Complete Me (The Trust Me Series Book 4) Page 5

  She was getting married.

  To someone else.

  My Callie.

  I was doing this all for her.

  I was shattered.

  How could I have let my life get so messed up?

  I took two months off work and drove up the coast. No particular destination, and I questioned why or even if I should return.

  Then came the realization—I had to try one last time.

  For Callie.

  I had some money now, not enough for a house but enough for something.

  I had to try.

  So, I turned around and drove back to Mornington Vale as fast as I could.

  It was dark, but I drove to the King mansion hoping like hell Callie would be there. I arrived late, and all I could think about was Callie. I pulled up and raced out of the car and to her bedroom window. I knocked lightly until the light turned on. She opened the window and looked at me in shock.

  Callie.

  “Mike, what are you doing here? Where the hell have you been? We’ve all been worried sick?” she asked softly not to wake her parents.

  “No time to explain. Can you just come with me, please?”

  She smiled and nodded. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  I raced back to the car, which by now, I had fully restored and was no longer a rust-bucket. A few minutes later, I saw the front door open, and she walked out and closed the door gently behind her. Callie ran to the car, slid into the passenger seat, and closed the door quietly.

  “Are you going to tell me where you’ve been?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

  I couldn’t help but notice the giant engagement ring on her left ring finger. I winced and put the car in reverse.

  “Mike, where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” I replied with a smile and drove the short trip to old-man Harris’ farm. I watched her from the corner of my eyes as we got closer, and the realization hit her of where we were. I stopped the car and got out, running around to her side and opening the door.

  Callie stepped out, and the look on her face was not a pleasant one.

  I ignored it and took her hand, dragging her inside the barn.

  “Mike… Mike, what are you doing?” she asked as we stepped inside.

  I stopped in front of the door frame, where I had carved our initials in the love heart. She reached out and touched it, and a slight smile crossed her face.

  “Can we just talk?”

  She turned and looked at me, then nodded her head.

  We walked over to the haystack and started to climb. With this simple action, I smiled a real smile for the first time in years as I climbed up after her. She sat on the hay and cradled herself. I sat opposite her and exhaled loudly.

  “So, you wanted to talk… so talk,” she barked, sounding all too short and extremely distant.

  I suddenly became very nervous like I always did on those haystacks. “Remember our last night here?”

  She screwed her face up in disgust. “Do I remember you sleeping with me and then breaking it off the next morning? Hmm… let me think. Do I remember that?” The sarcasm dripped from her mouth.

  I looked down at my hands and exhaled. “I’m sorry. You have to understand I only did what was best for you, Callie. I’ve never stopped loving you. But you deserve a happy life with someone who can buy you the things you need and want—”

  “I deserved to be happy with you, Mike! But you wouldn’t even give me the chance to show you how much I didn’t care if you couldn’t provide for me. I wanted you anyway,” she said, and my breathing became shallow.

  She tensed up, and I edged closer to her, so I stopped and held my hands up in surrender. “Callie, I love you. I have always, and will always, love you,” I whispered, edging even closer.

  Callie didn’t flinch away, and let me caress her cheek.

  “Mike, why? Why would you send me away if you love me? It doesn’t make any sense.” A single tear fell down her cheek, and I brushed it away with my thumb.

  “It doesn’t matter. I was an idiot, and I know that now. I need you, Callie. I love you. It’s you and me for eternity. Remember?”

  I heard her whimper ever so slightly. Her hand came up and caressed the back of my head. We were both breathing erratically as the hormones were starting to kick in.

  I wanted her.

  Badly.

  I needed her.

  More than my life.

  And I knew Callie felt the same.

  “I love you,” I said quietly and then pressed my lips to hers ever so softly.

  She kissed me back.

  She actually kissed me back.

  Callie’s hand scrunched my hair as she pulled me on top of her, and we laid down. My tongue collided with hers, and she moaned as she wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling our hips closer together. I couldn’t help grinding into her as I grew hard, and my need for her became unbearable. It’d been so long since I was with her, and I had only ever been with her. So, it was hard to regain my composure.

  She clawed at my shirt, lifting it over my head. I sat up and threw it off as she worked on my belt. Callie undid it quickly and followed with my button and zipper. I shuffled out of my pants while she took off her dress and then flew back into my arms, kissing me passionately.

  She wasn’t wearing a bra, so I only had to remove her panties, and I made short work of that. It was then I moved over her. I couldn’t deal with taking it slow this time because I had to show her there and then how much I needed her. Wanted her.

  I looked Callie in the eyes as I entered her body. She looked right back at me, and I saw a tear fall down her cheek. I wiped it away with my thumb.

  “Do you want me to stop?” I asked, a little confused by her tears.

  “I don’t want you ever to stop, Mike.”

  I didn’t last as long as I would have liked. She felt so good, and I got a little excited, but I made sure she was satisfied first. Once we had climaxed, I stayed inside her for as long as possible. I didn’t want to be away from her, so we laid there together, kissing passionately.

  It was getting close to morning by this time, so I had to take her home. I didn’t need Bernard coming after me with his shotgun. Though, he probably will when he learns that the engagement is now off.

