Every Kiss (26 page)

But no matter how much I try, I can’t seem to get into the
movie. And I guess Shane can’t either. He keeps looking over Makenna’s head at
me and checking his phone. I know he’s just as worried as I am about Wes’
meeting with Chesley. Trying to put myself in his situation, I don’t even know
what I would say when I opened the door. “What’s up, Mom?” or “Whatcha been up
to the last twenty-six years?” Yeah, umm, I hope he’s having better luck with
that than I am.

My cell phone rings, and I have to turn on my side a bit to
dig it out of my pocket. I stare at the number on the screen, not recognizing
it. Probably the same telemarketer that wanted to sell me erectile enhancement
products earlier today. I start to decline the call, but Shane startles me by
reaching over and grabbing my hand.

“No, answer it. That’s Wes’ number.”

Well, I’ll be damned. Looks like he didn’t delete my number,
after all.

“WES?”

“How’d you know it’s me?” His voice is soft. Deeper than
usual.

“I didn’t, but Shane is here and told me it was you. Is
everything okay?” Walking out of the room, I hold up a finger at Shane, whose
questioning stare is boring into my skull.

“Not really. Look, uh, I know I told you that we couldn’t
have anything to do with each other, and I want to apologize now for being an
ass . . . again. I just don’t have anyone else that I can talk to about this.
Do you have a minute?”

“Of course, I do. No matter what happens, I’m always here
for you.” And I mean that, too.

“I’ve told you all this time that I didn’t want to talk to
you about my mother, but I did listen to what you said. It took me thinking
about it a couple of days, but since you thought it was something I should do,
I decided to contact her. I didn’t think it would hurt to at least listen to
what she had to say. I grew up thinking the worst possible scenario, so
whatever story she had to tell, it couldn’t be worse than what was already
planted in my head, you know? So I took the card that you left on my desk, and
before I could lose the nerve, I sent her an email, inviting her to come over
here today to talk. Within fifteen minutes, she responded, saying she
appreciated the opportunity, and she seemed excited about it.”

Something in his voice tells me that there’s more to the
story. I’m so worried that it didn’t go well. “I’m proud that you gave her that
chance, Wes. I know it’s something that she’s wanted to do her entire life, and
I’m sure you’ve given her some peace that she hasn’t felt since the day you
were born. How did it go?”

“That’s why I’m calling,” he says almost inaudibly. “Cal,
she hasn’t shown up. I never thought I wanted to meet her until I was finally
faced with it, but she’s now an hour late, and I’m not going to lie, I’m
gutted. I’m pissed that she put me through all of this and didn’t even give me
the courtesy of showing up. I mean, hell, nervous doesn’t even begin to
describe what I’ve been feeling the last couple of days. I get it. But this is
huge. I hope she doesn’t ever expect me to agree to this again. I’m done with
her.”

No. This isn’t right; something is very off. I don’t know
her all that well, but I have a hard time believing that she just wouldn’t show
up. This is something that she wanted more than anything, something that she’s
fought for. Meeting Wes is the one thing she wants to do before she dies. Oh,
shit. Before she
dies.

“Wes, I don’t think she just wouldn’t show up. This meant
too much to her. There has to be a good reason she’s not there right now, and
I’m scared that it’s because she’s physically unable. I’m pretty sure that’s
the only thing that would keep her away today.” I hear the intake of breath on
the line. He’s making that same realization.

“You think she’s . . .”

“Just wait a minute. Did you try calling her?” I ask, trying
to think of what to do.

“No, and I’m not going to. What if she’s just decided she
doesn’t want to do this?”

“
I’ll
call her, then, and I’ll call you back when I
have some news, okay? Just keep an eye on your email, and let me know if you
hear anything.”

As soon as he hangs up, I scroll through my phone to find
Chesley’s number. I have a sick feeling deep in my gut that she’s not going to
answer.

“What’s going on?” Makenna appears behind me.

“She didn’t show up, and Wes is freaking out.”

Shane groans. “Damn it. I was afraid of something like this.
How could she do that to him?”

“There’s something you don’t know,” I explain, turning to
face them. I know they’re both concerned about Wes, but they’re only wasting my
time right now. I have to find her. “Don’t make any assumptions about her right
now. Just wait until I have the facts, okay?”

