Claiming Callie: Part one (2 page)

Jinny snickers as Todd rises from his seat on the couch. His too-long hair is a massive knot of tangles
,
and he’s sporting a fresh hickey on his neck.

Callie grimaces
. Gross.

Jinny reaches up and yanks on the bottom of his shirt. “You going so soon?” She juts her bottom lip out in a pout.

Double gross.

Todd stretches, raising his arms above his head
,
and his lips twist in a smile. “I think so. I’ve gotta work tonight, anyway. I have the late shift
,
and there’s bound to be a bunch of drunk students coming in for pizza and burgers. You know the drill.”

Todd works at a diner just off the University of Pittsburgh campus, which is where Jinny met him, and though Callie likes him well enough, she can’t deny her relief that he has to leave. It’s been a while since either she or Jinny has had a steady boyfriend, and she still isn’t used to sharing her with anyone. And right now, Callie definitely feels selfish
.

I need Jinny’s help. No distractions.

Callie flashes him a tight smile and waves him away. “Okay, well, have fun with that,” she says, trying to disguise the cheer in her voice, but Jinny knows her too well and glowers at her as she stands.

Whoops. Fail.

Todd walks to the door with Jinny trailing behind him like some lovesick puppy. “Yeah, I’ll do that,” he says. “You two have fun talking about your crisis, shoes, or whatever it is you’re always blabbing about.”

“I’ll see you later, babe.” Jinny says, like he didn’t just indirectly insult her best friend
.
She tips her face up and kisses him.

Callie turns away, ignoring the kissy noises coming from behind her until they stop altogether and she hears the
thunk
of a closing door.

Finally!

Spinning back around, she raises her hands. “Oh, thank goodness! Jinny, I—”

Rap, rap, rap!

“Grrr…” Callie grits her teeth and lunges toward the door. “Did he forget something? It’s been two seconds…” She wrenches it open and snaps her mouth shut at sight of their new visitor. “Oh. It’s just you,” she says
,
then turns away, nearly slamming it in Jinny’s little brother’s face.

“Hello to you, too. It’s always nice to feel special when I come here,” Dean says with a wry grin.

“Oh, don’t sound so sulky. It’s very girly.”

And I don’t have time for your antics today. I have a serious crisis! A problem. An emergency. Catastrophe—a catastrophic event, for God’s sake! Okay, maybe that’s a little extreme, but still… That’s how it feels, and with every passing second that I don’t discuss it with Jinny, I feel the weight of it all even more.

Dean steps inside and shuts the door behind him. He must’ve just left practice because he’s still dressed in his basketball uniform, his dark hair unruly and damp with sweat. He clutches his lucky ball and sidesteps Callie, the whole time smiling—completely and utterly oblivious to her plight—and begins spinning the ball on one finger. Able to palm a ball since the age of two, Dean was a born basketball player. Of the fifteen years she’s known Jinny and the Michaels, Callie can’t remember a time whe
n
Dean didn’t have a ball nearby.

Because he’s like a fixture in her apartment, as well her life, Callie knows exactly where he’s headed. To the refrigerator. Where he’ll scarf up any and all edible substances at lightning-fast speeds.

She watches for a moment to see if she’s right. And of course, she is. He heads to the kitchen.

Though the modest apartment she shares with Jinny is nice, it’s pretty minimal, especially the tiny kitchen. But Callie can’t cook. Anything. Unless you count cereal and peanut butter and jelly. All she cared about when they scoped out the place was the huge closet. That, and that they found a place within their budget—yes, rare for her—because she needed the funds her parents had set aside, as a part of their will and trust, to cover her room and board.

Besides, the little apartment sure as hell beat the dorms. A lot of the students from her classes commuted, something Callie wouldn’t mind, but it wasn’t an option for her. Since her parents’ death just before her junior year in high school, she had no family to speak of. Only Jinny, Dean, and the rest of the Michaels. All the other students she knows still live in dorms on campus.

Living in the dorms my senior year? No thanks
.

“You got any food in here?” Dean asks as he wrenches the refrigerator open.

Jinny smirks. “Probably not. And even if we did, it wouldn’t be enough for your fat butt.”

Straightening, Dean’s 6’3” frame towers over Jinny’s petite five feet. He places a hand over his chest, contorting his face in mock offense. “I’m wounded, truly.”

Callie wrinkles her nose, taking in the damp brown hair curling above his ears. “Ew. And don’t be sticking your sweaty head in our fridge. Gross. You could’ve at least showered.”

“Oh, I’d love to take a shower here. Thanks
,
Callie. And, no, your assistance won’t be needed.” His blue eyes dance with humor. “I think I can handle it. Once girls get a look at all this,” he runs a hand up and down his body, “they can’t get enough. Although, if you insist…”

Jinny shudders. “Oh, gross.”

“You’re so retarded,” Callie says. “And don’t you know it’s still winter
,
dumb-head? Where’s your coat? You’re going to get pneumonia going out l
i
ke that.”

“In that case, I can die a happy man because yours will be the last face I see.”

“Pathetic,” Callie says at his attempts at charm. But she smiles despite herself.

