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He moved his hand over his hair several times before he allowed his head to fall back against the sofa and his eyes to close.
This is wrong. She’s gonna hate me when she finds out who I am.
“I can’t do this shit,” he murmured, standing to prepare to get Cali home before things got worse than they already were.
War removed his phone and made a call which was answered on the second ring.
“What’s good, War?”
“I need a favor.”
“I got you, what’s up?”
His eyes shot over to the entrance of his living room. The bathroom Cali had been using all night was on the opposite end of the hall but he needed to be sure she didn’t sneak up on him.
“I’m about to shoot you an address. I need you to pick me up.”
“Aight, I can do that. When?”
“In about an hour. I’ll text you when I’m ready.”
“Bet, just let me know.”
Just as he ended the call Cali entered the living room. Her eyes bounced down to the phone in his hand. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just something I need to see about. I’mma run you home first though.”
Her heart sank. She wasn’t ready for their time to end. War made good on his promise to make her birthday special and the thought of going home alone had her missing him already. However, she felt she didn’t have the right to ask for more. He had done enough.
“Oh, okay. Yeah. I’ve taken up enough of your time.” She attempted to move past him to get to her shoes but War caught Cali’s arm and stepped into her personal space. Cali’s pulse rushed and her heart began to beat erratically against her chest from the closeness of his body brushing against hers. When his chin dipped and their eyes connected she felt like she couldn’t breathe. For a long moment, War didn’t say a word and neither did she.
“Cali…” He finally spoke and it was low and strained. His jaw flexed from the frustration of what he wanted and the loyalty he felt to Merritt, but it didn’t stop his hand from moving to the back of her head and his fingers from weaving through her hair. “Fuck, I wanna kiss you so bad right now.”
She swallowed hard before sucking in a short breath and pushing out in a soft low voice, “Then do it.”
“I…”
Cali felt he was about to say he couldn’t so she took the lead. Lifting onto her toes to reach his height, she gently gripped the back of his neck, bringing his lips to hers. She kissed him softly but War took over and pulled Cali closer, roping his free arm around her waist, sending his tongue into her mouth at the same time. The kiss was perfect, electric, soul stirring…
Dangerous.
It took all of War’s will to back away. When his eyes met with Cali’s nervous ones he smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead, allowing his lips to linger briefly. “You’re so fucking perfect.” He exhaled a short breath before backing away. “Come on, let me get you home.”
This time she nodded, stepping around War to get her shoes. After slipping them on her eyes bounced nervously around the room because she was struggling to control her feelings.
“You want to take your cake with you?”
Forcing a smile, she quickly regrouped. “No, you can keep it. If I take it home I’ll eat all of it and I don’t need to do that.” Cali’s hands landed flat on her stomach while she rocked back on her heels.
War only nodded. “Aight, let’s go but you have to at least take the flowers.”
She agreed, leaving the room to go get them while War watched her walk away knowing there was no way in the world he would be able to leave her alone. He would simply have to deal with the fallout when the truth about who he was and their connection surfaced, but Cali was officially his.
Watching her sister move around the apartment, Cali’s mind drifted to War. It had been a week since she’d seen or talked to him. As much as it bothered Cali, his absence made sense considering he never once asked for a phone number nor did she inquire about his. The day was organic and just flowed so there was no reason. Even after he drove Cali home that night, parked her car, and walked her to the door, things just felt right.
Other than the sadness she experienced knowing she might never see War again, everything about Cali’s birthday was perfect. So much that she had a smile on her face and hadn’t realized it.
“What are you over there thinking about?” Conner asked as she flopped down on the sofa next to her sister. The two women were identical. Same soft features, skin hued the same sienna brown, but Conner was a foot taller always mistaken to be the older sister. Where Cali was thick and curvy, Conner was lean and more slim. Their faces matched but their physiques and personalities contrasted and clashed in comparison.
