Tale of Life (Essence Series #2) (14 page)

“I’m always right.” Mr. Avey smiled.

“Oh no,” Calloway said. “I fed the ego.” He opened his backpack and took out his college admission notices then he rose to his feet, setting them on his teacher’s desk.

Mr. Avey opened the letters and skimmed through them. A smile stretched across his face. He didn’t speak or look at Calloway when he was done. He just grabbed Calloway and hugged him tightly. “Congratulations.”

Calloway returned his embrace before he pulled away. “Thank you.”

Mr. Avey smiled. “
You empowered yourself to learn and grow. I really did nothing but let you go where you wanted without a predetermined answer.”

Calloway laughed. “It didn’t seem that way most of the time. I distinctly recall you paying for the exam and driving me there, in addition to forcing me to sit in study hall and prepare for the SAT. It was pretty clear what you wanted me to do.”

“But I didn’t make you get that outstanding score,” Mr. Avey said. “You did that all on your own. You picked the colleges you wanted to go to. I just sat back and watched.”

“I still think you deserve more credit.”

Mr. Avey shrugged. “Perhaps,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes. “So, have you decided?”

Calloway nodded.
“Fresno University.”

Mr. Avey stared at him for a moment. “And why is that?”

“It’s a good college,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”

Mr. Avey nodded but didn’t speak.

“You are wondering why I didn’t choose Dartmouth?”

He shrugged. “The thought crossed my mind.”

“What do you think I should do?”

“That is for you to decide. But if you do reject the most prestigious school in the country, it better be for a good reason.”

Calloway smiled. “It is.”

“Then you made the right decision.”

Calloway shoved the notifications in his backpack then approached the front door. “I’ll see you later, Mr. Avey.”

“And I you.”

When Calloway reached the parking lot, he climbed into the backseat of Easton’s car and they drove to Weston’s petite house across town. He hadn’t been there since the New Year’s Eve party when he walked the desolate streets alone, ending up in front of her house. He still couldn’t recall how he got there. That was months ago.

Weston would refuse to attend the dance with him and Calloway wouldn’t blame her. They hadn’t seen each other in so long that it might be incredibly awkward. Their chemistry could be nonexistent and their friendship might be stale. Most of all, he didn’t want her to come with him out of pity—only if she wanted to.

When they reached the front of the house, Calloway felt his heart race in his chest. They climbed out of the car and approached the entrance. Calloway lingered in the back while Easton knocked on the door. He stared at the elegant house just a few feet away.

“Hey,” Weston said when she opened the door. “What are you three doing here?”

“Can we talk to you for a moment?” Easton asked.

Weston’s face turned serious, in full warrior mode. “Is everything okay?”

“Of course,” Easton said. “We just wanted to ask you something.”

Weston opened the door wider. “Then come inside.” She smiled.

They walked into her house, which was dimly lit with candles, and entered the parlor that smelled like apple pie.

“Did your electricity go out?” Breccan asked.

“No,” she said. “I just like candles.”

Calloway appraised the flickering flames in the room and noted the calm feel of the house. He felt the depression wash away as soon as he entered, replaced with calm serenity.

“Would you guys like some pie?” Weston asked.

“I was wondering when you were going to ask,” Breccan said.

Easton rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you would have brought it up eventually.”

Weston walked into the kitchen and left them standing in the living room. Easton and Breccan started to argue again, practically shouting, so Calloway followed Weston through the door, wanting to avoid their confrontation, and stood at the counter directly across from Weston.

“Hey,” he said. “Do you need any help?”

“No.” She smiled. “But thank you. I’ve become a professional at this. Just ask my sister—I make the best pie.”

“What’s your secret?” he asked.

Her eyes twinkled. “A woman never reveals her secret recipe, not even to her husband.”

The joy on her face warmed his heart, thawing the frost that covered every inch of his body just a moment ago. He felt happy just talking to her. “And why is that?” He smiled.

“Then he’ll find some other woman to make it for him,” Weston said. “It’s the secret to keeping a marriage healthy. If you serve him the right food, he’ll never leave you.”

“Well, I know that’s true in Breccan’s case.” Calloway laughed. “He would marry his mother if he could.”

Weston laughed uproariously. “She’s a wonderful cook. That’s why your uncle is so happy.”

“I have a feeling there’s more to the story,” he said.

Weston shrugged.
“Possibly.”

“I didn’t realize you loved cooking so much.”

“I do.” She smiled. “Although I hate eating it—it just makes me fat.”

Calloway shook his head. “You could never be fat. You are too strong and fit.”

“Well, that’s true,” she said. “I hope you are right.”

“I think so.” He smiled. “So, how are you?”

“Well,” she said. “Just finishing the semester—trying to get by.”

Calloway nodded. “I’m sure you’ll do fine.”

“I hope so.” She grabbed a fork and took a bite right out of the pie, chewing it completely before she spoke. “And how are you?”

“Fine,” he said sadly.

Weston stared at him. “It doesn’t sound like you’re fine, Calloway.”

Calloway knew he couldn’t hide anything from her. The two of them connected on a different, invisible level that no one else could see—only they could feel it. She seemed to read his emotions better than anyone—even Breccan and Easton. “I’m just going through a hard time.”

Weston pushed a piece of pie toward him and handed him a fork. “Eating is the best medicine. That’s what I always say.”

Calloway smiled. “Then Breccan would never have any problems.”

