Page 14 of Backed By You (Montgomery Brothers of Montana #3)

Callie

“But you’re okay? And Hulk, he’s okay, too?” Shea asks for the second time.

I hold the phone pinned between my cheek and shoulder as I shuffle to Hulk’s bed, fresh water and his packed food bowls in hand. “We’re okay,” I reply. “I’m giving him his dinner now and nightly pain meds shortly. He’ll be zonked out within the hour.”

“Jesus, Cals,” she breathes. “You can’t scare me like that. I almost called your dad.”

I snort, recalling the phone conversation I had with him shortly before I called her. Long story short, it was an earful. “I’m glad you didn’t. He probably would’ve shown up here.”

“Can you blame him?”

I sit on the floor beside Hulk, removing his cone so he can eat. “I guess not.”

“She guesses not,” Shea scoffs on the other end of the phone. “Thank god Brian was there to help you.”

“Beau.” I laugh. “His name is Beau . And don’t act like you don’t remember. Call him nice-chest-guy if you must.”

She snickers. “I was hoping you’d catch that,” she says. “So, explain to me what happened after he took you home.”

I nod, even though she can’t see me. “He offered to stay the night so I wasn’t alone.” At the sound of her squeal, I add, “Nothing happened. We just talked and he kept my mind off everything, really.”

“And?” she coaxes.

“And it was…nice.” I don’t elaborate or tell her how he asked if I had a boyfriend, doted on me, and even rubbed my feet when the boot started to pinch my leg.

“Hmm. I’m going to need more context here. Where did he sleep?”

I scrunch my nose. “The couch.”

“And you were…”

“Also, on the couch.”

“I knew it!” she sings, laughing in delight. “Oh, my god. I cannot wait to meet this guy. We’ll have to plan something, the three of us. What time do you fly in again? I’ll need to meet you—”

“Wait, huh?” My brow furrows, confused. “What are you talking about?”

“The premiere,” she says. “He did say he’d come with you, didn’t he?”

I don’t follow. “Why would he come to the—” I gasp, realization dawning on me as my gaze snaps to Hulk’s. “Oh, no.” I fly in for the premiere in only three weeks. Hulk won’t be able to travel in that short of time. He needs to rest and heal. Which means he won’t be able to go with me to LA.

I’ll be without him for two whole weeks .

“I thought that’s what you were talking about,” she says. “Why don’t you ask him? I doubt he’d say no. I mean, have you seen yourself? And you said he offered in the first place.”

“Yeah, but…” My eyes begin to water at the very idea of having to leave Hulk. I was without him for one night and it was awful. Well, not awful with Beau around, but I missed him like crazy.

“You can’t miss the premiere. It’s the final chapter.”

“I know,” I mutter, biting my fingernail in thought. Could I ask Beau? Would he come with me? The guy offered one night, not weeks of his time. “I don’t know, Shea. He always seems so busy.”

“Then pay the guy. You said he doesn’t have a job, so why not this? I mean, be honest, if Beau doesn’t come with you, what would plan B be?”

“This wasn’t even plan A,” I huff.

“Plan C, then. You know what I mean.”

I do know what she means, and I also know the point she’s trying to make. I sigh. “I’d hire a bodyguard.”

“Exactly. You would hire someone to attend all the events with you and be your two-legged version of Hulk,” she states proudly.

“You already have security meeting you at the interviews and events, why not ask Beau to attend everything with you? And…he can get your bestie’s stamp of approval at the same time. ”

I smile. “A very important stamp.”

“A very important stamp, ma’am.”

“This whole side conversation is pointless. I don’t even know if I like him like that…” I trail off, hearing the lie in my voice at the same time Shea does.

“You like him enough to trust him,” she says, softer now. “Isn’t that enough for now?”

A light knock on my front door has me jumping in my spot perched on the floor. Hulk perks up beside me and looks at me, waiting for my reaction.

“I have to go. Someone’s here.”

“Ooh! Is that him? Okay, okay. Text me later. Love you.”

I roll my eyes and laugh. “Love you, too.” I hang up the phone and get to my feet. When I reach the window beside the door, brushing the curtain aside to peer out and see who it is, I’m surprised to find Cassidy walking away. Six cars lining the driveway catch my attention at the same time.

I wonder what’s going on next door? I haven’t spent much time with her, usually only seeing her in passing with Maci and their babies at the store or around town. I chew my lower lip, debating whether to let her walk away or open the door.

Hulk’s whine decides it. I return to his side a moment later, and he bumps my hand, telling me he needs to be let out to do his business.

