Best Two Out of Three

Part 18

Saturday, August 8, 2020
Callie and Adam's House – Aaron's Creek, Virginia

Adam spent the entire fifty-minute drive home bracing himself to face Callie. He knew she'd be upset; she had every reason and right to be upset. He'd turned her down, pushed her away, disappeared and left her to find out when she woke up, alone. It was cold, what he'd done. Heartless. And someone as warm and loving as Callie shouldn't have to put up with it. She deserved better—better than what he could give her; better than him. And the longer he drove, the more he felt like that was all he could say to her.

His stomach twisted in knots as he turned down the road to his house. It only got worse when he pulled into his driveway and saw that Callie's car was gone.

He put the gearshift in park and cut the ignition, but he didn't get out of the truck. He sat there in silence, staring at the spot that Callie's car usually occupied. He had a sinking feeling that she hadn't just run around the corner or gone for a drive herself. This felt like a more permanent absence.

He got out of the truck and walked to the front door. It was locked. He fumbled with his keys to get it open. When he stepped inside, he found a note waiting for him on the kitchen island.

He could guess what it said before he read it.

I decided to head to Florida early and stay with Britt for a while. You need space to figure out what's going on in your head and in your heart. It breaks my heart to write this... but we can't go on the way we have been. I hope you'll figure it out soon. I'll miss you. I love you. x Callie.

Adam read the note over and over, until the words started to warp and blend together. There was a crinkled spot on the paper from where a tear had fallen as she wrote. He set it back down on the island, numb. It had to be a ten-hour drive to where Britt and Adam Cole lived outside Orlando. If Callie would rather take on that than face him, Adam had a feeling she wouldn't be coming back. She was gone.

* * * * * * * * * *

Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Daily's Place – Jacksonville, Florida

"Imagine that it's Tag Team Appreciation Night, and the number two ranked tag team in all of AEW doesn't have a match, not even on Dark. Oh wait—we don't have to imagine it, because we're fucking living it!"

Alex frowned across the locker room at Chuck. She didn't blame him for being upset; she was upset for him. Outside the Young Bucks, Best Friends were the most established tag team on the roster—and yet, they'd been completely left out of this so-called "Tag Team Appreciation Night" that FTR was hosting on Dynamite that night. It was a slap across the face. And, in the back of her mind, Alex couldn't help but wonder if her situation with Cash was to blame for why Chuck and Trent had been excluded.

"They're not even gonna interview us about who our favorite tag team is," Trent lowly said. "They interviewed Kenny and Hangman."

"Of course they did," Chuck said with a roll of his eyes. "No offense, Alex," he added.

Her eyebrows arched. "Why would I be offended?" she quickly asked—maybe a little too quickly. She'd been paranoid ever since Saturday that Chuck somehow knew what she'd done with Kenny on his balcony. Granted, she absolutely would have heard it by now if he did... but still. Just the thought of him ever finding out made her want to crawl into a hole and die of embarrassment.

He gave her an odd look. "Because Adam's your friend. And Kenny's... whatever."

Alex swallowed. That answer didn't help her paranoia. "Oh. Well, none taken. I don't blame you for being upset." She looked sheepishly down at the floor. "I wish there was something I could do about it."