Page 98 of Bad For Me (Rock Canyon, Idaho 5)

“Good.”

Their father looked between them, his lips twitching. “God, I love these family gatherings.”

“Dinner’s on the table,” Ellie called from the kitchen and the three men stood up.

Everett walked into the dining room and caught Callie’s grim expression.

You okay? he mouthed.

She gave him the “okay” sign with one hand, but her strained smile said differently. Everett frowned, examining each woman’s face until he saw Val glaring darkly at Callie.

Suddenly, Everett wanted to hit his brother. Whatever he’d told Val about Callie had obviously caused some tension, and who knew what else.

He pulled out a chair for Callie and when she sat down, he leaned over to whisper in her ear. “I am so sorry.”

She didn’t respond, and he took the seat next to her, glaring across the table at Justin.

“What’s your problem?”

“You’ve got a big fucking mouth,” Everett growled.

“Both of you, knock it off. We have guests,” Fred said. While his father said grace, Everett reached under the table to take Callie’s cold hand, threading his fingers with hers, but she still wouldn’t look at him.

“Amen,” everyone said after Fred ended his prayer. As the food was being passed around, Justin got up and started grabbing drinks for everyone.

“Callie, do you want some wine? Oh, never mind—I forgot.”

“That’s it,” Everett roared, letting go of Callie’s hand as he shot to his feet. “Get your ass outside, you little shit. I’m going to—”

“Stop!” Callie screamed.

The whole room went silent as she stood up, pushing her chair in clumsily. “This was obviously a mistake, so I’ll go.” Everett watched her dash tears from her cheeks, even as she spoke to his father with a brave smile on her lips. “Fred, thank you so much for inviting me. Maybe we can meet for coffee soon.”

Caroline tried to reach out and stop her, but Callie avoided her hands.

“I’ll come with you,” Everett said.

“No, really, I’m fine. I just need to be alone.”

“You are the woman I love, and you were just insulted in my family home. I’m coming with you.”

She didn’t argue again so he took her hand, turning to face his brother and sister-in-law one last time. “I don’t care what your problem is. Callie makes me happy. She is a recovering alcoholic, and I trust her. I know you think you’re looking out for me, but I don’t need you,” he said bluntly. “And you either need to apologize to her and get on board with our relationship, or you both can go fuck yourselves.”

Everett pulled Callie out the door behind him just in time to hear his father start in on Justin, bellowing at the top of his lungs about how they treat guests in his house. Everett didn’t try to speak to her; he just helped her into the truck and shut the door with a heavy sigh. So much for thinking his brother would support him. He tried to put himself in Justin’s shoes, but he just couldn’t. No matter what reservations he might have, he had no right to attack Callie.

Everett’s fists clenched and flexed. He was tempted to go back in there and—

Callie was knocking on the windshield, as if sensing he was about to head back inside and deck his brother. She shook her head at him, pleading with him with those light hazel eyes, and he sighed again. As he climbed into the truck, he reached across and took her hand.

“I am so sorry for the way they treated you,” he said.

“They’re just protecting you,” Callie said.

“What they don’t get is that I don’t need their protection. I trust you.”

The letters flashed through his brain, but he pushed them back. They could hold on for one more day.

Chapter Twenty-Three