Page 45 of Playboy Husband

MAISIE

Ipaced between my suitcase and my closet, shoving clothes into piles before deciding against taking most of them and packing them away again. Then I’d realize I might need something in the discarded pile and took it out again.

Every five minutes, I also checked my phone, but there was nothing. I’d been calling Callum all morning, but there was no word from him. Nothing from my mom or Brody using someone’s phone to contact me either.

Last night, I’d received a message from Callum saying they’d arrived safely. He’d even sent me a selfie of him lying in my bed at my parents’ house, which had been surreal—and strangely hot—but I hadn’t heard from him since.

My mom had let Brody use her phone to video call me before he’d gone to bed, but now, my texts to all of them were stacking up like unanswered prayers.

Michigan had gone radio silent and it was taking everything in me not to just book the first flight out as worry burrowed deeper and deeper into my being.

When my phone finally buzzed, I dropped the toiletries I’d been carrying right there on my mattress and scrambled to get it. “Callum?”

It wasn’t him. “No, honey. It’s me. Mom. You can relax, though. They’re fine. Just breathe.”

Relief wound its way through my bloodstream, but my heart was still racing. “What’s going on over there? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you people all morning.”

There was a pause. Then the low beep of a notification sounded in my ear. “There you go. Don’t freak out when you see it.”

“Don’t freak out when I see what?” My fingertips went numb, my entire body ice cold. I pulled the phone away from my ear and opened the message she’d just sent me. It turned out to be a picture, of Callum, who was grinning like an idiot, but had a faint black eye. “What the…”

I breathed the words. My heart pounded as I zoomed in on the picture. “Mom, what the heck happened to his face? Is Brody okay? Was it an acci—”

“Hockey,” she said as if that explained everything, which it kind of did. “Your brothers took Callum to the rink this morning. Brody was with me. I took him to the library for a kids’ arts and crafts session. That’s why I didn’t answer my phone. We were painting. He loved it.”

“Okay, but what did Mason and Michael do to Callum?”

“Boys will be boys, darling.” She laughed. “He beat them, if that makes you feel better. From the sounds of things, it turns out that he can really skate, so he’s earned their respect and they’re all good now.”

Relief swept through me in a dizzying wave and I sank down on the edge of my bed. “So he’s not dead?”

“Nope.” She chuckled. “He’s bruised, but he’s alive.

Mason and Mikey are bruised too. It’s not just Callum.

It doesn’t sound like any of them took it easy on each other, but it’s nothing too bad.

They shouldn’t even have a mark left on them by the time we get to Scotland. There’s enough time for it to fade.”

I swallowed hard, finally letting out a shaky laugh. “Please tell me they’re done on the ice now?”

“They are. Actually, Callum has fallen right in with them and they’re all out getting fitted for tuxes right now. Can you believe it?”

“What?” My heart started pounding all over again. “Who’s out getting fitted for tuxes?”

“All of them,” she repeated, sounding extremely pleased with herself. “Daddy, Brody, Callum, and your brothers. They came to pick Brody up when we got back from the library and took him with them.”

For the first time since they’d left for Michigan, I exhaled fully. At least my brothers hadn’t run him off. That was something.

“Does he know yet?” Mom asked gently, her voice softer now.

My stomach flipped. I didn’t have to ask what she meant. My throat went dry as I shook my head, even though I knew she couldn’t see it. “No, he doesn’t. Not yet.”

“Oh, Maisie.” The mixture of motherly concern and quiet reproach in her voice made my chest constrict. “He deserves to. You know that.”

“I know.” The words came out sharp and defensive, but my anger wasn’t aimed at her. I was mad at myself. “I know he does. I just haven’t been able to tell him yet.”

“Do you want me to do it?” she asked quietly.

My heart lurched, panic rushing in fast. “No, please don’t. I have to, Mom. It’s got to be me. I’m going to tell him. In Scotland. As soon as we have a minute alone.”

There was silence on the other end of the line. Then she sighed. “Okay, baby. You don’t have to keep carrying it alone, though. Callum might be shocked at first, but he’ll want to help.”

“I know,” I half-whispered. “I’m already not carrying it all by myself anymore. I just need it to come from me. He deserves that much.”

“Alright.” She didn’t sound convinced, but she let it go anyway. “Just promise me you won’t wait forever. Secrets don’t stay buried. They have a way of coming up when you least want them to.”

“I know,” I murmured, my eyes drifting to the open suitcase. Scotland was only a day away. “I’m going to tell him as soon as I get him alone, face to face.”

“I’m here if you need me,” she said. “I should go get dinner started, but I’ll have Brody call you as soon as he gets home, okay?”

“Okay,” I agreed and hung up with her a moment later, then just sat on my bed for a few long minutes after that.

My phone felt heavy in my hand, my chest tight.

