I haven’t gotten a chance to clean my makeup off my face yet, and I don’t really want him to see the river of black that’s dried from my eyes to my neck right now.
I don’t answer him.
Another step.
“I need to see your eyes, please. Becca, please.”
Another step.
My heart thumps faster and louder, echoing in my ears.
“Just tell me what’s going on, Callum,” I beg of him.
Another step.
Warm fingers slide over my shoulder. Gently, he spins me to face him, and I let him.
“Oh, love,” Callum whispers.
I turn away from his burning gaze. “Don’t.”
The backs of his fingers brush my cheek. “I have to tell you this. And I’m so sorry. I wish I didn’t have to give you this pain.”
I lean into his touch. The rawness in my chest still fresh from letting Sophie in earlier.
“What is it?” I ask him, my voice quiet.
“I really wish I didn’t have to say it. I wish I could make it all go away, love,” Callum says as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
His avoidance sends a chill down my neck, and a rush of anxiousness dances across my skin. “Just say it.”
This is it. He’s finally giving up.
“It-it’s about Austin,” he says, and I look at him for the first time.
His eyes are red, and I don’t know why it seems like everyone is crying tonight.
“What about Austin?”
“Can we sit down?” Callum gestures to the sofa.
I start shaking my head, but I end up walking to the sofa anyway, where I can wrap my blanket around me.
“Go on,” I instruct him, digging my fingers into the faux fur of my throw as I crisscross my legs.
He sits down next to me, angling his body toward mine. “What do you know about Austin?”
I’m quite caught off guard by his question. I can’t imagine Callum wants to be his friend.
But I answer anyway, and I answer honestly. Trying to continue my openness. But it’s hard.“Um, he’s an intern with the Carvers. Um, he’s going to school for law. Um …” I rack my brain for more details, but I can’t seem to come up with anything solid. “I don’t know. Why?”
He ignores my question. “Why did he say he couldn’t go tonight? I know you told Stella you were bringing a plus-one.”
I tighten my blanket. “Said he was sick. Callum, why do you care?”
He reaches out, setting his hand between us, and I can tell he wants to grab my hand but won’t. “Austin isn’t who you think he is, Becca. He isn’t an intern at the Carver Firm. Cade looked into it, and there’s not an Austin there.”
My stomach drops. “What do you-you mean?”
