Page 110 of Stolen Voices

“Anyway, Callie, I came by to apologize.”

“For?” I ask, taking a sip of water.

“For hurting you, and I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable with my outburst about Eli bringing you home. I just thought…”

Her sentence falls off, but I understand where she was heading, so I cut her off before she continues. “No apology necessary. It was a pleasure to meet all of you. To be honest, I’m happy you’re here. I was going stir crazy being all by myself.”

“Why didn’t you call? I would have come by sooner.” Rylann pouts, but it’s good-natured and teasing, in that sweet way a mom would tease you, and it makes me feel comfortable and at ease. She’s so genuine and kind.

“Oh, well, I didn’t want to impose.” I pick at my T-shirt, slightly embarrassed.

Rylann places her hands on her hips. “Impose? You are Callie freaking Wright. Impose away.”

“Thank you.” I chuckle.

“I feel like I know you, but I don’t. It’s so weird.” She shakes her head, clearly still baffled by my presence.

It’s difficult for people to rectify the person I’ve portrayed and the real me. A lot of people I meet struggle with this. I spent my informative teen years in movies, and they watched me grow into a woman.

“Don’t worry about it. It is weird,” I assure her.

Rylann holds her swollen belly as she laughs. “You obviously get that a lot.”

“I do, but I’m used to it. I kind of like it sometimes. The people not knowing me part. It’s nice to keep some things just for me.” It is an odd thing for me to share with a stranger, but Rylann takes it in stride.

“Totally understandable.”

The doorbell rings again, stalling my heart in my chest.

“That’s just the girls.” Rylann pats my hand, placating my nerves.

“The girls?” I ask.

She bites her lip, a flash of guilt crossing her face. “That would be my best friend, Scarlett. When I told her where I was going, she invited herself over. Do you mind?”

A wash of social anxiety hits me, and Eli’s voice pops into my head, reminding me to be myself. He trusts his family, and so can I. “Not at all. The more, the merrier.”

“Good, then you won’t mind that Emery is here too.” Rylann grins at me, popping up from the stool and waddling to the door. She greets the women at the door and lets them in.

My mouth almost falls to the floor when Margot Robbie’s body double walks in. She has a mischievous smile plastered across her face as she crosses the room to me. Not far behind her is Emery, and a tall blond man I don’t know but who is scorching hot. Like, really hot. With the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He could be in movies; he’s that good-looking.

“Callie, this is my bestie, Scarlett, and her husband, Levi, who I did not know was coming by,” Rylann clarifies, breaking my obvious check-out of the very married man.

“He’s hot, isn’t he?” The woman Rylann introduced as Scarlett bumps my shoulder and wiggles her eyebrows suggestively at me.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I-I—” I stutter.

Emery covers her mouth with her fist, hiding her laughs as my face turns tomato red.

“Oh please, look away. I know he’s hot. And all mine. Isn’t that right, baby?”

“You know it, short stack,” her husband flirts, winking at her. “Nice to meet you, Callie. This is for you ladies to enjoy.” He places a paper bag on the kitchen island. “Sorry for the intrusion, but I’ll be heading out. Ry, want me to take Rhys? I have the kids in the car.”

“That would be great. Thank you, Lee.”

Levi shouts to Rhys, who is still on the couch, enthralled with the guitar in his hand. “Hey. Rhys, buddy, want to head home with me? Your dad will be home soon.”

Rhys finally looks up from the instrument in his hand and at Rylann, a silent “can I”written across his face. She nods her approval, while he places the guitar back in the case on the coffee table and slides the pick through the strings on the first fret like it was before.