“Okay, big boy. Just like before.” I grab the towel I’ve been using to help support his hind legs and slide it under him, hoisting his rear in the air as we slowly make our way out the patio door and onto the back porch. It takes him a moment to get down the two short steps, but he manages.

Once he’s done, we make our way back up to the porch when he stops by the fire pit. He lies down with his front paws, forcing me to ease his booty down, too.

“Really?” I sigh as he peers up at me with puppy eyes, making me feel like some villain for straying away from our routine. “You’re lucky you’re so darn cute,” I mutter. “Let me get your other blanket. I don’t want you getting dirty.”

I hurry inside to get him a blanket to lie on and get him settled before fetching a few pieces of firewood from my little stockpile. I’m busy lighting a match when loud laughter and shouting next door catches my attention.

I glance over my shoulder and Hulk’s ears perk up. They must be having a party. Is that why Cassidy stopped by earlier? To let me know they’d be a bit loud tonight? I suppose that makes sense.

I pull my outdoor chair close to Hulk’s spot by the fire that’s steadily growing. “We won’t stay out too long,” I tell him, petting his head and toying with his ears.

The fire crackles, sending sparks up into the night sky. Hulk rests his head on his paws, his eyes drooping as he enjoys the warmth.

The sliding glass door next door squeaks open, and I glance over to see Maci stepping onto the back porch. A pudgy dachshund waddles out beside her, his little legs barely keeping his belly from dragging on the ground.

“Come on, Frankie. Do your business,” she says, wrapping her cardigan tighter around herself. She notices our fire and does a double-take, surprised to see me. “Callie? Is that you?”

I give her a small wave. “Hey, Maci.”

She hesitates for a moment before calling over, “Mind if I join you while this little guy takes his sweet time?”

I laugh. “Not at all.”

Maci waits for Frankie to sniff around the edge of the porch before making her way over to our fire. She’s careful not to trip over any roots or stones in the dark, her steps illuminated by the flickering firelight.

“Cassidy stopped by earlier,” she says, warming her hands over the fire. “She said you weren’t home.” Maci glances over at Hulk, who’s watching her with gentle eyes. “What happened? You both look pretty banged up.”

I gesture vaguely up the mountain. “Took a tumble off one of the hiking trails.”

She gapes. “Oh, no.”

I shake my head. “Yeah, it wasn’t fun. But we’re okay.”

“Good.” She nods as Frankie hobbles over to us.

When he spots Hulk, his whole body begins to wiggle in excitement at seeing his much bigger buddy.

He heads in our direction. I’ve met Frankie a few times—once when Cassidy came to help Mrs. Montgomery clean the rental cabin after a large family left a huge mess, and recently when Butch was over helping Beau cut down a few trees a few weeks ago.

Hulk and Frankie have become fast friends.

I feel a bit guilty he can’t play with his short friend.

They’re hilarious to watch play together, given their size difference.

Frankie sniffs Hulk’s wrapped hind leg and whines softly before picking a spot on his blanket and having a seat. We sit in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the flames dance.

I lift my chin toward the music coming from the rental cabin. “Having a party?”

“Yeah. It’s just a little bachelorette get-together for Cassidy and me.” Maci yawns. “Nothing wild.”

“Moms’ night out.” I smile faintly, and Maci yawns a second time. “How come you’re not inside partying with the rest of them?”

She shrugs, then checks her phone before peering up at me. “Not a big partier,” she says. “Or drinker. I’m more of a babysitter for tonight. This is Cassidy’s first night out in almost two years.”

“Oh, boy.”

Maci laughs. “Exactly. But don’t let her fool you, she was crying for the first hour after we dropped the babies off with Duke’s mom.”

“How is Olivia doing?”

“She’s amazing,” Maci beams, swiping on her phone to show me a picture of her daughter and Cassidy and Butch’s son playing. “Julie is watching her and Gage for the night. It’s her first time with both babies at once. She went a bit…over the top with toy purchases for the house.”

I smile as she swipes through the dozens of pictures Julie sent of the babies surrounded by toys. My heart melts at how lucky they are to have such a wonderful, hands-on grandmother.

The sound of laughter gets louder, and the back door slides open again. A woman’s voice calls out, “Maci? Everything okay?”

“I’m over here,” she calls back with a wave of her hand.

“You started a fire without us?” Seconds later, Cassidy appears at the edge of the yard, slightly unsteady on her feet. She’s holding a wine glass that sloshes dangerously as she walks. Behind her, three other women follow, each carrying drinks.

“Callie!” Cassidy exclaims when she sees me. “I stopped by earlier. I wanted to invite you to join us.”

“Sorry about that,” I say, awkward at seeing her so intoxicated. We’ve only met a handful of times.