Like a shot
,
Dean lunges toward her. He grabs her around the waist and bends down, rubbing his sweaty head all over her while she screams and twists in his iron grip. “Get off me! That’s disgusting. You idiot, get off!”

When he releases her, she swats at him, but he dodges her hand and laughs. “You’re such a guy,” she says, wiping at her chest and neck.

Dean shrugs and goes back to rummaging in the fridge.

“Listen, I don’t have time for joking today. I have
problems
.” Callie draws out the word. “Real problems.”

Dean pops his head up and sniffs a piece of moldy cheese, then grimaces. “Order some food and I’m all ears.”

Sighing, Callie snatches the phone off the counter. “Fine. Jinny, your brother’s obnoxious.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Jinny leans against the counter and sweeps her long brown hair out of her face.

“Maybe you’ll shut up once you’re shoving food in your face.” Callie says, eyeing Dean. She dials the China Garden and orders enough food to feed an army, then hangs up and says, “It’ll be here in ten, so if you could just focus until then…”

“Okay, okay.” Dean closes the refrigerator and raises his hands. “I’ll be good. Let’s hear about this problem. There’s nothing Dean Michaels can’t fix.”

“Yup, shoot,” Jinny says. She moves to the couch and plops down.

Finally!

Callie takes a deep breath and exhales. “I went to work today and I was steamrolled with the absolute suckiest news imaginable. So, you know how I’ve been interning for them for two years now? And I’m awesome at what I do. Awesome,” she repeats, just to make sure they’re clear. “I have the best GPA, I’ve produced the best results, and have the best rapport with clients and my coworkers…”

“Yes, you’re awesome.” Dean shrugs.

Callie points a finger at him. “Exactly! I’ve been busting my tail and at the end of the year
,
GGF is set to hand out
one
position to
one
of the interns. Well, that job’s mine. It’s been mine. Everyone knows it, even that little dweebish twerp Steve. But apparently they’ve been preparing reports on us and getting things ready for graduation, to hire and give out recommendations. Well, Mr. Bucek told me, just today, that my
financial
”
—
Callie makes air quotes with her fingers—“
status
is a problem for them. Like they couldn’t have told me this a year ago? And that if I can’t at least get my debt down and improve my credit, then I’m out. They’re going to give the job to someone else.” Callie stops and slinks to the floor, her blonde hair falling around her shoulders like corn silk.

“I will lose everything I’ve worked so hard for. I will lose a job and salary most fresh grads would kill for. And good luck finding something as good in this economy…” She trails off, blanching. “I want my own place after graduation. I need to be able to support myself. I don’t have a family to lean on.”

What will I do if I lose this position? What if other companies do credit checks on their employees and feel the same way? If I can’t do this, am I completely screwed all the way around? I don’t have Mom and Dad to live with for a couple years until I find my footing. And I can’t rely on the Michaels any more than I already have. It’s not fair. They have two children to support. They didn’t sign up for three.

Dean says nothing. He just stares at her, looking like someone just stole his lollipop, while Jinny frowns and says, “So, let me get this straight. The only way you can still get the job is to lower your debt, which, naturally, should help to increase your credit at least a bit?”

“Yes, but I’m guessing I’d have to lower it dramatically
.
” Callie nods like it’s the saddest thing she’s ever heard.

“Okay, well
,
it’s not impossible. You have just under six months. How much credit card debt do you have?” Jinny asks.

Callie glances down at her fingers, suddenly fascinated by her cuticles. “Twenty-five thousand,” she murmurs.

Jinny’s frown deepens. “What? I didn’t hear you. It sounded like you said twenty-five thousand dollars.”

Swallowing, Callie says, “That’s because I did.”

Jinny’s mouth drops open. “Callie! How can you be in so much debt? You don’t even pay for your living expenses…” Jinny’s smooth forehead furrows and she falls silent. Subjects related to Callie’s parents in any way, shape, or form are taboo. And she knows it.

Sighing, Jinny adds, “Look at you, of course you have so much debt. What’re you wearing? You do realize that most college students wear jeans and a sweatshirt to class, not a pair of Gucci shoes and clothes they bought on a trip to Barneys on Madison Avenue.”

“Hey, that was a work trip. It was my first time in New York, the fashion capital of the world. Did you really think I would pass up the opportunity to shop at
real
stores?”

Jinny rolls her eyes. “Oh, yes, because the ones we peons shop at aren’t real, they’re figments of our imaginations.”

Callie scoffs. “You know what I mean.”

“No, I—”

“Jinny, leave her alone,” Dean cuts in. He shoots her a hard look, which Jinny returns before sticking out her tongue, a habit of defiance she’s had since they were kids.

Dean steps forward. “I think you’re making this too hard. Just think of this in smaller terms. Baby steps. Focus on paying anything extra on your cards as you can. Don’t stress so much on how much you need to pay off. After all, who knows…who’s to say paying an extra five grand wouldn’t be enough for them?”

“Oh, yes, just five grand will be a cinch.” Callie rolls her eyes. “That’s a lot of money! Even that seems impossible. I’m working with an intern’s part-time wages.” She places her hands over her face and groans. “What am I gonna do?”