The fluorescent hallway lights buzzed softly, casting a pale glow over the otherwise quiet corridor. Callie had just stepped out of the break room, a cup of coffee in hand, when she nearly collided with Dave.
Her breath hitched for half a second before she quickly composed herself.
"Callie," he said, his voice steady yet low. "We need to talk."
She knew this was coming. Knew he wouldn't just let it slide.
But she wasn't going to give him the chance.
"There's nothing to talk about," she said quickly, brushing past him, but Dave stepped to the side, blocking her path.
His gaze was unreadable, but there was a storm behind his eyes. "Are you serious?"
Callie lifted her chin, forcing herself to meet his stare. "What happened between us on the island? It was just a mistake," she said, her voice sharp and unwavering. "We were drunk. It was nothing but pure lust."
His jaw tensed. "Is that what you really think?"
She let out a small, humorless laugh. "Come on, Dave. We both know it wasn't serious. It was two people, in the heat of the moment, making a bad decision."
He studied her, his expression unreadable, but his fingers curled slightly at his sides. "A bad decision?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy.
Callie could feel the weight of his stare, searching, dissecting, trying to figure her out. But she wasn't going to let him.
She needed to shut this down.
Because if she didn't, she wasn't sure she could handle what would come next.
Dave took a slow step closer, his presence commanding, but Callie refused to waver.
"That's funny," he said, voice lower now, almost taunting. "Because it sure as hell didn't feel like a mistake when you were begging for more."
Her breath hitched, but she refused to let him see how his words affected her. "That was the alcohol talking."
He scoffed, running a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "So that's how it is? You just pretend it never happened?"
"Yes," she said, biting down on the sharp pang in her chest.
Dave let out a slow exhale, shaking his head. "Fine. If that's how you want to play this." His voice was calm, but there was something else beneath it—something dark, something challenging.
Callie nodded, forcing a small, indifferent smile. "Glad we understand each other."
She walked past him without another word, keeping her steps steady, her posture firm. But the moment she was out of sight, she let out a shaky breath.
Because no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew—deep down—this wasn't over.