Weston smiled at him. She leaned over the counter and Calloway was captivated by the sight of the blue orbs of her eyes. The brown hair that he adored fell over one shoulder and framed her face, making her look mysterious and alluring. She had a natural poise to her, like she could be a dancer because she moved her body in such an eye-catching way. He understood the look she was giving him. She didn’t need to speak her mind.

“Beatrice broke up with me today.”

Weston nodded. “Easton mentioned her—she didn’t like her much.”

Calloway smiled.
“And for good reason.”

“What happened?”

“She left me for that jerk—Hawk. Now they’re going to prom together. I bought a six hundred dollar suit yesterday, just for her, and then she dumped me the very next day—
for him
. I don’t get it.” He shoved a bite into his mouth. “This is really good, by the way.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. She stared at him for a moment. “It may seem hard but it will get easier. For what it’s worth, she’s a complete idiot.”

“I know,” he said. “I don’t understand why she returns to a guy that treats her so poorly.”

“That isn’t what I meant,” she said. “She’s stupid for leaving you at all—whether it was for another guy.”

Calloway felt his cheeks blush. He kept his gaze downturned as he finished his pie. “Thanks.”

“Don’t let her get you down, Calloway. She was obviously just an experiment.”

“
An experiment
?”

“You know, someone you gain experience with that will prepare you for the real thing—someone you really care about,” she answered. “You learned a lot during this relationship—it will help you for the next one.”

“I’m not interested in another relationship.”

“Well, you will be eventually.”

Calloway shook his head. “I’m going to be a lifelong bachelor.”

“It sounds lonely.”

“Yes, it does.” He smiled. “Maybe that isn’t the best way to go.”

Weston grabbed his hand. “You’ll find it.” She smiled. “Just give it time.”

Calloway felt the electricity course through his body, just as it always did when she touched him, and his heart accelerated at the close contact. He rubbed her fingers with his own and felt innately comfortable with her. Even though they hadn’t spoken in several months, it felt like no time had passed—that they were never apart. He felt the melancholy descend when he remembered her distrust of him—not wanting to be associated with him. He wondered if she still felt that way.

Weston pulled her hand away when Easton came into the kitchen.

“Just shut up!” she snapped.

“Don’t pick an argument with me if you aren’t going to listen to me,” Breccan said.

“Stop talking!”

“No,” he snapped. “I’m sick of hearing the food jokes. I like food—
who cares
?”

“Can you go back in the living room?” Weston asked. “As interesting as this conversation is, Calloway and I both have no desire to listen to it.”

“That makes three of us,” Easton said.

Breccan glared at her.

Easton grabbed a plate with a piece of pie and handed it to him. “Enjoy.”

Calloway wondered if his cousin would eat it or not, but of course, he did.

“This is really good,” Breccan said after the first bite.

“I know.” Weston smiled.

Her smile was infectious. Calloway caught it.

“So why are you here?” Weston asked.

Easton stood next to her sister. “Well, long story short, Calloway needs a date for prom. His girlfriend decided to be a selfish, stupid—”

“Easton,” Calloway interrupted.

“She can’t go, basically. We were hoping that you would be interested in attending.”

Weston was quiet for a moment and Calloway knew what she was thinking; if she should spend any extra time with him in light of his unclear association with the Hara-Kirs. It was acceptable to see him every once in a while, like now, but he knew she wanted their time together to be limited. The thought made him sad.

“I would love to go with you,” she said. “We had a lot of fun last time.”

“You don’t have to, Weston,” Calloway said quietly. “This wasn’t my idea.”

“I
know
I don’t have to do anything,” Weston said. “But I want to. We are going to make this ex-girlfriend very jealous.”

Calloway smiled. “Thank you. And thank you for making an exception to our—
predicament
,” he said awkwardly.

Weston nodded to him. “This doesn’t change anything,” she said quietly.

“I know.”

Easton sighed. “This is so stupid, Weston. You obviously trust Calloway because you allow him to spend time with me. Also, you wouldn’t be going to prom with him if you really thought he had a malicious intent, like killing innocent people. And most importantly, you would have killed him already. Stop this act!”

Weston turned on her sister. “It doesn’t matter what I think,” she said. “If I accepted him into our society and spent an extended amount of time with him, I would lose my credibility because I should have reported everything I knew about him. This is the only way I can reduce the liability and protect Calloway at the same time.”

Calloway saw the glimmer of hope. “So, you do trust me?”

Weston was quiet for a moment. “I didn’t say that.”

“Stop being political,” Easton snapped.

“I have to be,” Weston said. “I’m the leader of the White Wing. I have hundreds of other people to think about.”

Easton slammed her fist on the table. “You are being so—”

“Stop it, Easton,” Calloway said, stopping her in mid-sentence. “I understand Weston’s decision completely. Please drop it.”

Easton kept her hand pressed against the table for a moment before she pulled it away. She grabbed a fork and dug into her pie. “Whatever.”

Calloway looked at his two friends. “Could you give us the room?”

Easton stared at him. “Why?” she said. “What can’t you say in front of us?”

“I want to speak to your sister in private,” he said quietly, trying to calm her with the solemn sound of his voice. He knew Easton meant well, that she was tired of people treating Calloway in a negative way.

Easton and Breccan left the kitchen, leaving out the front entrance. The door closed a moment later and Calloway knew they were alone.

Calloway walked behind the counter and stood in front of Weston, who was only a few inches shorter than him. He looked into her eyes for a moment. “My intent isn’t to start an argument or challenge your decision, but could you hear me out?”