Page 48 of The Other Side

When she faces me, she extends the four flowers between us. “For Julia.”

Sincerity sweeps over her eyes. The crook of her mouth twitches in a truce, and I smile. I peer down at her stuffed palm, eventually reaching for the flowers. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

When I pull back, I steal another glimpse of her garden as I ask, “What are you going to plant next?”

“Hydrangea, dahlias, lavender,” she says, walking along the border of stones. “Sunflowers.” My stomach flips at her admission, and she pauses in front of the center of her garden. Her palms are concealed in her pockets, her eyes directed at something hiding within the palette of flowers. “The best time to plant them is in May, otherwise I’d plant them all year round.”

“Would you?”

“I would,” she confesses before jerking her chin to something I can’t see. “Come take a look.”

Her voice reels my legs forward. Almost cautiously.

My boots stroll along the grass before I pause beside her. My attention follows the path of her eyes, and that’s when I see it.

Nestled between a plethora of green stems is a stone statue.

The pair of doves are smooth and gracefully carved. The subtle curve of their wings is captured peacefully within the light gray finish.

“You bring color into my world just like a garden does.” I turn my head to Callie when she speaks. “Only seemed right that I have this here.”

A gentle breath tumbles from my lips. My heart hammers against my chest to tap hers in sync with mine. And I’m desperate.

Fucking desperate.

“Callie, I want to keep seeing you,” I admit.

Her eyes remain averted across the silence.

“You know, it would have been nice to hear from you after Saturday,” I push.

“You have a phone too,” she retorts.

“I’m trying my best to be respectful.”

Callie pops a shoulder. “Then it is what it is, right?”

I narrow my eyes as I search her face. For a hint of emotion. Anything that tells me she doesn’t mean what she’s saying.

She doesn’t mean it.

“You should go before Jesse starts asking questions. I’ll walk you out,” she says.

Frustration rises in my chest. I lick my lips, inching closer to her side to deliver my next words. “You realize how fucking insane you sound right now?” I murmur. “One minute, you’re desiring extra time with me in the backyard. The next minute, you’re pushing me away. Which is it?”

She swivels to face me, her nostrils flaring as her jaw sets. “My hands are tied, Brant. I can’t just do whatever I feel like doin’ like I did Saturday night,” she asserts, gesturing to the flowers in my hand. “Maybe this is my way of apologizing to her. I think I owe her that much.”

Her pathetic excuse punctures my heart, and I lightly scoff.

“That’s great,” I counter mockingly. My hand quickly raises and wiggles the bundle I’m holding. “I’ll be sure to give these to her. I haven’t seen her since I bumped into you, but I’ll fuck her too, how about that? Is that a good enough apology in this twisted scenario you’ve concocted in your delusional mind?”

She rolls her eyes, turning her head away from me. Her tongue pokes out to wet her lips, her palms greeting her lower back. “Do whatever you want. You’re pissed, so nothing I say is gonna cool you down right now.”

“So, this is all we get?” I fire back. “Quick conversations when I come over for business?”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”