Page 70 of Shattered

“So, we get dressed up and go out to eat every weekend or something?” he asked and Sam rolled her eyes playfully.

“Think about the relationships you’ve seen. Your parents are married and you have been a firsthand witness to Micah and Kristin. It’s whatever we make it. And, no, we don’t have to get dressed up and go out. That’s not me, and I know that’s definitely not you.”

“So, basically, we just do what we’ve been doing now.”

“Kind of,” Sam said and then quickly added, “But without any other girls in the picture.”

“And without Christian in the picture.”

“Callum.” His name was a warning. This was a line she refused to cross.

“I’m serious. I don’t want you hanging around him. Even ifusnever happens, I still wouldn’t want you near him.”

“That’s too bad. He is one of my best friends. If that is a requirement, then this,” she motioned between two of them, “will never happen.” It had nothing to do with the fact that Christian was Christian and Callum was acting like an insecure little boy, but everything to do with the fact that she would never allow a man to tell her who she could and couldn't be friends with. She was an adult, and only she was in control of her life. She started feeling that little bubble of hope fading away. “I’ve told you a thousand times, there are no romantic feelings there whatsoever. He isn’t your competition.”

“It’s not that,” Callum quickly amended.

“Then what is it?”

“He isn’t a good guy.”

Even though Sam felt frustration at Christian’s recent behavior around her, she wasn’t going to let someone speak ill of him when she knew him better than anyone else.

“You keep hinting at that, and yet you refuse to back it up with actual facts.” She downed the rest of her drink. The familiar buzz of the caffeine now flooded her system making her want to jump out of the chair.

“I want to. Trust me, I do. But I can’t.”

“That’s ridiculous. And controlling.”

This time Callum became more stern. “He is a piece of shit,” he all but snarled.

She stood up and chucked her empty cup in the bin behind her. She was done. The nausea had now returned. Maybe she shouldn’t have drunk an entire milkshake-coffee after a night spent tossing back shot after shot of tequila.

But it gave her just enough bravery to quickly say her piece and finally end this before it ever really started.

“Callum, I like you alot. But I think this entire back and forth thing is not good for me. I’m sorry, but I think it's best if we just remain friends. I really mean that. I’m not going to stay away just because we don’t work romantically. But we have different priorities and opinions that will only cause problems in the future.”

“Sam.” Her name was a plea. His eyes begged her not to leave.

She swung her purse over her shoulder and shot Kristin a quick text to come pick her up.

“Thank you for the coffee. I’m sorry I missed work this week.” Her tone was different. She was no longer speaking to Callum. She was apologizing to her boss and, by the look on his face, she could tell it killed him. “I promise to be there for my shift tomorrow. And I promise not to let what happened between us affect my work or Kristin and Micah.”

“Sam. Please sit back down.”

“Goodbye, Callum.”

Chapter 29 - Callum

Two days.

Two fucking days since he’d watched her walk out of that coffee shop.

He stared at the design in front of him as he worked at shading in the sunrise of the tattoo on the man’s arm. It was a great design, the customer loved it, and Callum was proud.

And yet he couldn’t take the scowl off his face.

The orange they had chosen for the perfect hue of the sunset reminded him too much of her hair. Then there was the tattoo he did the day prior of a forest. The green matched her eyes. The blue in the ocean of a design later that afternoon matched the little sundress she had worn on their walk.

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