Shane nods. “Yeah, okay. For now, I guess we’ll head back to
my parents’ house, and I’ll let Mom know what’s going on. Call and let us know
as soon as you find anything out.”

“Promise.” I kiss Makenna on the cheek. “Thanks for coming
here today.”

As soon as the front door closes, I dial Chesley’s number,
hoping and praying that she’ll answer. With every unanswered ring, the knot of
dread tightens in my stomach even more. I just can’t make myself believe that
she chickened out. There has to be a reasonable explanation, but the only one I
can come up with is far worse than her being a coward. I’m scared that
something is horribly wrong, and I don’t know how I’ll ever find out.

When the voicemail picks up, I leave a short message, asking
her to call me, and then I call Eve. I can’t wait for Shane and Makenna to get
there and explain. I need to know what I can do
now.

“Wes just called me,” I blurt out as soon as I hear the
beginning of her cheerful greeting. “Chesley never came.”

“Oh, no. As much as she’s hounded us to meet him, there must
be a good reason. Maybe she’s just really nervous and is having a hard time
taking that step. If she’s just toying with him, she better believe she’ll have
me to deal with. Have you tried calling her?”

“Yes, and I left a voicemail. But what if her health is
what’s keeping her away? I have a hard time believing she’d purposely hurt him.
She wanted this more than anything.”

She exhales a short huff. “Well, I was going to say that we
can’t think the worst, but either way, it’s bad. Wesley has told himself all
these years that she turned her back on him, and now it appears to him that
she’s done it again. He doesn’t need this.”

“I know.” I feel nauseated. I’m the one who practically
forced him into this, so I feel responsible for everything. I had my doubts
about all of it, but I never would’ve guessed it would turn out this way. “I
feel awful about it.”

“It’s not your fault, sweetie. I’ll talk to Robert and see
if we can track some of her family down. I know she doesn’t have any other
children, but I’m pretty sure she has some cousins in the area. Just to be
sure, we’ll also start checking local hospitals to see if she’s been admitted.
While we’re trying to figure all of it out, why don’t you go to Wes’ house and
hang out with him? I’m sure he could use the company right now to get his mind
off of it.”

Yeah, that’ll go over like a lead balloon. “He doesn’t want
me there. You know that.”

Eve chuckles softly. “You’re a smart girl, Callie. You and I
both know that isn’t true. But if he gives you any trouble, you just tell him
that it was my orders. He knows better than to cross me. Keep your phone close,
and we’ll talk soon.”

“Yes, ma’am.” When she gets that tone of authority in her
voice, even
I
don’t want to cross her.

I send a quick text to Wes, letting him know that I’m on my
way before he decides to leave.

Me:
‘Your mom asked me to go to your house, so
I’ll see you in about twenty minutes.’

Wes:
‘I’m fine. No babysitter needed.’

Me: ‘
Too bad. Already hired. Don’t make me call
your mom.’

Wes:
‘I’m really not in the mood for this. Do NOT
come over here.’

Oh, forget it. This argument could go on for hours with him.
And I know this because I’m just as stubborn as he is. Instead of wasting
precious time, I jump in my car and head that way. I really don’t care if he
wants me there or not. I think Eve is right. Maybe if more people would show
him that they care, instead of folding when he says “no,” he might actually
believe that he can rely on people. He might see that some people can be
trusted to be there for you anytime you need them, whether you know you need
them or not. My goal today is to prove that to him.

The twenty minute trip seems infinite, especially since I
don’t even have the radio on. I want to be sure that I hear Eve’s call, and
every minute that my phone doesn’t ring adds another layer of panic and
disappointment to the ever-growing pile. Of course, it also doesn’t help that
every slow driver in the state gets in front of you when you’re in a hurry. It
never freaking fails.

Finally, though, I pull into his drive, relieved to see his
jeep still sitting here. And I’m going to make sure it continues to do so.
Pulling up as close as I can without actually touching my bumper to his, I park
right
behind him, effectively pinning him in. And he knows it. As he
steps into the doorway and leans in the jamb with his arms crossed, I can
easily see that my least favorite of his personalities is back again. But I
can’t honestly say that Mr. Moody didn’t warrant a comeback this time.

