew I was not in the wrong here, and I would not apologize, so her cute, stubborn ass was going to have to.

I was leaning against the counter, sipping my coffee. I didn’t take my eyes off her the entire time.

She finally snapped and glared at me. “What are you looking at?”

“You,” I said simply.

She gathered everything and mumbled something I didn’t hear.

“What was that?” I leaned toward her a little.

“I said stop. It’s making me uncomfortable.”

I turned and put my cup in the sink. “Well, I'm sorry if my presence makes you uncomfortable, but this situation was your doing.”

“Don’t worry about it. I won't be here for long.”

I spun around, propelled by all the anger that just flooded my body. “Excuse me?”

She looked down at her feet. “I got an apartment. It won't be available until the end of January, but I can afford it and—”

“No.”

“No? What do you mean, no? I have some money that Aubrey gave me, and I—”

“I gave you that damn money,” I bitterly replied.

Fuck.I didn’t mean to say that out loud.

“What?” she asked.

“Never mind.” I rubbed my hands over my stubble and looked at her, trying to calm myself down. “You are not moving out.”

I saw her sassy demeanor fall into place. “Says who? Last I knew, I was a single woman and could do whatever the hell I wanted.”

Single?

“Oh, so this is just over? Are you single now without any explanation? Are you serious?”

“Nick, this is the most we have spoken to each other in two weeks.”

“Yeah, and whose fault is that?” I snapped. I took a step forward toward the island, and she stepped back toward the door.

“Don’t.” She held up her hand.

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