Forgive Me (Callaway Book 2) (2 page)

"She was your high school love, Drew. The one girl you loved and never got over. And because everything in your life has always been about Amanda, you haven't had one relationship since she left. Doesn't that tell you something?"

He took a deep breath, fighting the urge to punch his brother in the face. He hated that his brothers felt like they knew what he was feeling. They had no idea; they never did. Even if John had a point, it wasn't a conversation he wanted to have—not then, not ever. "Yeah, it tells me you guys need to get a fucking life."

He watched his brother circle his desk. By the look in John's eyes, the same look their dad used to get before a heart-to-heart, Drew had a feeling the next comment was going to cut him deep. "Get mad at me all you fucking want, man. I don't care. I'm used to your shit by now, but you better get that shit together, Drew. This isn't who you are."

He jumped out of the chair and shoved John back against his desk, sending papers on the floor. "You don't know anything about who I am, John." The second the words were out and he saw his brother's face go hard, he knew he'd just gone too far. Damn Amanda, pushing all of his goddamn buttons.

John shoved him backwards. "Whose fault is that, asshole? When she left town, you shut us all out. You think we didn't see how fucking hurt you were? Get your shit together and get that girl back, or get the fuck over her already. It's been years since she left, and you're still acting like a teenager. Man up! This is not how Dad raised us, you—using women to try and forget another. He would be so fucking ashamed of you right now. I'm sick of your bullshit."

Drew watched his brother walk out of his office and for the first time in a long time, he didn't try to hide his feelings. He felt like a fucking disappointment to his family, to the memory of his dad, for using women the way he had. He grabbed a picture of him and his dad and in that moment, he made a promise he would stop at nothing to keep.

"I'm going to be a better man, Dad, a man you would be proud of. I'm going to fight for her, just like you would have fought for Mom. She reminds me a lot of Mom, you know. She's strong and independent, and doesn't take crap from anybody, least of all from me. It won't be easy, but nothing worth it ever is. We're not the same people we were in high school. Hell, I know I'm not. I get why she had to leave now. I understand she had to go and make something more for herself, but she's back now and I'm not letting her get away a second time. I'm going to make you proud, Dad, I promise."

Seven months. Seven months of being back in Montana, seven months of being back in the house she grew up in which was falling apart, seven months of avoiding Drew…. If anyone would have told her she would end up back in Montana after swearing to never come back, she would have never believed it. Yet there she was, alone on a Friday night, watching a sappy romantic comedy and making conversation with a dog. She had worked hard to make a good life for herself in South Carolina as a sous-chef. But just when she was up for a promotion, she received the call that changed her whole life: "Your dad has passed away."

It had been months since she'd buried her dad, and she still couldn't believe he was gone. But he was, and she was back in Montana running her dad's diner while doing her best to avoid seeing Drew, which wasn't easy. In a small town, it was hard to avoid seeing someone as popular as one of the Callaway brothers, but she'd managed to do just that.

She pulled the blanket up her body and Tango snuggled closer to her. "We make a good team, don't we, Tango? Who needs a man when you have a dog?" she told him, running her fingers through his fur, which was more white than golden. Tango looked at her like she was crazy, which wouldn't be too far-fetched from the truth, considering she was talking to a golden retriever.

"I don't need Drew Callaway in my life to be happy, okay? Don't look at me like I'm crazy, Tango. Drew and I were done a long time ago. It's not like I still love him or anything, 'cause that would be crazy, right? Right, like talking to a dog isn't crazy." Tango snuggled closer as if he knew she needed comfort. That was why she was head over heels for this dog; plus, he couldn't call her out on her bullshit.

She turned her attention back to the movie that was playing just in time to see a scene where the man kissed the woman with so much passion, Amanda's cheeks warmed. Tango barked, and she laughed. "Yeah, boy, I know. A dog can't do that."

When the movie finished, she cleaned the living room and washed her dishes before heading to bed. Her eyes glared at the ceiling, which would probably fall on her head any time soon. She couldn't believe how much her dad had let the house go; it was practically falling apart. Tango climbed into bed with her at her feet. "I love you, Tango, but sometimes I wished you looked like Drew and not like a golden retriever." She closed the light and hoped like hell she wouldn't dream of Drew, even if deep down, she knew she would. For five years, he was all she ever dreamed about, and that was all he would ever be: a dream.

When she woke up the next morning, Amanda glanced up at the ceiling, which seemed to be holding up by a thread. She was convinced that if she didn't find a way to fix her house soon, she would wake up one morning looking at the Montana sky. As she got ready, the cold shower she was forced to take was just another reminder of something else that needed to be fixed. Just like her life, the house was crumbling.

By the time she opened the diner the next morning, there were already people waiting outside. That was the one thing about owning the only diner in town—she was always busy. She served people coffee and took order after order, trying her best to make small talk with the people she'd known all of her life, but really didn't know anything about.

