AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Don't worry," I tell my sister. "I will handle it, but I have to go now."
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes. Goodbye, Jamie."
I drop the mobile onto the cushion beside me and reach for Calli. Just as my palms land on her lower back and I lunge my mouth toward hers, she holds up a hand between our lips. "Was that your sister?"
"Aye."
"Is everything okay? You seemed upset."
I sweep my hands up her back to pull her closer, with her hand the only barrier preventing me from claiming her mouth. "I'll be fine as soon as I'm kissing you again."
She hurls her body to the side, tumbling off my lap and righting herself to sit beside me with her body turned toward me. "I think we need to share a little bit of our secrets. Not knowing and not sharing is probably giving me an ulcer."
I draw my head back, eying her with disbelief. "You want to tell me your secret?"
"Part of it. The only part I can."
"If you're doing this because you want to know mine, there's no need. I'll tell you anyway."
She braces her head with one arm on the sofa. "That's not why I'm suggesting this. I want to explain what I can to you, but don't ask me why. I have no answer for that one."
"All right." I turn partway toward her, wriggling a little to get settled. "I'll start. Ask me whatever you like."
"Who is Seona? Is she the one who keeps calling you?"
"Yes." I aim my gaze down at my lap, feeling uneasy about telling Calli my secret, but I did say I'd explain, whether or not she tells me her secrets. "Seona Ross is a former girlfriend, if you can call it that. We dated for a few months, but it was never serious, nothing more than a pleasant distraction. You might call it a casual sort of arrangement. We got on well." I flatten my lips, my entire body going rigid as the memories replay in my mind. "Until the accident."
Calli sneaks a hand out to touch my knee.
I aim a grateful smile at her before returning my gaze to my lap. "Six months ago, Seona was seriously injured and spent a long time in the hospital and in rehabilitation. I haven't seen her in about six months. No contact at all. She was angry with me because she bl—" No, I cannae tell her that yet. Maybe it makes me a coward, but I just can't force the words to come out of my mouth. Instead, I scrub a hand over my face and lift my gaze to hers. "She told me to stay away from her, and I did. Had no wish to fash her when she was unwell."
"Makes sense."
"Somehow, she heard I'd come to America and started calling me to ask for money. Ask. No, she's demanding it."
Calli lights a hand on my thigh. "Why would she demand money from you?"
"She's very bitter. And maybe she has a point about me owing her, but I donnae have money to give her."
"Why would you owe her?"
I swerve my attention to the backyard view, though I don't really see anything with my thoughts a chaotic jumble. Aye, I'd convinced myself I was ready to share everything with Calli, but I don't want her to see me as a selfishbod ceannwho abandoned a lass after… Christ, I can't even think the words. Maybe I am a dickhead. Calli doesn't need to know that about me.
She slumps against the sofa. "You don't have to tell me. I'm not going to tell you my whole story either."
I plow both hands into my hair. "Seona keeps calling me, and now she's called my sister Jamie to enlist her help. Jamie told her no."
"What will you do?"
I bluster out a sigh, my shoulders flagging. "Donnae know."
"I'm sorry, Aidan." Calli scoots closer, caressing my cheek. "You don't have to talk about it anymore. I think it's my turn, anyway."
Considering how long I've wanted to know more about her, I should be happy that she's about to share some of her secrets with me. But I don't feel triumphant. All I want to do is bury myself in her body and forget about everything else for a while. I cannae do that, though. Seducing her now would make me abod ceannfor sure.
"You wanted to know why I married a man I never loved."
