Page 36 of Only The Strong

Hell yeah, that's what I needed to hear. “Gotta shower first, brother. I can’t go over there looking like this.” Finn shakes his head as we all walk outside and Finn and I get into his Hellcat so he can take me home to my girl.

* * *

I’ve always lovedmy townhouse, it’s the only place I’ve ever lived on my own. Going straight from my parent’s house into the clubhouse when they kicked me out. My Raptor was the first thing I bought with the money I was making from the club, and then I started renting the townhouse after I started CM Roofing. Even though I love being alone in my own space, this place has been so much better with Reese around.

I walk through the front door and immediately smell Reese’s perfume in the air. I'm sure no one else can smell it, but it just lingers in the air all of the time since she moved in. Moving through the living room and into the kitchen I toss my giant ziplock bag onto the counter and go to reach for the refrigerator door when I notice a piece of paper on the island with Red’s perfect script. Pulling out a bottle of water I open it and take a long sip while reaching for the note.“Today put everything into perspective for me. I can’t do this anymore, I’m sorry.”What the fuck? I set the bottle of water on the counter and rush up the stairs, taking three at a time, and to my bedroom. Pulling open the drawers I cleared out for Reese, I find them empty. Same with the spot in the closet that held her clothes and the organizer with her shoes. I hurry into the attached bathroom in complete shock to, of course, find all of her makeup and toiletries gone as well. I run back down the stairs and jump into my Raptor, like literally leap, ignoring Finn waiting for me in his car.

“Your dick can wait, you’re not supposed to be driving!” He yells out of his driver's window laughing. I wish I was hurrying to Red’s house to get my dick wet, but he didn't see the note, he has no idea. He backs out of my driveway and goes in the opposite direction of me. I don't care, I break every speed limit on the way to her apartment. There is no way in hell she is leaving me with just a fucking Post-It note on my goddamn counter. She said she thought I was dead and this is what she wants to do? What the fuck got put into perspective that she needed to pack all of her shit and leave when I wasn’t around? When I pull in front of her building, not even worrying about parking in an actual spot, I bypass Mason’s truck and stomp straight for the door. I’m panicking by the time I make it to her apartment, but I take a deep breath before I knock on her door. After what feels like an eternity she finally opens the door, but only enough to talk to me, not let me inside. She looks sad and tired, her green eyes red and dim, not vibrant like they normally are. Her long red hair is pulled into a bun on top of her head and she’s wearing an oversized sweater and shorts.

I try to stay calm, not show her how much I’m freaking out inside. “What's going on, babe? What the fuck is up with that note?”

She stares down at her feet, only looking up at me every few breaths, and never into my eyes. “The accident put everything into perspective for me, Callum—”

I interrupt her before she can say anything else. “Put what into perspective for you?”

“I don’t want whatever it is that you want.” She takes a long breath and my heart stops beating. The only thing I can focus on is what she’s saying. “We were moving too fast and I don't want to do it anymore.”

I can feel my heart shattering in my chest, my stomach clenches and makes me want to puke right here on her welcome mat. Caught completely off guard with this entire morning I still ask questions, not completely sure what's going on. “You moved in with me.” I trail off.

“For my safety,” she whispers. “I’m sorry you developed feelings for me, Callum, but I told you from the beginning that this was just sex.”

She softly closes the door and everything seems to hit me at once. I turn to leave, but I can't go. I slide to the ground with my back against her door. “Please don’t do this, Red,” I beg, I fucking beg! My ass on the ground, knees bent, with one elbow resting on them and the other clutched to my stomach in my sling. Being hunched over like this kills my ribs but I don't have the strength to sit up any better. I rest my head in my hand; I’m begging the woman I swore not to fall in love with to please open the door and tell me she loves me. Minutes pass with just silence, the only sound is my ragged breathing. She never opens the door. I finally realize that I can’t make her love me, no matter how badly I want it or how much I beg her to talk to me. So I pick myself and what is left of my fucking dignity up and I leave.

Before I start my truck and drive home I walk over to Mason. He rolls down the window as I approach, his iPad in his lap. “You knew?” It came out as a question, but we both know I already knew the answer. He sheepishly looks into his lap, avoiding my eyes.

“I couldn’t tell you while you were stuck in the hospital without a way to fight for her, brother. I’m sorry.” I can tell in his voice that he means it. Mason isn't like the rest of us, he has a romantic side to him that wanted Reese and me to make it. Not only that but I know he loves both of us individually as well as together.

I sigh, not actually angry with him. Just curious because I was honestly blindsided by Reese’s note and now this. “I’ll send Jack to get some food for you. Keep watch here and if anything feels off or you see something, get her to my house immediately.” He nods, biting the inside of his cheek. “Let her know that she can take my townhouse, I'll move into the clubhouse so she can have it to herself.”

I shake my head and turn to walk away, still not mentally accepting what the fuck has happened today, I can’t even call it a breakup because we weren’tactuallyin a relationship; not officially at least.

Mason’s voice cuts through my thoughts. “What if she doesn't want us here anymore?” He calls from his seat.

I turn around a few steps away from the truck. “Then sit further away. I’m not risking her life just because she doesn't want to be with me.” He nods and rolls up his window as I walk back to my Raptor. I sit in the seat with the engine rumbling underneath me. I take one last look at Reese’s apartment; I’m leaving my entire fucking heart in that apartment. To hell with it anyways, it never did me any good.

34

REESE

I siton the floor of my apartment with my ear pressed to the door and listen to Callum’s pleas and his breathing for forty-five minutes. When I hear the rumble of his Raptor I drop my head to my bent knees and break out into sobs. I wanted to take back the hurtful things I said to him, none of it was true.

35

CALLUM

When I rollup to my house I see Saint’s bike and Finn’s Hellcat parked in my driveway. I pull up beside them and get out. Walking to my house I find my brothers making themselves comfortable like they normally do. “NUMB” by Chri$tian Gate$ plays on my sound system while Finn is slouching on the couch with his hat on backward, and Saint and Leo are in both armchairs, with Saint’s feet kicked up on the ottoman. They all get quiet and turn to look at me when I walk through the door.

Finn is the first one to speak up. “Mason called, we thought you could use these.” He holds up handles of Wild Turkey and Jack Daniels.

“And this.” Leo raises a handle of Titos.

I shake my head, a small smile appearing on my face. Leave it to my brothers to be able to help me when I most need it. I look over at Saint. “What did you bring, asshole? Or did you think you could just sit here with your dirty boots on my furniture?”

Saint laughs and holds up a normal-sized bottle of Grey Goose. “I didn’t bring enough to share if I'm going to have to watch you cry into Finn’s lap.”

I deftly drop onto the tan leather couch next to Finn and take the Wild Turkey from him with my good arm. “Oh that’s right, I forgot you like the prissy shit.” I take a giant gulp, feeling the whiskey burn in my stomach.

Saint shakes his head and pours his vodka into a short tumbler. “I just have taste buds.”

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