Page 86 of Screwed
“Jesus.”
“I know.” She bowed her head. “I don’t care about Beau. But I care about Cash, and his friendship with Beau and their business partnership. I don’t want to screw things up for them. But dammit…”
“Jesus.”
Callie huffed out a laugh. “I know. What a mess, right?”
Kristy was silent. When Callie looked up at her, her eyes were squinted and her lips drooped. “Callie, honey. I have to say this worries me.”
Callie’s throat thickened. “Aw. Thank you for caring. But I’m a big girl. I knew what I was getting into.”
“I don’t know if you did. I don’t think you expected to fall in love.”
“No. I sure didn’t.” She rubbed the back of her hand over her nose. “But I think…I really think Cash has feelings for me, too, and maybe…I don’t know. Maybe we can work things out. He hasn’t put an end to it, and I think he would if… Hell, I don’t even know.”
“What would really happen between him and Beau if you two were together?”
“I don’t know. But I did try to think how I’d feel if you and Beau started seeing each other—”
Kristy choked.
“Yeah, I know, but if you did…I wouldn’t like it. At all. Because I’d feel like you were betraying me and we couldn’t be friends anymore, and that would be awful.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and tears stung the corners of her eyes.
Kristy’s eyes shone with sympathy. “Yeah, that’s never going to happen, but I get what you’re saying. Well, hell. I’m just blown away by this.” She narrowed her eyes. “You could have told me.”
“I know I could have, but…we were keeping things on the down low, especially from my family since Beau still sees them, and one night we ran into one of their clients and I could tell the guy’s wife was wondering what Cash and I were doing together, and…also I’ve been really busy.” She eyed her friend. “Are you mad at me?”
Kristy considered this. Then she tossed her hair. “Not mad. Just hurt.”
Callie smiled. That was the line they always used with each other. “I’m sorry. Youaremy best friend. This is just an odd situation.”
She resumed her painting.
“So, is he good?” Kristy asked.
“Good?”
“In the sack.”
“Ah.” Callie set her fingertips to her mouth and slanted Kristy a look. “He’s amazing.”
Kristy smiled. “This is making more sense now.”
Callie laughed.
Cash arrived then, with bags of Cajun chicken sandwiches from Mama Maybelle’s and big cups of sweet tea.
“Here you go, ladies.” He looked Callie up and down. “I do believe there’s more paint on you than the walls.”
“Ha ha.”
“I can stay and help this afternoon.”
“Oh, you don’t have to.”
“I have to leave around two,” Kristy said. “Sorry.”
“Hey, no problem, I appreciate you helping. You’ve done so much.”
