Page 65 of Double or Nothing

“Ding, ding, ding.”

“I’m sorry for barging in.” I turn my hand on the doorknob.

“Kat, wait, don’t go. Have breakfast with me.”

A part of me is tempted. The kiss last night stirred up a lot of emotion I’m not ready to deal with yet. Spending more time with Sutton will only make things worse. I need time. I need space. I need to deal with Callum.

“I can’t, I’m sorry. I have to find Callum.”

I walk out the door, and as I wait for the elevator, I half expect him to follow me, toss me over his shoulder, and drag me back inside. I’m not sure if I’m happy or disappointed when he doesn’t. Right now, I don’t have the time or energy to think about it. I need to find Callum.

My first stop—Callum’s office, but he’s not there. He isn’t at his condo, which leaves one other place—The Loft. It’s only ten in the morning, but when I arrive at The Loft, Callum’s in his usual seat, with his usual drink in front of him.

“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout at him from halfway across the bar.

Despite the time of day, the bar is pretty crowded, and since he made a scene with Sutton, I have no qualms about causing a scene with him.

His head turns in my direction, eyes filled with confusion.

“Having a drink. You?”

I take the drink from his hand and down it. It’s the least he owes me.

“Trying to figure out why you called Jack and told him I wasn’t taking care of my client.”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Like hell, you don’t. Jesus, Cal, is it really that important to you? Are you really willing to sacrifice me, our friendship, for a client?”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence,” Callum says as he grabs the glass the bartender sets in front of him and drinks it.

“Well, if Sutton didn’t call him, and you didn’t call him, who did?” I stand before him, hands on my hips, waiting for him to crack and fess up.

“How the hell should I know?” His voice escalates, his tone angrier than I’ve ever heard it. “Honestly, Kat, I wouldn’t put it past that douche to have done it and try to pin it on me.”

I don’t back down. I don’t break my stance. I just continue to stare at him.

“Believe what you want, but for the record, I wouldn’t do that to you. Someone else? Maybe. But not you, Kat. Not after everything we’ve been through together.” He stands from his seat. “I don’t have a lot of friends, but the ones I do, I don’t screw over.”

I realize it’s not anger in his voice but hurt. We vie for clients. We don’t steal them.

“I’m sorry, Cal. I just… I don’t get it. Who would do this? Who would rat me out to Jack? Who the hell would have even known about the damn dinner?” Aside from Sutton and Callum, who in the world would have a motive to ruin me?

“Anyone who saw the guy shove me against a wall and act like a stark raving lunatic?”

“Oh, Cal,” I say as I plop down into the chair next to his. “I’m so sorry. You don’t deserve to have to deal with him.”

“I told him to leave you alone,” he admits as he returns to his seat, our argument already long forgotten. The premise, however, is not.

“Telling Sutton what to do will only result in him pushing harder.”

“I noticed. He’s crazy about you, you know? And just flat-out crazy.”

I smile at Callum. “I’m well aware, on both counts. I really am sorry. About Sutton, about accusing you.”

He nudges his shoulder against mine. “Forget about it.”

Tilting my head to the side, I eye him. Callum is complex. His heart doesn’t match the persona he exudes.

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