A Mom for Callie Read Online Free Page A

the anger, disillusionment and wariness that had settled around his heart like a comfortable and well-worn blanket.
    Then again, if it hadn’t been for Lila, he wouldn’t have Callie. And Callie made every kick in the gut from her mother worth it a million times over.
    â€œMan, is Ang pumped right now.” Tom snapped his cell phone closed and tossed it into the empty cup holder between their seats as he made a right onto West Fall Avenue and an immediate left onto Creek Bed Drive. “Not only did she get to meet this hotshot writer but they hit it off. They’ve apparently spent the past hour hanging out together and now we’re taking her out for pizza tonight to celebrate her birthday.”
    Kyle pulled his gaze from a group of little boys playing kickball in a side yard and peered at his friend. “You lost me. What hotshot writer?”
    â€œElizabeth Lynn Anderson. Ang has read every one of her books.” Tom yanked the car to the right to allow a delivery truck to pass on the narrow road flanked by parked cars. “Every time she reads one she gets all emotional. You know, giggly…weepy…horny.”
    He raised an eyebrow at his partner. “Horny?”
    â€œOh, yeah.”
    â€œIf reading this chick’s books gets Ang horny, what’s meeting her going to do?”
    â€œI don’t know, man, but I can’t wait to find out.” Rising up off the seat, Tom peeked into the rearview mirror, a mischievous smile spreading across his face. “Seriously, wouldn’t this mug make you horny?”
    â€œTruth?” Kyle shook his head as his laugh echoed through the car, a sound he rarely made unless he was with Tom or Callie. “Hey, I really appreciate you giving me a lift today. Callie had a scout meeting after school today and my mom’s car is on the fritz.”
    â€œNo prob, you know that. Besides, it just builds Ang’s anticipation,” Tom replied with a self-satisfied smirk.
    â€œSo, this writer is famous?” Kyle shifted in the passenger seat in an effort to stretch his legs as far as possible despite the cramped quarters of a car made for a short man like Tom. “What’s she doing in Cedar Creek of all places? Shouldn’t she be holding court in more worthwhile locales like New York or L.A.?”
    â€œMore worthwhile locales? C’mon, man, you don’t mean that…right?”
    He shrugged and looked out the window at the passing homes and well-kept yards of the blue-collar town he’d called home all his life, a town that hadn’t been big enough to keep Lila happy. “For someone like this Elizabeth person, yeah I mean it.”
    â€œYou don’t even know her, Jerk Face.” Tom switched off the radio, silencing the music Kyle hadn’t even realized was playing. “I mean, c’mon, you know Ang. She can be tough on people. But you should have heard her just now…she wouldn’t sound like that if this woman was like…” His partner’s voice trailed off momentarily only to return just as clear without so much as a hint of reservation. “Lila.”
    He shrugged again, this time following up the sullengesture with a swift hand through his hair. “Even Ang can be wrong.”
    For several long minutes neither man said a word as Kyle pressed his forehead against the side window and closed his eyes. He was tired, that was all. He’d been on his feet all day, patrolling the park and chasing down the robbery suspects. Tiredness spawned grumpiness, didn’t it?
    â€œDo you hear how bitter you’ve gotten?” Tom’s words, firm and strong, snapped him back to the moment. “I know Lila hurt you, Ky, but c’mon that was over six years ago. Let. It. Go.”
    â€œLet it go?” he snarled. “Let it go?”
    â€œYeah. Let it go. I get that she hurt you. I get that raising Callie alone is tough. But none of that should be hoisted