Free Damaged In-Law by Colleen Masters Page A

out.
    “Jack,” I say softly, moving my body just a hair closer to
his, “I ’ m so sorry you ’ ve been going
through this alone. I just want you to know...I ’ m here for
you. Whatever you need, whatever I can do to help, just say the word. OK?”
    He looks up at me, and I feel the intensity of his gaze
sizzle along every nerve ending in my body. We ’ re sitting
mere inches apart at this elegant bar, both dressed to kill, alone for the
first time in our adult lives. In the midst of so much pain and heartache, I
feel my heart fill up with hope. Have we made it through the storm, at last?
After so many years, have we finally come to a place where we can take a crack
at being together?
    “Thanks Cal,” he finally says, his voice thick with emotion,
“It hasn ’ t been easy these past few years, you know? I was
the only person Avery knew when she moved out to LA. It ’ s
insane, I know, but I felt this huge responsibility to keep her safe.”
    “You were always looking out for her,” I nod, “For both of
us.”
    “Trying to, anyway,” Jack says, shaking his head. “But you
know how Avery is. Was. No one could stop her from doing what she wanted, when
she wanted.”
    “That ’ s Avery all over,” I laugh
softly.
    “I thought that it would be easier to keep track of her,
once we started working on the movie,” Jack goes on, “But no dice. To be
perfectly honest, we would have been well underway with shooting if it hadn ’ t been for her erratic behavior. I have it on pretty good
authority that she was about to get fired from the job altogether.”
    “You ’ re kidding,” I breathe.
    “I ’ m not,” Jack sighs, “I
just...felt like such a fucking failure the whole time. I was letting Avery
down, letting the studio down, and tanking this project that I ’ d
been trying to get in the works for years. It ’ s like
everything I touched was turning to shit.”
    “That must have been so hard,” I say softly.
    “It was a real bitch,” Jack chuckles sadly, “But now that
the worst has happened...I don ’ t know. I ’ m
just ready to throw caution to the wind and do whatever I have to, to get this
movie made. Life ’ s too short, you know? I know that Avery
would have wanted me to soldier on without her, by any means. Her passing
away...it ’ s really put things into perspective for me. It ’ s like this crazy weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and
I just want to run with that feeling while I can.”
    “You should!” I urge him. “Do whatever you need to, break
any rules that are standing in your way. And know that I ’ m
here for you, if you ever need me. If there ’ s any way I
can help you, just say the word and I ’ m there.”
    “I ’ m so glad to hear you say that,”
Jack says, his face breaking into a relieved, elated smile. “You have no idea.”
    “I mean it,” I assure him, “No ask is too big.”
    “Well that ’ s excellent news,” he
smiles, “Because...well, there is something I want to ask you, Callie.”
    My heart leaps into my throat as I try to guess what his
question might be. Do you want to be with me? Will you come away with me? Do
you know how long I ’ ve wanted you?
    “Go ahead then,” I urge him, moving my hand to where his is
resting on the bar. An eager smile lifts my lips as I hang on his every word.
    “OK,” Jack breathes, giving my hand a squeeze. “Here it is.
Callie...
    Ohmygodohmygodohmygod, my mind is reeling.
    “How would you feel about taking Avery ’ s
place in City of Red ?” he finishes, looking at me expectantly.
    I keep my eyes trained on Jack ’ s face,
waiting. He ’ s handed me a joke...but where ’ s
the punchline? I wait for him to explain, to laugh, to put all kidding aside.
But as the seconds creep by, a heavy realization slams into my gut.
    He ’ s not kidding. Not at all. 
    “I ’ m sorry...What?” I blink, my heart
beginning to race in a very different, far less pleasant way.
    “I want you to come with me.