Page 56 of This for That (The Edge of Retaliation 1)
“Because I didn’t want to worry you, and I was okay, just scared.”
He stops and turns, looking at me, his eyes narrowed. “This is starting to get out of control, Callie. Someone is targeting you. I think we need to start considering who that might be.”
“I’ve thought about it a lot. The only thing I can think of is that it is either Sophie or Jessika, or possibly even my stepsisters, considering I found that note on my car the night I was visiting them. They probably think it’s funny to traumatize me.”
“I think you need to look more into Sophie and Jessika. It might be time you go and see them.”
I exhale. “Yeah, I’m thinking so, too.”
“What about this new man you’re seeing?” Ethan asks.
I blink. “Tanner?”
“Yeah. What do you know about him?”
“Ethan, come on. This isn’t anything to do with Tanner, and everything to do with you not liking Tanner.”
“Those boys have a reputation.”
“So do I; it doesn’t make me a bad person.”
Ethan’s jaw clenches, and I know there is more to this. I was hoping there wasn’t, but I know now that there is. Ethan has feelings for me; it’s written all over his face. I can’t say I blame him. I spent years having the same feelings for him, but eventually, I accepted nothing would ever happen between us and I moved on from it. He obviously hasn’t done that, and it makes me wonder why now he’s suddenly coming out with it. Is it because he knows we could actually be together now if we wanted to?
“There is more to this,” I say carefully, not wanting to make things any worse.
Ethan is important to me. He’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had. I don’t want to risk losing him, but I have to clear this up so we don’t spend forever with this between us.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he murmurs, his eyes flickering away.
“Ethan, come on. Ever since I told you about Tanner, I haven’t seen you. I know you’re upset. You haven’t even forced me to run in the last week…”
“You hated it,” he mutters.
“It didn’t stop you, though. Please, just talk to me.”
“I don’t like Tanner, Callie. I don’t trust him. I don’t like the crowd he is hanging around with.”
“You’ve never met him,” I say, in Tanner’s defense. “You’re judging purely off what you have heard. I called him last night, when someone was in this house, and he was here in a second. He stayed with me to make sure I wasn’t alone. He was there for me, he was kind, and he took care of me. I don’t see the bad side in him. He’s rough, sure, but he’s been good to me so far.”
Ethan’s eyes flash. “You’re letting him stay over now.”
“Ethan . . .”
“I have to go.”
“Ethan! Stop! Will you just talk to me?” I cry, frustrated.
He spins around when he reaches the door, and says, “I have feelings for you, Callie. Is that what you want to hear? I have feelings that aren’t dying off anytime soon. I thought maybe you felt the same, but I was clearly wrong.”
“Ethan,” I say carefully. “You’re my best friend. You got me through the worst part of my life, and I couldn’t have done it without you. If I’m being honest, yes, I had feelings for you. For years, I fantasized about the two of us being together, but I figured you didn’t feel the same so I got over it. I didn’t know you wanted anything more.”
“You were in prison, Callie! What would you have had me do? Tell you I had developed feelings for you, and then what? What would we have done?”
“It wouldn’t have mattered that we couldn’t do anything. If I had known, I may have waited. Hell, I may have lost feelings for you by the time I got out. I can’t know what would have happened. All I know is now, it’s different. I’m sorry, Ethan.”
“You feel nothing now? Nothing at all?”
“No, I don’t feel nothing at all. You’re so important to me. My life is incomplete without you. So no, I don’t feel nothing, but I’m not interested in a relationship, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He studies me, then says, “Give me a chance. At the very least, let me take you out. Don’t you think you owe me that, after everything I’ve done for you?”
“I didn’t know you saw it as me owing you something,” I mutter, crossing my arms, “I thought you helped me because you truly believed that I deserved it. Thanks for clearing that up. You can leave now.”
“Callie,” he says, but I turn and walk off down the hall.
With a frustrated growl, he slams the door.
I walk into my room and a moment later, Jo appears. Judging by the look on her face, she heard everything.
