Page 188 of Well Played

“Can’t you sort the babysitter out? I’ve really got to go.”

“You’re their father! You do it!”

“But you’ve got the number! You might as well do it yourself! I really have to leave, Callie. My job needs all hands on deck, and I’ve wasted enough time telling you.”

“Drew…”

“Just called them and let them know. I’ll leave the key with Brad. Bye.”

“Drew!”

But then the call was cut off. Drew had hung up? Callie couldn’t believe this was happening. How could Drew do this?He was meant to have the time off and nobody was meant to contact him. Sure, his job was erratic at times, but this was ridiculous. There should have been a contingency plan in place.

She had no choice now. She was going to have to make a few calls. Callie’s hands were trembling as she made them. First to her friend, who was more than willing to go over and wait with the kids until her mum got there, and then to her mother, who was already driving. She said it would take her another hour, but she wasn’t happy with Drew. Callie agreed with the sentiment. Then she called Brad and stayed on the phone with him until her friend got there. At least he and Kara would be safe.

Callie knew that work could get in the way, but surely Drew would have sorted that out. Annual leave was annual leave, wasn’t it? How was this possible?

By the time she finished with all that, she was worn out. Callie slumped onto the sofa and buried her head into her hands. This couldn’t be happening. If she was there, this wouldn’t be occurring. Drew wouldn’t be messing around. Callie was sure this was his way of getting out of being a parent, like he had done when they had been together.

She had wanted to trust him, and this was the result.

“Callie?”

Callie looked up. Ben and Matt were in the doorway. Fuck, how much had they heard? Callie wanted the world to open up and swallow her whole.

“What was that about?” Ben moved into the room, watching her with a frown. “Drew’s left the kids?”

“Something to do with work, so he had to go.”

“Didn’t he book time off?”

“I thought he had. I can’t believe this.” Callie swallowed back the hard lump in her throat. “I really didn’t need this right now. He still manages to spoil things for me.”

“He’s not worth your time now,” Matt said. “Your kids are safe now, yes?”

“Yes…”

“And you can trust the people looking after them now?”

“Yes, but…”

“Then you need to focus on yourself.” Matt moved past Ben and sat beside Callie. “Unwind tonight and do something for you, not for anyone else.”

Callie snorted.

“How am I supposed to do that?”

Matt glanced at Ben, and both of them grinned. Callie felt the hairs stand up on her arms. What were they up to?

“Get upstairs, Callie,” Matt said.

Callie started.

“What?”

“Get upstairs and lie down. We’ve got something for you.”

Callie felt like her brain had short-circuited. Were they suggesting…?

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