Page 60 of Pinky Promises

Lexi leans back into Ben’s chest, and he places his hands lovingly on her shoulder.

I want to be able to do that with Brynn openly. I want to pull her into my arms and kiss her like she’s never been kissed before, showing everyone that she’s mine. One day soon, I will tell her how I feel and make this—well, whatever it is—official.

I smirk as I bring the glass of whiskey to my lips. “Callum,” my father’s voice calls from behind us, ripping me from my fantasyland, and I set the glass down on the bar top. Whenever someone besides Brynn calls me by my full name, my muscles coil so tight, ready to snap. So much for not seeking us out.

I spin to face him with the latest Mrs. Murphy dangling on his arm like a prized possession. I mean, what kind of name is Crystal anyways. It’s something you drink out of, not someone you marry. I’m also pretty sure rocks have more personality than she does.

We stare at each other. The rage I felt the last time we spoke forces my blood to begin to boil and my head to spin.

Brynn must be able to sense the storm brewing within me, especially with my silence. “Lovely to see you, Charles.” I know she says it to be polite, but I don’t think she would be as nice if she had known what his plan had been to rip us apart. “Crystal, you look beautiful.” I think she looks like a hooker waiting for someone like Richard Gere to pick her up on the corner.Fuck I need to stop letting Brynn convince me to watch chick flicks with her.

“Hello, Brynn. What a marvelous dress.” My stepmother leans in, kissing both of her cheeks. I fight the eye roll. “Don’t you think so, darling?”

“Oh yes, sure.” My father whips his head back in our direction, clearly so entranced by our conversation. “Brynn, your parents are floating around here somewhere. I’m sure they will be excited to see you.”

I reach behind me for the tumbler and take a long swig, welcoming the smooth liquid down my throat.

“Oh, I’m sure they will be.” I spurt some of the liquid back into the glass at Brynn’s sarcastic tone. I am sure they will be as excited as my father is of my presence.

Brynn narrows her eyes at me, letting me know to keep it together and to take the reins of this awkward moment. Honestly, I’d much rather lick the dirt from everyone’s shoes than stick around for this conversation, but I swoop in anyways.

“Charles. Crystal, these are our guests.” I extend my hand to everyone behind me.

“Ben Harrington.” Ben extends his hand to my father, and they shake. “This is my wife, Lexi.”

“Nice to meet you both. You have a lovely home,” Lexi says, trying to be polite. It’s a little funny that I’ve been friends with Lexi since college, and this is the first time they are meeting. When my father came to my college graduation, he didn’t stick around more than to shake my hand and tell me, “I’m glad to see my money didn’t go to waste and that you actually graduated.”

“I know. Although, the decorator had messed up the tapestry order, and they are not the exact shade I requested.” Classy, Crystal. A polite thank-you would have sufficed. Pretty sure no one can tell nor give a shit.

“Oh.” Lexi gives a small smile, I’m sure she’s completely unsure how to respond, and I bite back a snicker. Lexi deals with all sorts of people daily with her job, and I have to say I’m impressed that she’s finally met someone that makes her speechless.

Ben to the rescue. “And this is my brother, Asher, and his girlfriend, Hadley.”

After a quick handshake, we all go back to standing awkwardly, and I down the rest of my drink and settle the glass in one hand while the other dangling by my side brushes against Brynn. I quickly link my pinky with hers before she pulls away.

“Callum, I would like to finish our conversation from the other day,” my father says in a scolding tone. I have nothing left to say about the matter.

“No, I’m good. I would rather escort my friends to show off the property.”

“I can do that.” Brynn turns her body towards mine. “Plus, I should find my parents and at least say hello. Why don’t you go speak with your father and then come find us?”

I plead with my eyes for her to take back her words. However, they are already out in the open. I only have myself to blame, keeping her in the dark.

I place the glass back on the bar and signal the bartender for a refill. Maybe I should just ask for the bottle at this rate.

“I’ll come find you soon.”

I have the urge to lean down and kiss her, but I hold back. Her hesitation leads me to believe that she thought the same thing. This whole thing is a joke. Why are we not taking our relationship further? As I watch Brynn lead our friends away, I decide that tonight is the night I tell her how I feel. No more games, no more rules, no more secrets. Just me and her.

Moments after they leave, someone catches Crystal’s attention, leaving just me and dear old dad.

“Come, Callum. We can talk in my office.” He extends his hand in the opposite direction of the rest of the guests. Once the bartender places my drink on the bar, I follow him. We navigate our way through the crowd. I think there may be enough people in this house to fill our entire apartment complex.

When we reach the office, he closes the door behind us. I take a sip of my drink and place my other hand in my pocket while I browse the items on the built-in shelving. Black-and-white photographs in slick black frames line the shelves, but not of his family. They are only of him—golfing, fishing, drinking. I’m pretty sure that song “You’re So Vain” was probably written about him. I think I can count on one hand the number of times I was allowed in his office.

“Is there something you wanted?” The faster we can end this chat, the faster I get back to Brynn.

“I just preferred to continue our conversation from the other day away from curious ears.”

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