Page 41 of The Consequence of You
She instigated this evening. She called him. The thought’s unnerving, but I try to reassure myself it’s not him she wants. She tucked herself into my side. She was grateful when I asked him to leave. Her actions spoke volumes. She sighs.
“Do you ever wish you could just go back and do everything differently?” The question hangs between us, unanswered.
I have so many questions, but I hold back, because one thing I’ve learnt is there’s no point pushing her. She won’t open up until she’s ready. I intend to earn her trust, and then, maybe she’ll let me in.
“You’ve heard the saying Carpe diem, right?” She nods. “That’s how I live my life.” I shrug. “No regrets.”
She laughs bitterly.
“It must be nice for everything to be that simple.”
I stiffen next to her.Simple?My life isn’t simple. Privileged maybe, but never simple. Her assumption pisses me off and reminds me of the younger version of herself. The one with the perfect life. The one I envied so much.
I get out of the car and walk around to the passenger side and yank open the door. Placing my hands on top of the car roof, I lean down as she unbuckles her belt.
“You know what, Calliope? You never think about anyone but yourself.”
She scoffs and shakes her head.
“All I think about is other people.”
For some reason her words only piss me off more. Okay, so maybe she’s not as selfish as I just painted her out to be, but she certainly hasn’t made any effort to ask what my life is actually like. She’s just read the headlines, like every other fucking person in this world, and assumed she knows me.
She struggles to unclip her belt, and in frustration I lean in and unbuckle it for her.
Callie’s eyes narrow, and I can practically see the anger radiating off her. She scoops her bag off the floor of the car and climbs out.
“I was right. You are a dickhead.” She ducks under my arm and I have to jump out of the way as she slams the door so hard it nearly comes off its hinges. She stalks up her driveway and jabs the security code into the lock.
Fuck.
How has our conversation descended into another argument? I spent weeks trying to get a rise out of her. Desperately trying to press her buttons, but somewhere along the line, things changed, and seeing her like this doesn’t feel good at all. In fact, it feels pretty shit.
I race up the driveway after her. She’s already inside by the time I make it to the door but it’s not quite closed, so I slip in after her.
Her and Rossi are in the large hallway and her protector raises an eyebrow at my intrusion.
“Miss Callie?”
She seems to know what he’s asking without any further elaboration.
“It’s okay. Can you give us a minute please?”
He nods and heads towards the back of the house, leaving the two of us alone. Before I can apologise for myoutburst in the car, Callie approaches me, her eyes are fiery with anger.
“Why do you hate me so much? For years you were rude to me, nasty at times. What did I ever do to you?” she asks with no preamble. My mouth dries.
“Hate’s a strong word.”
I’m stalling because hasn’t that been exactly how I acted towards her?
I’m not sure how to articulate the reasons for my previous behaviour without sounding like a spoiled kid; maybe if I try and give her an explanation, we can wipe the slate clean and actually explore whatever the hell this thing between us is. Taking a deep breath, I prepare to be honest with her.
“You have everything.”
She looks at me blankly, so I continue.
“Growing up your parents used to come to everything. They were always at the school. Always showing up for you. Always so fucking proud of you. Even now we’re older, the way your father has staff to watch you when he can’t do it himself. You have a family who would do anything for you.”