  I slowly woke Callie, and we got dressed.

  She didn’t say much, and she seemed distant. I put it down to her being tired.

  We climbed down from the haystacks, and she stopped at the doorframe and ran her fingers over our symbol. I smiled and took her hand while we walked to the car. We drove the short distance back to the King mansion, and I hopped out of the car and walked around to her door, but she had already opened it before I could.

  That struck me as an odd thing for her to do and should’ve been my second warning sign, the first being her silence.

  I waited for her to step out of the car, and she did. I immediately encased her body with mine and smiled at her brightly, then leaned down and kissed her. She returned the kiss but not with any great enthusiasm, so I pulled back and looked at her. She was crying.

  My heart started racing in my chest as I wiped her tears away. “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

  “Mike, I love you, but I’m promised to Niall. And in some ways, I love him, too. I agreed to marry him. I’m a girl of my word and don’t break my promises.” She moved a step away from me.

  I couldn’t comprehend what she was saying.

  It wasn’t sinking in.

  “Wait, what do you mean by that?” I took a step toward her.

  Callie put her hand out onto my chest to stop me from getting any closer. “What I mean, Mike… is that my wedding day is in two weeks. I have to go through with it whether I like it or not. I vowed to marry Niall. He loves me unconditionally, and I… well, I love him. Unlike you, he has been there for me these last two years.”

  Fuck. My heart broke into tiny little pieces and shattered at my feet.

  “You
love him?” I whispered—they were only words I could focus on right then.

  She nodded and let her hand fall from my chest to her side.

  I took a step back and rubbed the back of my neck. “Is there anything I can do to make you change your mind and be with me?”

  Callie simply shook her head and walked toward me. She leaned in, kissed my cheek, and then she walked past me and into the mansion, taking my heart with her.

  I tried.

  I tried, and I’d failed.

  I’d lost my girl.

  Forever.

  What the fuck was I going to do now?

  I drove back to the O’Connell mansion and pulled up in the driveway. Patty was getting in his car and stopped to look at me. I exhaled and walked over to him. “The prodigal son returns,” he said, putting his hand out for me to shake, which I did.

  “Sorry I left without a word. I had some issues to deal with. I’ve concluded that maybe I just don’t belong here, sir. You and Mrs. O’Connell have been amazing, but I think it’s time to move on. There are too many negatives for me in Mornington Vale, so I see this as my only option. Sorry for leaving you in the lurch. I can work on until you find a replacement.”

  He looked at me and frowned. “Well, while I appreciate your honesty, son, it may take a few weeks before I can find someone with the skills needed to replace you. So, if you don’t mind staying, then that’d be greatly appreciated. Off the record, I’m sorry you’re feeling down. I know this can’t be easy for you, especially with the wedding so soon.” I swallowed hard and nodded as he patted me on the back. “Good. Now be a good lad and get suited up, so we can get to work,” he said, pushing me toward the mansion.

  I exhaled and went back to work. I was dreading that Patty was going to ask me to be the chauffeur for the wedding. I knew I would have had to stand my ground on that one. Luckily, he gave me the day off, and so while Callie and Niall were saying ‘I do,’ I went to visit my parents’ graves. It felt like a day of mourning, so I thought I may as well mourn everyone I’d lost all at the same time.

  I spoke to my mother about Callie and how I messed up. I knew she’d be listening, and I wished so hard that I could hear her voice—I’d almost forgotten what she sounded like.

  I spent the rest of that afternoon drowning my sorrows in a bottle of whiskey. I could only afford the cheap kind, but it was enough to slightly numb the pain.

  The next day I awoke with the mother of all hangovers. Lucky for me, Niall and Callie were away on their honeymoon for the next few weeks, so I wouldn’t have them flaunting their new nuptials in my face. I was hopeful Patty would find a replacement for me during this time so I wouldn’t have to see them ever again.

  I went on with work, and every day I asked Patty if he’d found someone, and every day he said he was still looking.

  Just over six weeks later, Callie and Niall came home. World’s longest honeymoon, ever, and the thought of what they’d be doing on their honeymoon made me sick to my stomach.

  I watched them pull up and get out of the car.

  I saw Niall first, he looked beyond happy.

  Why wouldn’t he be?

  Callie got out next, and she was a little pale and didn’t look so good. That concerned me instantly.

  Niall took hold of Callie and helped her inside as she held her hand to her mouth like she wanted to be sick. She must have caught a bug or something, and that’s why they finally came home from their honeymoon. I wanted to check in on her to see if she was doing okay, but I thought it was inappropriate. I knew I’d be leaving any day now.

  Patty had been interviewing some lads from town for my position, and he was doing the last rounds of interviews. So, hopefully, by this time next week, I’d be out of there and on my way to somewhere where I could try to build a better life for myself and hopefully be happy.

  The next day I was getting ready for work when Niall came barging into my room. “Mike, I need you to take Callie to the doctor. She has an appointment in thirty minutes. I’m taking Father into work, so you can bring Callie home after her appointment and then go about your normal day,” he demanded and then walked out as quickly as he came in.