Scotland was looming ahead of me like a finish line I wasn’t ready to cross.

My brain spun out with every version of how it could all go wrong.

Callum might look at me differently, and that was the best-case scenario.

Worst case was that he never looked at me again at all.

Brody might hate me for keeping it from him.

Everything I’d built could be torn apart.

Finally, I forced myself up and kept packing. My suitcase was filled with jeans and sweaters, the travel toiletries still scattered around my bed. None of it mattered much right then, though. It felt like the foundation underneath me was about to give way.

A knock on the door jolted me from my swirling thoughts. I frowned, breathing through my inner spiral as I headed downstairs to answer it. When I pulled the door open, I was surprised to see Sadie waiting on the other side, her vibrant red hair pulled up into a sleek ponytail and her eyes bright.

She breezed in, all sunshine and chatter.

“Your house is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.

I love it. It’s like a Pinterest board, but lived in.

” She spun in slow circle, either ignoring or not noticing that I was practically hyperventilating.

“Also, and this is a totally random question, but do you want a dog? I could get you hooked up before the end of the day. Your backyard is perfect for a medium-sized breed.”

I let out a strangled laugh. “A dog?”

“Yeah, a dog.” She collapsed on the couch and planted her hand on her growing baby bump, kicking off her boots like she’d been visiting here for years. “Brody would love one and you’ve got the space. Kids and dogs are the perfect combo. Unless you’re allergic? That would be tragic—”

Her words faded as she finally took a good look at me. “Maisie? What’s wrong?”

Her tone was gentler now, her eyes brimming with concern. I shook my head, swallowing hard and hoping I could keep it together until she’d achieved whatever she’d set out to with this impromptu visit.

“Nothing. I’m absolutely fine. I was just packing, so I might’ve zoned out a bit.”

“Uh-huh.” She arched an eyebrow at me. “That’s the universal excuse for ‘I’m very much not fine.’ You can tell me, you know. We’re about to be family. Whatever this is about, I’d like to help you if I can.”

I stared back at her, seeing the gentle compassion in her eyes and thinking about everything I’d learned about her. Sadie was a genuinely good person and I doubted she would judge me if it hadn’t been for the fact that she’d been Callum’s friend for years.

After hearing her and Jameson’s story, I knew they hadn’t spoken for a long time even if they had essentially grown up together. When they re-entered each other’s lives, Callum had been there for her. So much so that he’d gone dress shopping with her.

Plus, she was a Westwood now. However new, she was still one of them. Tears burned at the corners of my eyes before I could stop them. “I can’t tell you. You’ll hate me.”

Sadie leaned forward, her expression soft and her gaze steady. “Try me. I guarantee, I’ll surprise you.”

I shouldn’t do it and I knew it, but I also couldn’t not tell her. This secret wanted out and though Callum was the person I most had to tell, he was also the person I was most afraid of being honest with.

Suddenly, Sadie seemed like the best choice. She knew him better than most, and having been his friend for a long time, she would probably be able to give me advice about how to approach him with this. The next thing I knew, the words were tumbling out and there was no stopping them.

“Callum is Brody’s real dad,” I blurted out. Her eyes widened and her cheeks drained of color. “He doesn’t know. I still haven’t found a way to tell him, and honestly, I never thought I would have to.”

I continued from there, explaining my reasons for not going straight to him as soon as I found out and ending with how terrified I was now to risk losing what little I had. To risk losing Callum himself.

Sadie didn’t move or speak. She just reached out and took my hand when I was done, giving it a gentle squeeze. While she was pale and visibly shaken, it didn’t look like she was about to shun me or run off to tell the Westwoods.

“I’m sorry you felt like you couldn’t tell him before,” she said gently.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love Callum. He’s such a genuine person and he’s always been good to me, but back then, I don’t blame you for keeping it to yourself.

He definitely wasn’t exactly a shining beacon of impending fatherhood in those days. ”

I nodded, my throat too tight to speak.

She smiled. “It’s no wonder you’re falling apart, but listen to me. Callum is going to understand. He’s not perfect, but he loves you and he loves Brody. Nothing you could ever tell him is going to change that. Trust me.”

The tears that had been welling spilled over, coming fast and heavy now that they’d started. “Do you really think so?”

“I know so.” She squeezed my hand again. “In the meantime, your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone. Scout’s honor.”

My eyes slid shut, relief and terror dancing a strange tango in my chest. I didn’t really know this girl and I had no evidence that I could trust her, and yet, it felt like I could. Somehow, I knew she wouldn’t betray me, but I also knew that the clock was now officially ticking.

In the space of one afternoon, my mom had offered to tell him the truth on my behalf and Sadie had found out. It wouldn’t be long now until he either figured it out for himself or someone let it slip. I had to tell him. The first chance I got. Or else.

And I really didn’t want to find out what that or else might be.