Page 25 of The Other Side

Once I gulp my sip, I’m the next to speak. “Sure. But think about how painful it was for the people who had to live there.”

His dark brows furrow, a pout forming at the corner of his lips. “I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t mean anything by that comment.”

I shake my head with a muted grin. “It’s okay. It’s just … many people are cornered in their situations and have no way out of it. Until the appropriate time presents itself.”

Jesse turns to Roger and Lindsey, vaguely maneuvering his hand. “Callie didn’t grow up in a wealthy neighborhood. She’s always catching my ignorance one way or another.”

I’ve told Jesse I grew up tight on money. I never exposed the fact that I’m from a trailer park. Nor does he know anything about Daddy.

I suppose I felt it easiest to leave those parts of my life out of our initial conversation. The person Jesse is in love with is the person I am now. Why should I have to complicate things by giving him a worse image of me?

Roger’s eyes pin mine. “Oh, we didn’t know that. Where did you grow up?”

“A small town,” I simply state. “Willowhart.”

Roger and Lindsey submerge in silence as they hold my gaze. Their heads barely nod in understanding. Just to appease the moment.

They have no idea how to communicate with someone who grew up outside their lifestyle. I might as well be an alien or an ex-convict.

“She’s never looking back though.” Jesse’s hand kneads my exposed thigh, and I pivot to look at him. “She’s made something of herself and sees how much better life is now.”

I scarcely nod, words jumbling at the base of my throat just as theirs did.

Conversation reconvenes, and I ingest a breath before drawing another mouthful of wine. My eyes drop to my fingers around the glass. When they sink onto the princess-cut diamond, my heart lunges.

Not because of the jewelry I’m wearing, but the remnants of that tingle he left.

I realize my heart is what’s tugging back all the words meant to agree with Jesse’s latest claim.

Damn you, Dove.

Brant

I rest my elbows on the desk, chin planting against my knuckles. My eyes roam over the list of emails in my inbox, concentration lost when I think about visiting Callie’s house later today.

Ever since Thursday, my life has been forever uprooted. Those round, sage-green eyes are accented with some mascara now. Just as her full lips are coated with this berry tint that makes them appear fuller. Her waist is still petite, but there’s no way I could miss the silhouette of her hips and chest.

They’re fuller.

Curvier.

Womanly.

My stomach clenches, and a sourness coats the inside of my cheek. I realize how much she’s changed. How much I missed.

So many changes, and I missed all of them.

I fucking missed all of it.

Then, there’s Jesse Miller.

How the hell did Callie Rae Montgomery end up with a guy like that? He’s a show-off, relying on his wealth to speak for him. I guarantee his love language involves buying her the gaudiest pieces of jewelry and accessories.

I consider Callie’s beauty again. As much as it’s changed, it spurs my heart the same way it did under those loblolly pine trees. Knowing that, did it ever really change at all?

No.

She’s timeless.