I want to reassure him that everything is going to work out.
I want to let him know that he didn’t make a mistake by agreeing to see her.
More than anything, I want him to know, without even a shadow of doubt, that
I’m here for him.

So I do the only thing I can think of. I walk up the porch
steps, and before he can grumble about me coming here after he told me not to,
I wrap my arms around his waist and hold him tight, hugging him with every
ounce of strength I can muster. He resists it at first, but finally, I feel the
weight of his hands at my hips and his cheek pressed against the top of my
head.
God
, it feels good to be here with him. The warmth of his body
radiating into mine. The familiar scent of soap and a hint of cologne. It’s
nothing short of blissful. I’m home again.

“Thanks for coming, Cal,” he says softly into my hair. “But
I’m okay. I don’t need you here to console me. Nothing has changed.”

I look up into his crystal blue eyes. He looks haggard,
disappointment shows on his hardened scowl. Regardless of her reasons, he can’t
let his mother’s actions dictate his entire life. The same way he shouldn’t let
his ex-wife’s stupidity continue to shape his future relationships. Before, I
thought that he needed to wake up and take a hold of his life before it passes
him by, but now, I think Eve may be right. And with today’s disappointments
weighing on him, now is the time for me to show him that he’s worth fighting
for. I’m not going to leave just because he’s afraid I might eventually walk
away. No, I’m staying to prove to him that people who truly care about him
won’t run, no matter what.

“I’m staying, Wes. I don’t give a damn what you say.”

He narrows his eyes. “I don’t need you here to cheer me up.
And you know what happens when we’re together. We get a lot closer than we need
to be, and right now, I just don’t have my head on straight.”

“You? Without your head on straight? Hard to believe.”

“Okay, smartass, you know what I mean. We can’t do this. I
won’t
do this. You just need to go back to your simple, uncomplicated life, and let
me deal with my own shit. On my own.”

I shove past him and walk in the door. He’s not going to
make this easy at all, but I’m sticking to my guns. He can try to push me away
all he wants. If I didn’t think he had any feelings for me, I wouldn’t press
the issue at all, but I’ve seen his calendar with my name at the top of his
list every day since we met. If Wes doesn’t want to admit it, that’s fine, but
I’m no quitter. I won’t give up on him. I won’t fail him like he thinks every
other woman has.

“What are you doing?”

I plop onto his couch. “Staying. Deal with it.”

“Why are you so damn stubborn?” He stalks across the room
and hovers over me. Yeah, sure, he’s getting irritated with me, but I think
it’s just a scare tactic. “I do
not
want you here right now. I don’t
understand why you don’t get that. Just go home.”

I cross my arms over my chest as butterflies erupt in my
stomach. Tension crackles in the air between us. “No.”

“Callie,” he growls, placing both hands on the back of the
couch and leaning in closer. His close proximity is completely unnerving, and
an unexpected heat blooms just under my skin. “Leave.
Now
.”

I feel his warm breath at my lips, and I look up at him.
He’s trying hard to intimidate me. He wants to upset me enough that I want to
leave. But he’s failing miserably. Instead of making me want to run, he’s only
making me want to tear his clothes off and throw him down on the floor. And
when his glance falls to my lips, I know he’s thinking the same thing.

Before he loses that thought, I act on it. He starts to move
away when I reach for him, but I get a hold on his shirt before he can get
away. “Don’t fight this anymore, Wes. You can’t make me leave, and I know that
you don’t truly want me to go. I need you just as much as you need me, so I
don’t care what you do or say. I’m not walking away.” I pull him down just
enough to barely skim my lips along his cheek. “Don’t push me away anymore,” I
whisper.

Wes just glares, nowhere near as compliant as I hoped I’d
make him. In one swift motion he straightens, grabbing my arms and pulling me
up with him. I think he’s dragging me into his bedroom at first, but when he
turns toward the foyer, I realize how wrong I am. He’s literally pushing me
out. He lets go of me and opens the front door, letting it swing wide open with
enough force that it knocks into the wall. “Go,” he orders, pointing toward my
car.