Page 17 of Chasing Callie

I scoff. Unbelievable. “Oh, now you have amnesia? How convenient.” I gesture wildly with my water cup, some of it sloshing over the edge. “You took that video and posted it. How could you do that?” My voice wobbles, and I swallow hard. So much for leaving the past in the past.

As soon as I realized what happened and saw all the comments, I fled. Shoved whatever I could into a suitcase and took off, never looking back. How could I face the whole town after they all saw me naked with the twins fucking me?

His face pales and he runs a hand through his hair. “Callie, I never⁠—”

A faded tie-dye scrunchie around his wrist snags my attention and shocks the breath out of me. That’s my fucking hair tie. The one I always used to wear.

“Are you kidding me?” I hiss, pointing at his wrist. “You still have that? What, like some sick trophy?”

Knox’s gaze follows mine, his fingers instinctively touching the scrunchie. “It’s not what you think.”

Oh, so sharing that video wasn’t meant to humiliate me? What a fucking joke. “I don’t care what it is! I don’t care about your explanations or your excuses or anything you have to say to me for that matter.” My voice rises, echoing across the empty parking lot. “We’re not friends. We’re not anything.”

His throat bobs as he swallows hard. “Please, let me explain.”

“Excuse me if I don’t want to hear why you decided to fucking betray me in the worst possible way. Now move,” I growl, stepping into his space.

Something flickers in his eyes. Pain, regret, I don’t know and I don’t fucking care. My face must say as much, because he pushes off my car, holding his hands up in surrender.

“You have to talk to me at some point,” he says quietly. “You can’t keep running.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” I toss my purse into the Rav-4, glaring at him. “I spent years forgetting you existed, and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no reason either of us need to be around one another.” I climb into my SUV and slam the door shut. The engine rumbles to life, and I back out so fast my tires squeal in protest. In my rearview mirror, Knox stands there, watching me leave. My throat tightens, but I shove down any longing.

After what Theo and Knox did, I’m not sure I can ever trust another man.

My hands shake on the steering wheel as I drive through the empty streets of Big Ridge. Coming back was supposed to be my fresh start, but my escape from Theo’s betrayal only ran me straight into the memory of another.

How the hell am I going to survive the Williams brothers again? Because where there’s Knox, Brax and Jax are never far behind. And if there’s one thing I learned in all my years, it’s that those three are a package deal. I’m not stupid enough to believe Knox acted alone. How did he know what the three of us were up to? Was it some sort of game to them?

The worst part of it all? Even after everything, seeing Knox still made my foolish heart race, and that only makes me hate myself almost as much as I hate him.

Chapter Eight

JAX

At the time, finishing up my training to become a certified firefighter sounded like a good idea. Now that Callie is back? I kind of wish I slid back into old habits and blew it off. The firehouse is chill—as it always is while we wait for calls—but my insides feel like a tornado has run through them.

She’s back.

Working at the very bar where I bartend.

Ten years ago we hooked up and then she ran. I know logically that was more to do with everything that happened after we had sex, but it was still a blow to my ego. I’ve tried dating since she left. To get my mind off of her, but every time another woman smiles at me, I can’t help comparing it to the one that stole my heart.

“What are you sulking for?” the captain grumbles as he plops onto the couch.

I quickly lock my phone, hiding all evidence of my online stalking, and shrug. “I’m not sulking.”

“Bullshit. You look like someone stole your favorite toy. Are you mad it’s taking so long?”

The certification program is grueling. I’m in the final stages, needing a few more experiences fighting a live fire, but I’m not mad about how long it’s taking. If there are no calls, that means everyone is safe.

Even still, I lie rather than tell him I’m longing for a woman who may never want anything to do with me again. “I’m ready to get my certification.”

He nods and claps a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve done a great job. Have you considered my offer?”

“I’m thinking about it.” Working with the fire house full time would mean quitting the bar, and with Callie back, I’m tempted to say no, but this is my chance to finally be more than the Williams brother who had so much potential and wasted it away.

I hear the whispers, the fucking gossip. Compared to my brothers, I’m no good. I’m the one everyone worries will die young. Jax Williams is bad news. Trouble follows him wherever he goes. They can say whatever they want. There are only four people I’ve ever cared about making proud. Callie, my brothers, and my dad. I started training before he died, and as much as I’m tempted to let my life fall into ruins again, I promised him I’d get my certification.