Off Limits, Brother's Best Friend Chapter 222

Chapter 222: It Wasn't Nothing 

Brianna

Only when we turned did I remember Bryce was even there. He stood there in shock, I think. He wasn't even trying to yell at us, Callan wouldn't stop heading for the door though and it felt like a replay of our past. A moment that ruined everything, I can't let him walk out again this time.

“Callan, I wasn't saying no.” I reminded him again.

“But you didn't say yes.” He said, removing my hands from his clothing. 

Tears rolled even faster down my cheeks. 

“Please, just wait.” I tried to get him not to leave.

“Brianna, let him go take a breath.” I heard Bryce finally talk.

Callan released my hands and walked out when my brother gave him the opportunity to, Angelo right behind him and I burst into tears.

“I didn't know he wanted to date me! I accused him of asking me to come home to just be his toy. He never told me he asked you to date me.” I was grabbing my brother now. He looked conflicted right now, or maybe still shocked.

“He didn't ask, he let me beat on him and told me he was going to get you and if you came back with him, he is going to date you. He said he couldn't stay away even when he knew he was screwing me over. He told me to understand that and I think…I think I just did. I think I just finally understood when I saw that.” He pointed to where Callan and I were just fighting.

He never told me he wanted to date me, I would remember that. He said to go back to Port Harcourt, he said he wouldn't wait but he never told me he wanted to date me. Even just thinking about it makes my heart and my gut flip. For so many months, I was heartbroken. For so many months, I thought he just walked out on me because he didn't care, he didn't want to wait for his little fuck buddy, so he just cut me off. Now I see it for what it was. Callan doesn't know how to handle emotions, but he clearly felt something for me. He couldn't stand me being away, he had told me it bothered him but I didn't know to what extent.

When he told Bryce he was bringing me back, that was a vulnerable place for him. He asked me to come home and I didn't say yes, I wanted both but that is not what he heard or saw. He heard rejection, he thought he was putting himself out there for probably the first time and he felt rejected. So he ran, he left and he cut me off because he couldn't deal with it. He told me he hates me because he has been hurting the whole time too. I couldn't believe it, I hurt Callan Harold, the Mafia Don? But why couldn't he say all that? Why did he just walk out on me and never speak to me again? Why did he say horrible things to my face and tell my brother I don't matter to him? I am so confused, I am so overwhelmed. My brother saw all that and he approached me, letting me cry on his shoulder while we both processed what the hell just happened.

“Why didn't he tell me he wanted to date me?” I sniffed into his shirt once I calmed down.

We were still standing in the same place we had been during the fight. The door wasn't even fully closed because Angelo ran after his cousin.

“Because he is Callan. I was convinced the man had no emotions, he probably wasn't going to even tell you he was dating you. He was probably just going to bring you home and ease into it without ever having to address it. I know my friend, I bet that is exactly what he was going to do.” He shook his head.

“He was still sleeping with other girls, how would he just date me without telling me? That is insane.” I finally pulled apart from him and went to shut the front door. I was embarrassed to look at him after all this.

“He was sleeping with girls because….he…I never thought I would defend him but, he was sleeping with other girls just to forget about you, Brianna. Which he clearly failed at doing, I told him I saw him with girls and I asked what the hell he wanted with you. The fight we had before he flew to London, he said it but I just didn't believe it.” He admitted.

“Brianna, this is still complicated. Callan is my best friend, but he is a dark person and I don't want you to attach yourself to someone like him.” He told me.

“Bryce,” I shook my head, holding my hand up for him to stop. I can't take anything else, I had just hit my limit with this blow out.

“So, it wasn't nothing. You were something to him” He finally said.

He has asked Callan multiple times and his answer was always that it was nothing. Even after the first time he and I hooked up and Bryce found out. He asked him what was between us and Callan said nothing. He called it a mistake at the time, Bryce had asked him multiple times since, the last time being a few weeks ago when I overheard them whispering in our kitchen. He asked Callan if I was still nothing to him and he said yes, my chest hurt all night when I heard that. And now what am I supposed to think?

“For me, it wasn't nothing. You are going to have to ask him because I don't even know anymore. But, let him calmed down first.” He added. I shook my head and decided I really needed to walk away now.

Bryce was studying me, we had been talking about really personal stuff and I just felt wired. I just needed to go to my room. I called Jane first thing and when she came, I told her everything and yes, I did cry again.

“Holy shít, my brother has feelings?” She genuinely looked surprised.

“He is so good at giving me mixed signals, Jane. I honestly don't even know what to think.” I told her, wiping my eyes for the hundredth time.

“Brianna, I have been on your side since day one. I did want you two to date but when I saw how much he was hurting you, you know I changed my mind. I thought he didn't give a fuck, it is why I was never on his side but I don't know, I don't think Callan would just blow up and confess all that in front of his own cousin and best friend unless he truly just broke and lost it. And admitted the truth, he is finally telling the truth, Brianna.” She placed her hand on mine.

I just blinked down at our connected hands and I didn't know what to say or think or even feel.

“What are you going to say to Roy?” She asked me at the absolute worst time.

“Please, don't even. Vome on.” I held my hand up.

How could I possibly think about Roy at the time like this? I dropped on my head mattress and groaned into it, I just need to let the nerves settle and the rest will come.

********

My feelings of confusion and conflict never dissipated. Callan screamed all that at me and disappeared, I haven't heard from him since. He has been hiding from both Bryce and myself, I am sure. He showed vulnerability and he hated it. Because I couldn't deal with Callan, I couldn't deal with Roy Vortex and since he knew I had a work trip, I was able to stretch the time I would be away from him. I am not being fair to him but I am honestly so confused and I just need time to figure this all out. I wanted to be with Callan and I thought that was over the day he slammed that door in my face. Now that new facts are coming to light, I am not sure if that door is permanently closed anymore. It has always been Callan, I have always wanted Callan Harold.

And I know that isn't fair to Roy who asked me more than once if there was something going on there, but to be fair, I honestly thought at the time that I was telling the truth. That we were so over. Callan has said so many conflicting things that I don't want to get stuck on this either. Callan needs to decide what is true for him, is Brianna Fletcher nothing to him? He needs to tell me. I was actually glad I had this work trip, I needed the space to think and process and it gave Callan time to do the same. It was a great trip overall, if I don't include all the times my mind wandered to Callan and my heart clenched. Aside from that, the Cartier event was a lot of fun. 

I wore this quirky outfit with the hat to match and Donatella had a good time showing me off and surprising me when she said Cartier wanted to work with me on the new lunch. They want me and her to be a part of it. Photoshoots, advertisement, Brianna Fletcher, the face of the new matched line. They gifted me a watch after the event which was stunning and certainly out of my price range. That means there is more work to come and I am excited for it.