Callie’s Last Dance

31.

“I’M SORRRY, DANI,” Callie says. “I can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry too. And I deserve an explanation.”

“We’re in love.”

“So I hear. You’re about to be a couple. Like Sophie and I were this morning.”

“Yes.”

“Except that this morning when I was in a relationship with Sophie, you saw no problem sharing my bed. But now that you’re in a relationship, it’s a problem for you.”

“What’s your question?”

“My question is what’s the difference?”

“The difference is this morning I would have said or done anything to get in your pants.”

“Which means you’re a lying, scheming bitch.”

“I’ll admit to that, given how things turned out.”

“You didn’t give a damn about my relationship with Sophie. You just wanted a conquest.”

“Not true.”

“No? You claimed Sophie was using me.”

“I honestly believe that.”

“Then tell me this: what makes you any better than her?”

Callie sighs. “Nothing. I’m actually worse than Sophie. But that doesn’t mean she’s good for you. On the other hand, Creed and I were meant to be together.”

“I’d like to be happy for you,” Dani says, “and maybe someday I will. But right now I’m too busy feeling like a complete fool.”

“You’re not a fool,” Callie says. “You’re the sweetest, most wonderful woman I’ve ever met. I feel terrible about this, because…”

Dani waits.

Callie says, “Because you’re everything I ever hoped to find in a woman. If Creed hadn’t called I would have been thrilled to make a life with you.”

“I’ve got a big, fat picture of that. We fall in love, move in together, start a life. Then one day Creed calls and you dump me. Because I’m your consolation prize.”

“No. If we were already together, I would have told him no.”

“I guess we’ll never know, will we?”

“You won’t. But I do.”

Dani says, “Well then, I guess this is goodbye. Thanks for…whatever.”

“Dani.”

“What?”

“I’m a part of Creed, and he’s a part of me. As much as I want you, as perfect as you are, his call changes everything for me. I’m so very sorry.”

“Yes,” Dani says. “You most certainly are.”