me from the Fireman’s Ball . “Greg, did you come here to harass me about my hair?”
“You’ve lost some weight,” he continued on as if he hadn’t heard her. “You look…softer. You look good.” That observation actually surprised them both. Callie hadn’t expected him to say it and neither had he because he cleared his throat, looking uncomfortable.
For some odd reason Callie found herself blushing. Greg was as handsome as ever, even if he was as cold as ice. But he’s not Chris , her mind whispered longingly. No…not Chris.
“Greg…what are you doing here?”
“Right.” Greg cleared his throat again. “Sarah and your mother are worried about you.”
“Uh huh.” She didn’t believe that for a second and her voice let him know it.
Greg stiffened. “It’s the truth. Why have you been ignoring their calls?”
Callie shrugged. “I’ve been busy.”
“Messing around, I hear.”
It was Callie’s turn to stiffen. She glared sharply at him. “What are you talking about?”
“Sarah told me about the man you had in this apartment. Who was he?”
“That’s none of your business.” How dare Sarah spread rumors about her. About Chris! Knowing Sarah, her older sister probably said some lies that never happened.
“A young girl like yourself shouldn’t have a man in her apartment, Callie.”
The disapproving note in his voice made her blush but she didn’t cower like she would have done before. Now that she had finally grown a backbone, she openly glared at her ex. “I’m not a girl, Greg. I’m a woman and if I want to entertain men in my apartment well…that’s my business, not yours.”
Greg studied the girl…no, the woman before him. Over the months Callie had certainly changed. Gone was the long blonde hair replaced with a short auburn one, giving her a pixie-like look. She had lost a lot a weight. The tasteless, baggy gray sweatshirt and pants she wore didn’t show a lot of improvements in her fashion sense but still…Callie was…different.
She’s grown some confidence , Greg decided. And he hadn’t lied before. Though her haircut was boyish…she looked good. Soft. Womanly. Even in those baggy clothes.
“Now that you’re done questioning my virtue,” Callie opened the door. “I’d like for you to leave.”
Greg opened his mouth to say he wasn’t going anywhere but he paused, looking over her shoulder. He closed his mouth firmly and glared.
“What are you glaring at?” Callie frowned and looked back. She froze. “C-Chris!”
OH SHIT!
Callie groaned. Great. Fantastic. She never wanted these two to meet but look what happens. Chris’s timing stunk. That or the fates were against her.
Chris stood behind her, still wearing the exact same suit he had worn last night. He looked downright exhausted, as if he’s been awake all night but he straightened at the sight of Gregory. “Am I interrupting something?”
“No!” Callie said quickly. “Um…Greg was about to leave. Right Greg?” She shot him a look, one that she hoped he’d listen to and leave but of course he didn’t.
“Who are you?” Greg asked without preamble. Callie moaned.
“Chris,” Chris told the other man. “And you are…?”
“Greg!” Callie said, “My….um….Sarah’s fiancé.”
“Sarah?” Chris looked thoughtfully before his eyes widened with realization. “Oh! Sarah! That girl who dumped-“
“That wedding invitation on me,” Callie jumped in, completely cutting him off. “Yup, that’s Sarah. Greg was here to probably remind me about the wedding. Nice right? But now he’s going.”
Leave, Callie wanted to scream. Go Greg! Go! This was not how she wanted to tell Chris the truth. This wasn’t how she wanted him to find out about her lies.
“So you’re the man Sarah told me about,” Greg said, eyeing Chris. “Who are you to Callie?”
“Callie?” Chris’s brows furrowed with confusion. “Who’s that?”
Damn it! Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!
“Greg, I
General Stanley McChrystal