Page 71 of Breaking the Rules
Waverly’s eyebrows winged up.
“I really don’t want to come across like a hard ass,” Calla said, “But I can’t stand the idea of Xavier getting hurt because of some publicity game or whatever it is.”
“You two were serious, weren’t you?” Waverly asked steering the conversation away from Dante.
“I thought we were more serious than he did,” Calla said honestly. “I loved him, but he never got over you. So part of me hates your guts, part of me is thrilled that he’s getting a second shot with you, and part of me wants to make it very clear that I don’t want you taking his feelings lightly.”
“You still care about him,” Waverly said, stating the obvious fact.
“I think you do, too,” Calla said with a wry smile. “I fell hard for him, but I think from the beginning I knew Xavier wasn’t going to be it for me. I’d hoped with time he’d be able to move on and open up. But…” she shook her head. “He’s a good man.”
“He is. He’s in a league of his own,” Waverly agreed.
The waiter returned with their drinks and disappeared again, sensing this was not a table to hover over.
Calla sighed. “I’m just going to go ahead and put it all out there, okay?”
“Go for it.”
“He never talked about you or what happened that night. But he had dreams. He’d say your name in his sleep over and over again.”
Waverly grimaced. “That couldn’t have felt good.”
“It stung,” Calla agreed. “He thinks he’s not worthy of you because he didn’t protect you.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake,” Waverly muttered. “He saved my life. I wouldn’t be sitting here today if it weren’t for him, and he should know that.”
“He’s not stupid, but he’s—”
“Irresponsibly mule-headed?” Waverly supplied.
Calla laughed. “You do know him well.”
“I thought I did at one time,” Waverly said, stirring the straw through her drink. “Things didn’t end well between us.”
“I gathered that. He loves you the way every woman wants to be loved by a man. And I guess, in a way, I owe you for where I am now.”
“How’s that?” Waverly asked, leaning in.
“Once I realized that Xavier’s feelings for you were never going to go away, I realized I wanted to find that with someone. I wanted to find a man who felt that deeply for me.” She held up a hand and flashed her rings. “Married a year last month, and we’re seven weeks pregnant.”
“Wow,” was all Waverly could say.
“Yeah. It happened fast, but I recognized it when I felt it. If it hadn’t been for you and Xavier, I might have missed out on this ‘wow.’ Not that I’m naming the baby after either one of you, of course.”
It was Waverly’s turn to laugh. “I understand.”
“It’s none of my business what your relationship with Xavier is, but I will say, I hope you give him a chance. A real chance.”
Waverly bit her lip. “It’s hard for me to trust people. And I’ve never been a second chance kind of girl.”
“Don’t turn your back on once-in-a-lifetime,” Calla advised. “Especially not when it comes around the second time.”
Waverly fingered the chain around her neck while Calla sipped her tea and studied her.
“You know he’s it for you, don’t you?” she asked. “And you’re trying to decide if you can take another kick in the chest if it doesn’t work out again or if you should just settle for something safe.”
Waverly blinked, and Calla waved her hand between them. “Sorry. I’m a family therapist. Sometimes words of wisdom just spew forth from my mouth.”
