Page 41 of Both Sides Now

I exit his vehicle and enter my home, waving him off from the front door.

As his headlights are eaten up by the darkness, I once again feel the heaviness settle over me.

A heaviness that doesn’t exist when he’s near me.

But what do I do with these feelings? Particularly when they’re aimed at a man who doesn’t believe in forever?

I told him I wouldn’t settle for anything less than amazing. He’s told me he isn’t built for long-term love.

There’s no future there, but there might be a ton of frivolity and fun times.

Question is, will that be enough?

Chapter

Seven

CALLISTA

“He asked you to do what?” Shawn's jaw drops in shock as I reveal my latest bombshell.

So much for a casual lunch with my friend.

“Attend a wedding with him. Stop giving me that look. I knew I shouldn’t have said anything,” I grumble, running my hand over my forehead.

Definitely a bad idea.

Shawn leans back in his chair and scratches his chin like a professor about to deliver a stern lecture. Joy of joys. “Are you two dating now?”

“No. We’re friends.”

“Since when?”

I bristle at the stupefied expression on my friend’s face. “Since the beginning, I suppose. Is it so unbelievable that I might strike up a friendship with someone?Youwere the one telling me to get back into the world. Now, you’re giving me crap about it.”

“I’m happy you’re getting out again, Calli. I’m just surprised because you never mentioned your relationship with Dr. Russo.”

“There’s nothing to tell. He’s my friend. He invited me to a wedding to prove to his family he’s capable of dating a nice woman instead of a floozy.”

“Wait, a damn minute. You just said you’re going as friends.”

The headache continues to build in my brain, no matter how vigorously I rub my temples. “We are, but as far as his family is concerned, we’re dating.”

Shawn sighs and shakes his head. Again. Oh yes, a lecture is imminent. “Right. As far as hisfamilyis concerned.”

Enough of this disciplinarian style discussion.

I plant my palms on the table and fix him with a glare. “Will you or will you not watch Domino?”

“Of course. My daughter loves her. We all do.”

“Thank you,” I mumble.

But, just as I hope to pass to another conversation topic, Shawn pulls me back into the deep end.

“Just promise me something. Be careful. He is not the kind of man you fall for. You believe in love. He believes in love for the moment.”

I bite my tongue, holding back the salty retort to Shawn’s observation about Keegan.

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