Claiming Callie: Part one by Paige Rion Page B

Callie. She’s fine. Nothing’s wrong. Let’s just say she didn’t have the best of dates. I’m going home.”
    The muscles in his back spasm with the news. “What happened?”
    I’ll kill him. I’ll absolutely fucking throttle him if he touched her.
    She shakes her head. “Nothing—”
    “I want to know. Now.” Dean’s breathing quickens, and he can feel the ball of anger fisting in his chest.
    “I don’t really know. All I know is that she’s super pissed and a little upset. You can come with me, but only if you promise,” she says, stabbing a finger at him, “and I mean promise , not to blow a gasket and flip out. No matter what happened.”
    “Fine. Whatever. Let’s just go.”
    When he moves to the door, Emmett follows, too, but before he can leave with them, he and Jinny turn together and yell, “Not you!”
    When they enter Jinny and Callie’s apartment, Dean has no idea what to expect. His chest feels tight, like a million tiny fists are squeezing his ribcage. He spots her standing in the middle of the living room, arms crossed over her chest, and before he can stop himself, he rushes over to her and puts his arms out, ready to envelop her in them.
    What are you doing? Friends, you’re just friends .
    He lowers his arms and sinks his hands in his pockets instead.
    She looks fine, a little pale maybe, but she hasn’t been crying and she’s not distraught. No need to get worked up.
    Jinny moves to her side and hugs her, squeezing her tight, doing what Dean wishes he could.
    Callie’s gaze darts to him as Jinny releases her, and her mouth tightens. As if reading her thoughts, Jinny says, “Dean’s fine. He won’t act like an ass again. Right, Dean?” She turns her gaze to him, brows raised.
    He gets the message. “Right. I’m good,” Dean says. It’s all he can manage through his locked jaw and the pressure in his chest.
    “So what happened?” Jinny asks.
    “He propositioned me.”
    “Meaning what, exactly?” Jinny asks, reading Dean’s mind.
    Callie runs a hand through the length of her blonde hair and sighs, then begins to pace the floor in front of them. “The date was going fine. We went to the musical, so we didn’t have a ton of time to talk, but, still, things were going great. Then he was supposed to take me to Anwar’s.”
    Of course he was.
    Jinny’s eyes widen. “It’s impossible to get in there.”
    “I know, right? So, I was a little unsure, but we went and when we got there, he spoke to the maître d’, and it was clear he was upset. That there was a problem. It turns out that his family has monthly reservations there and, unbeknownst to him, his parents were using them tonight. So we opted to go somewhere else, because dining with his parents would just be—”
    “Majorly weird,” Jinny finishes for her.
    “Exactly!” Callie stops pacing, and her cheeks bloom a fiery red. Her voice grows louder when she goes on. “So, he suggests we go back to his place, since it was only a block away and he could make us dinner there.”
    Dean steps forward and squeezes his eyes shut. “Please, tell me you didn’t.”
    “I did. He was being a perfect gentlemen, and I felt, I don’t know…flattered that he’s harbored these feelings for me for so long—”
    “This is exactly what I knew would happen! You’re so naive—” he stops mid-sentence at Jinny’s warning glare.
    I can’t believe she actually fell for that bullshit.
    “Anyway,” Callie says, glaring at him. “We were there and he was telling me about the first time he saw me and how he’s liked me ever since. Blah, blah. And the next thing I know, he’s asking me about the whole escort thing and why I’m doing it. So I tell him, very briefly, that it’s to pay off my credit cards. That I’m in a bad spot.”
    Bite your tongue. Just keep it shut, Dean.
    Callie’s talking fast now, her tone incredulous. “And the next thing I know, he’s pulling an envelope out of his pocket and he’s