“What are you doing here, Josh?” I asked.
Josh paused, staring at my disheveled hair, the robe that wasn’t tied tightly enough around my body, and no doubt, makeup that had probably been smeared all over my face. “What’s Jeremy doing here? Why were you with him today? And what are you ... why are you wearing a robe, and—”
“What are you doing here Josh?”
“Are you ... are you and Jeremy dating?”
“Even if we are, it doesn’t matter, does it? He’s my friend. Beyond that, I don’t know.”
“What kind of friend hangs out after midnight?” He poked his head through the door. “Where is he?”
“Leave it alone, Josh. Please.”
“Is he ... in your room? In our room?”
“You left me. There is no our room anymore. What I do now and whom I do it with isn’t up to you. You lost the right to be involved in my life, so don’t come here thinking you can step back in now just because you feel like it. I’m living my life just like you’re living yours. I’m not stalking you and what you’re doing.”
He wasn’t listening.
He was fuming, breathing hard, like a wolf hunting a scent.
His voice boomed, carrying through the house. “Where is he? Jeremy!”
Jeremy descended the stairs, making it obvious he’d just come from my bedroom. Josh pushed past me, stepped inside the house, and faced him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Josh asked.
“What business is it of yours?” Jeremy replied.
“Do you think because you caught your wife kissing me that you can come to my house and take advantage of mine?”
“It’s hardly the same thing, Josh. I like Callie, and the two of you aren’t together anymore. She’s capable of making her own decisions.”
Josh thrust his hands onto Jeremy’s chest. Jeremy slammed against the wall.
“Josh,” I said. “You need to leave. Now!”
Josh shook his head. “Not until he leaves first.”
“I’m not leaving unless Callie wants me to go,” Jeremy said.
“Get out,” Josh said. “Now.”
Jeremy turned toward me. “Do you want me to stay, or do you want me to go?”
I looked at Jeremy. “You’re staying.” I looked at Josh. “You’re leaving.”
Josh fisted a hand, driving it into the side of Jeremy’s face. Seconds later they tackled each other and were rolling around on the ground like a couple of kids in a schoolyard. I pressed myself between them, using my hands to try to pry them apart, doing what I could to break up their fight. Then Josh’s misguided fist missed Jeremy’s face, thrusting into the side of my chin instead. He immediately let Jeremy go and wrapped his arms around me. I shrugged him off.
“Callie, I’m so sorry,” Josh said. “I didn’t mean to—”
I didn’t say a word. I walked to the front door and opened it. Josh walked past me, hesitating a moment to kiss my cheek before walking outside. He leaned in, whispered, “It doesn’t look too bad, the chin. I hope it’s not, at least. Put some ice on it right now, okay?”
“Goodbye, Josh.”
“I’m sorry, Callie. About all of this. About everything. I’m an idiot. You deserve so much better than me.”
Watching him walk back to his truck, his head down and shoulders sagging, tears swelled in my eyes, then ran down my face. I wiped them away, but they wouldn’t stop. The faucet had been turned on. There was no stopping it now.
Jeremy placed a hand on shoulder. “You okay?”
“Not really, but I think you should go, too, Jeremy. I think I need to be alone.”