  I stood there in a stunned silence.

  The last thing I wanted was to be alone with Callie. But I figured this was an ideal opportunity to say goodbye and to do it properly rather than simply leaving. I walked to the main living room and saw her sitting on the sofa, waiting. I nodded at her, and she half-smiled back at me.

  “Are you ready to go to the doctor, Miss King?” I asked, and she frowned at me.

  “Mike, I’m Mrs. O’Connell now,” she said and then looked away from me. That little statement was like a sucker punch right to my chest. “But, Mike, you don’t have to be formal with me. I’m still Callie, okay?”

  I didn’t answer but watched as she stood and then stumbled. I lunged forward and steadied her. She grasped at her stomach and took in a couple of deep breaths.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, feeling helpless because all I wanted to do was to make her feel better, but I knew that wasn’t my job anymore. She belonged to Niall now, and I had to keep my hands to myself, so I waited until she was steady on her feet, then I let her go.

  She swallowed and looked into my eyes. “Mike, there’s something you should know.” I had an inkling as to what she was going to say, and I knew I wasn’t going to like it. “Niall and I, well… we’re pregnant,” she announced, and then I was the one stumbling on the spot.

  Our relationship was beyond saving now.

  They were going to be parents, and there was no way I would ever tear a family apart. In that moment, I knew for sure that Callie and I would never be together. Our time had indeed passed, and there was going to be a baby—his baby—and I think that’s when I truly died inside.

  “Right… well, let’s get you to the doctor then,” I suggested, trying to show no emotion and gesturing for her to lead the way.

  “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”

  I scoffed. “What do you want me to say? Congratulations? You’re the love of my life, and you’re having another man’s baby…” I swiped my fingers through my hair. “Sorry if I’m not over the moon about that. But I am sure you’ll be an amazing mother. Now, shall we?” I asked, sounding harsher than I meant, but I was hurting badly, and I realized that most of the hurt in my life was because of Callie, so some resentment had also crept in.

  She exhaled and stormed out of the room. I mentally kicked myself for saying that to her, but I moved ahead and walked out to the car to take her to the doctor. The car ride was silent. She sat in the back, and I thought I even heard her crying at one stage, but I simply kept driving.

  I waited in the car while she had her appointment—I wasn’t going anywhere near that kind of hurt. Doctors, surgeries, and hospitals freaked me out, anyway. So, I sat in the car simmering, getting angrier and angrier at myself with each passing second.

  Why didn’t I run when she agreed to marry him?

  I should’ve known that it would’ve turned out this way.

  They got married, of course, that meant they were sleeping together and would eventually have a child. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. I was lost in my thoughts when the back door opened, and Callie slid in. She was a mess. Sobbing and barely containing herself, and instantly all my anger vanished into concern.

  Maybe their baby was sick?

  Could they tell that this early?

  “Hey, are you all right?”

  She looked up at me, and all I could see was the desperation in her eyes. “Mike, take me to the barn.”

  “Ahh… I don’t think that’s a good idea, Callie. It only brings up memories we have no right to.”

  “Mike, please? I need to think, and I feel safe there. Please, will you take me?”

  I rubbed the back of my neck and exhaled.

  Damn! I could never refuse her. Even though she belonged to someone else, she still had so much power
over me. So, I drove her to old-man Harris’ barn.

  Callie didn’t say anything on the way, she simply cried, and the sound was like razors to my ears. I hated her crying. I knew something was terribly wrong, but it wasn’t my place to ask. Not anymore.

  I pulled up at the farm, got out, and opened her door. She stepped out and started walking toward the barn. I thought she wanted to be alone, so I went to get back in the car.

  “Mike, aren’t you coming?” she asked while looking back at me with desperation in her eyes.

  I couldn’t say no to her.

  I knew I was weak, but that’s what she did to me—made me a weak, pathetic excuse for a man.

  I stepped into the barn behind her, and she walked over to the haystack, but this time, sat on a hay bale at the bottom. Wise choice. I wouldn’t be happy with her climbing the haystacks in her condition.

  While she cried into her hands, I stood by the door. I wanted to ask what was wrong, but like I said, it wasn’t my place. I looked at the doorframe and saw our symbol carved on it. I wanted nothing more than to take out a chisel and get rid of it. It didn’t belong there now. I didn’t belong here with her. It felt all kind of wrong. She was married to another man and pregnant, so why was I in the place where we went all the way not once but twice? I turned toward the door to walk out.

  “Mike, wait! Please don’t leave. Can you come and sit next to me, just for a bit?” Her eyes were pleading, she was begging me not to leave.

  I scratched my head, walked over to the hay bale, and sat next to her. I went to take her hand, it was a natural reaction, but I quickly stopped myself.

  “Oh, Mike, I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  Then she took my hand in both of hers and turned to face me. “Mike, I found out how far along I am today.”

  I was instantly confused.

  Why would I give a rat’s ass about how far along she was?

  I didn’t want to know anything about Niall’s spawn.

  “That’s good?” I asked, more like a question because I had no idea what she was telling me.

  “Mike, I’m nearly nine weeks pregnant.” She had a strange look on her face.