Page 77 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
Me everywhere.
I swallowed. Nausea rolled in my gut.
And then the front door opened.
“Lina?”
His voice echoed down the hall to me. I straightened up but didn’t call back to him. What the hell was I going to say? “Hello” seemed rather pathetic, given the circumstances.
I heard him coming. His boots struck the hardwood with every step. He passed the open door to the office, stopped walking, back tracked, and looked right at me.
“Lina?” he asked.
“You lied,” I said.
His brows drew together in that way I thought was attractive. Now, I saw it for what it was: dishonesty and guilt. Cal stepped into the room. “What are you doing in here?”
I handed him the magazine. I hadn’t even realized that I’d been holding it so tight that all the pages had crumpled in my fist. “Page twenty-six.”
He flipped it open and stared down at my image. His mouth opened, but no words came out. I stared at him, wondering what lie he was going to concoct on the spot in an effort to keep me here. In this house. With him.
“You had an answer this big for me, and you kept it to yourself,” I said. “Why? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Lina, please—”
“You don’t get to ask anything of me, Cal. Not now. Answer me one thing. Was I ever a nanny for Asher? Or was that all some fictional bullshit you weaved to stop me from leaving?”
He shook his head. “I never lied, Lina. I didn’t want to overwhelm you. I thought…” He trailed off and shook his head as he tossed the magazine down on his computer desk. “I made a mistake.”
“I’m leaving.”
“What? No. Please, let’s talk about this. There’s more to this than what you think. Just give me a second to explain it all.”
I walked around the desk and shouldered him out of my way. “No, you had plenty of chances to explain it. I wouldn’t believe a word that came out of your mouth anyway.” My throat ached, and my eyes burned. Tears were coming, and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
I marched up the stairs, and Cal followed. He was talking, but I wasn’t listening. I didn’t give a damn what he was trying to say. It all sounded like excuses to me. Weak, selfish excuses.
I threw some of my things back in my carry-on. Not all of them. I didn’t have time to pack it all up before the real waterworks hit me. I needed to get out of this house. I needed privacy.
“Lina,” Cal pleaded as I brushed by him again and hurried down the stairs. He was right behind me. He reached out and caught my elbow when we reached the main floor. “I was scared.” His voice sounded very unlike him. “I was scared that I would never see you again. And fuck, did it feel good to have you back in my life.”
I glared at him. “So, it’s been all about you this whole time?”
Cal hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
“Goodbye, Cal.”
I marched out. He didn’t come after me. Thank God. I couldn’t bear to even look at him. My insides felt like they were melting, and my brain screamed at me to run, while my heart pleaded with me to stay here. To stay with Cal.
But I didn’t dare stay.
When I emerged out on the driveway, I found myself standing in the headlights of Nick’s car. He got out, pulled his jacket closed around his neck, and looked back up at the front door where I was sure Cal was standing. “What’s going on?” he asked. “Are you all right, Lina?”
I shook my head. “I need to get out of here.”
Nick licked his lips. “All right. Where do you want to go?”
“A hotel. Please. Please get me out of here.”
