Page 24 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“You’re telling me that none of these ‘accidental encounters’ have been planned?” she asked.

“No, I’m not saying that.” She sucked in a breath, ready to go off, but he continued. “I’m saying that after Tuesday, I felt something that I haven’t felt in so long, I hardly recognized it. I’m saying that I wanted to see you again so badly, I called up one of Stateside’s publicists and asked to take this interview myself so I could be near you. I don’t do interviews, because I can’t stand to have people pity me. I thought you were different, I wanted you to be different, and so, yes, I arranged to see you again today, but that’s it. Every other meeting was just luck. Or fate or whatever you want to call it. It was the universe telling us that there is something here. Can you honestly tell me that you feel nothing?”

He didn’t give her a chance to answer. “Look, I know I threw you by not telling you right away that I was Rhett, but honestly, I was embarrassed. I’d made an ass out of myself with a woman I had never met but thought was amazing. I’m sorry, and I hope you can see it for what it was. That it’s not a deal-breaker. That I didn’t set out to lie or deceive you. That I was just trying to save my pride, what little I have left.”

Callie’s throat knotted up. If she had been any other girl, none of this would have happened. She would have flirted back, and after that first meeting, she would have said yes to a date with Everett. Maybe they would have already slept together, had long phone conversations, and when he’d shown up today, maybe she would have teased and touched without any reservations.

But she was fucked up. Tristan had fucked her up and her life and her family, and she couldn’t just forget that. It clouded every choice she made, and Everett had admitted to having PTSD. He’d said that sometimes there was no telling when an episode could happen. She just couldn’t get involved with someone again who was unstable.

“But if you want me to leave you alone, I will,” Everett continued. “If I see you around, I won’t approach you, and I won’t bother you again.”

“I don’t trust you.”

Everett ran his hands over his head and blew out a deep breath, the air fogging in front of his face. “I get it, believe me. You’ve got baggage. I don’t expect you to just take my word with no evidence to back it up, but can you honestly tell me that I’ve given you any reason not to?”

She couldn’t, not besides the fact that he hadn’t divulged he was Rhett, and even then, she hadn’t been exactly open and friendly. He hadn’t been wrong in thinking she’d have assumed the worst.

“I get that you’re scared of taking a chance on me, but I think we could be friends.”

“Friends?” Callie almost snorted. She doubted that Everett had only friendship on his mind.

As if reading her thoughts, he grinned. “Fine, I want more, but we gotta start somewhere.”

Everett started to back away from her. “So if you want to get started sooner rather than later, I head into the South Hills almost every clear Saturday to go hiking. There’s this great hiking trail that takes you to

the top of the mountain. It’s such an amazing view; it can almost make you feel like you’re a step away from heaven.”

She remained silent, waiting.

“Anyway, it’s off Sweet Water Road, and it’s called Moose Head Trail. In case you ever need to clear your head.”

Callie cleared her throat. “Thanks.”

“Any time.” A wide smile stretched across his lips. “And just so you know, I’m usually there at eight in the morning, if you’re ever nervous about walking alone.”

Callie bit her lip in amusement. “I’ll remember that.”

“Good,” he said, before heading back around the corner. “Have a nice day, Callie Jay.”

Her stomach flipped over with delight, and she hated how mixed up she was.

Suddenly, “Wild Flower” blared from her pocket, and Callie pulled her phone out with a sigh.

“Hello, Caroline.”

“I feel like you’re avoiding me.”

“No, I’m not avoiding you. I’ve just been tired.”

“You are full of shit, and you know it! Now, Gabe is working late on a bike with Chase, so I’m coming to get you tonight.”

“Seriously, I—”

“Unless you’re going to say, ‘Of course, Caroline, my loving friend,’ I don’t want to hear it. I’m coming by at seven, and you, Miss Thang, had better be rested and in a damn-good mood!”

The back door to the studio swung open, and Dave poked his head out. “You ready?”

“Yeah. Caroline, I gotta go,” Callie said, heading toward Dave.

---