Around 8 a.m., she smiled when she saw Cole Callaway and Jamie walk into the diner. She and Jamie had become quick friends since the first time they met. She watched as Cole possessively put his hand on Jamie's growing baby bump as people said hello to them. They had the kind of relationship people wrote about in romance novels. Amanda leaned against the counter and took a few seconds to look at them. She envied what they had so much, someone to care for you unconditionally, and someone who would fight for you until their dying breath. That was what she and Drew had promised each other before she left their love in the dust. She shook off the cobwebs in her head, grabbed the decaf pot and headed for their table.

"Hey, guys, how's it going?" she asked them as she poured coffee into their cups.

"I feel like I'm a whale about to pop. This baby cannot get here fast enough," Jamie told her while shifting in the booth, obviously trying to find a comfortable position.

"You look beautiful, baby."

Amanda smiled at the adoration she heard in Cole's voice. If there was one thing the Callaway men were good at, it was making the women in their lives feel special. Cole definitely had it down to an art with Jamie.

Jamie laughed at his comment. "You have to say that if you want sex, Cole Callaway. Don't think I don't know what you're doing." Cole flashed her a smile that said it all: he didn't need words to have sex.

Ah, sex. Just the thought of it made her skin tingle. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd felt a man's hands on her. She didn't want much out of life, but she also didn't think that wanting a man to hold her like that was too much to ask for.

Amanda laughed at the interaction and pressed her hand down on Jamie's shoulder. "I think you look beautiful, Jamie. Pregnancy definitely suits you." She wasn't kidding, either. Jamie was a beautiful woman, but she had this glow around her at the moment that just shined.

"Thanks, Amanda. How are you doing? Are you adjusting to being back? It must be a big change for you."

She knew exactly where this conversation was headed, and she knew she had to change the subject before they started on the topic of Drew. "Oh, I'm good. It's been interesting being back, but nothing much has changed here, so it still feels like home. How are the wedding plans going?"

Jamie tilted her head to look at her, obviously aware of what she had just done, and Amanda just smiled at her innocently as she felt Cole watching them closely. "Slowly but surely…I never thought planning a wedding would be so much work. I swear every time I cross something off the to-do list, five more things pop up."

"Well, let me know if there's anything I can do. I know weddings can be stressful," she told them, thankful Jamie hadn't pushed her on Drew.

A silent conversation passed between Cole and Jamie, but before she could ask questions, Jamie spoke up, breaking the silence. "We might just take you up on that."

"How's the house holding up, Amanda?" Cole asked her, obviously concerned. There was a lot of work that needed to be done, but with the diner not making a lot of money, she knew there was no way she would be able to afford renovations anytime soon.

"Well, it's still standing, at least. I just can't afford all the renovations it needs right now, but I'll get around to it eventually." she told him honestly.

"I'd be happy to take a look at it for you. I'm sure we can figure it out together. I don't want you living somewhere unsafe." She knew he would do it if she asked him, but she didn't want to impose, or risk Drew showing up with his brother.

She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and nibbled her bottom lip nervously. "I appreciate that, Cole, but it's not necessary. It's not that bad."

As if he were reading her mind, Cole grabbed her hand. "I'll make sure Drew isn't around, Amanda, if that's what you want. Just let me look around and make sure it's not dangerous. I don't like you living alone in that house when we don't even know if it's safe. The roof could fall on your head any time."

"Okay then, that's fine. Thank you." What else was she going to say? She knew she needed the help and if Cole promised to keep Drew away, she believed him.

"No problem. You know, you can't avoid him forever. This is a small town, so you're bound to run into him at some point," Cole told her, and she knew he was right. She'd been locking herself in her house when she had time off, desperately avoiding coming into town, all to avoid Drew.

"I know, but for now, avoidance works for me. It works for
us
. Now, what will it be this morning?" she asked them, taking her order pad out of her apron, desperate for a change of subject.

"Waffles for me with bacon, and orange juice, please." Jamie smiled as she ordered. Amanda couldn't quite put her finger on what she was missing when she took in Janie's grin, but it was obvious she was missing something.

"All right, Cole, what about you?" she asked, trying her best to not let him see how unsettled the conversation had left her.

"The usual for me." He looked like he wanted to say something more, but she was thankful when he didn't press.

"Coming right up, guys." She grabbed the pot of coffee she had put down on the table and turned around so fast, she didn't notice the body standing beside her.

As she spun, she collided with the massive body and spilled coffee all over a white T-shirt. "Oh, shit! I'm so sorry." She lifted her head to see who she was apologizing to and in that moment, her whole word stopped turning: Drew.

Drew smiled as he listened to Amanda's conversation with his brother. She obviously hadn't noticed him come in, which he was happy about because it gave him time to look at her. After having his epiphany the night before, Drew had decided it was time to stop avoiding the diner, and her. After the conversation he had with John, he was determined to see if there was still something worth fighting for between him and Amanda. The minute his eyes landed on her, he had his answer. He would always have something to fight for when it came to Amanda.

She looked even better than she did back in high school. Her blonde hair was longer, and even in a ponytail, he could tell it flowed down the middle of her back. The image of her lying on his bed with all that hair falling down on his pillow invaded his mind. She had always had beautiful curves, but she had the curves of a girl back then. The woman standing in front of him was all woman, and damn if she wasn't even more beautiful than he remembered.