Page 37 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
I should probably talk about this on Therapy Thursday, but I have a feeling I know what my therapist will say.
I like Callie’s dislike of me because if she can’t stand me, that means we’re not at risk of fooling ourselves into thinking this arrangement is something it’s not. We won’t pretend it’s more than it is. She won’t take advantage of me. I won’t fall in love with someone who’s unavailable, and the only thing that matters in my life will be protected: the band.
If Calla Lily James hates me, I’m safe, as long as she can pretend like she likes me in front of the cameras. If she hates me, I won’t be in danger of repeating recent history.
“What did you tell her?” I ask, breaking the silence we’d fallen into. Callie jumps slightly in the passenger seat. “Sorry if I startled you.”
She shakes her head and stifles a yawn.
“It’s fine. I told her I met you a couple weeks ago, and we’ve stayed in touch. That I like you, and I’ve decided to go on tour with you.”
“She believed it?”
“Yeah, I guess. She was angry and hurt. I think maybe that clouded her ability to really question it.”
I glance at her quickly before looking back at the road. Her eyes are shielded behind sunglasses, but I have a feeling they’re closed.
“How did you explain the first check?”
“I didn’t. I just deposited it into her account.” She brings her handsto her head and presses on her temples. “I’ll deal with that when she notices. If she talks to me again.”
“I’m sorry this is causing you so much stress,” I say quietly, and Callie scoffs.
“As long as it helps Sav Loveless, right?”
I’m surprised by the bite in her tone, but I don’t respond. I focus on driving, and she says nothing else until we’re pulling up to Sav’s house where the tour buses are parked out front on the curb. We drive past the crowd of reporters and through Sav’s wrought-iron gate. When I park in her circle driveway, Callie is alert and peering out the window.
“This is Sav’s house. Everyone else is already here. We’ll be getting on the road soon.”
Callie nods and takes a deep breath. “Any more public appearances today?”
“Hammond wants us to pose for some pictures that he’ll release to the media, and then we’re going to have to walk past the crowd out front to get on the bus, but after that, you’re free for a bit.”
We fall back into silence as she continues to stare out the window at Sav’s house. Damon hasn’t said a word from the back seat the whole drive, but I can see him check his watch in my periphery. We need to get moving.
“Okay. I can do this,” Callie says suddenly, then she opens the door and climbs out.
I follow, then round the car to stand next to her.
“Ready?”
She shakes her head. “No. But I have to be anyway. Might as well just rip the Band-Aid off.”
“Get it over with, yeah?”
“Yep.”
“Right. Well...this way.”
I push past her and walk into the house. She sighs behind me. I can picture the way her brows are probably knitted in a frown right now, but she follows. Her footsteps sound heavy, tired. She makes no attempt to hide her reluctance, but I don’t mind.
The more she dislikes me, the better. It’s safer that way.
12
CALLIE
The insideof Sav Loveless’s house is surprisingly understated.
