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War wouldn’t tell her he was pulling up on Merritt’s baby mother tonight with the intent of making Neece prove her innocence or JoJo would become an orphan. That wasn’t a subject he would discuss at the moment.
Not with Cali. He also wouldn’t tell her that he was thinking about how to find a way to make her see giving her place to Conner and making his house her permanent residence was what was best for both of them.
He was moving fast but when it came to her, it wasn’t about perfectly laid plans, it was about what made sense and she made sense. Even if he couldn’t explain why she felt right, why she gave him peace, neither of the two things were any less relevant.
“I’m a good listener.” She placed her hand on the side of his face but kept her head on his shoulder.
“I’m sure you are, but right now, I don’t want to talk. I just want to enjoy what I feel for you with no words.”
“You’re strange,” she said softly. “But in a good way.”
He chuckled and kissed her forehead, holding Cali closer but the moment was interrupted when Cali’s phone vibrated with a call. She pulled away and lifted the device from the sofa.
“It might be Conner. I have to check.”
He nodded, watching her face, knowing Cali’s love for her sister would never be an issue. He felt the same about Kirsten. But when a frown marred her pretty face, he lowered his eyes and caught the contact listed as Mom seconds before she swiped to answer.
“Hello. Uh no, what’s up? Oh, is he okay? Now? Umm…” She paused and glanced at War then exhaled a sigh. “Yes, I can come. Conner’s at work though. Will you text me the information? Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Before she could end the call and lock her phone, War’s hand was at the back of Cali’s neck and his voice vibrated around her. “What’s wrong?”
“My dad’s in the hospital.”
“He okay?”
War understood their relationship was complicated based on what little Cali shared but they were still her parents.
“When I asked, she said she would explain when I got there. I’m sorry but I should go.”
“I’ll take you,” he said before she could suggest anything different.
“You don’t have to. I?—”
“Cali, I’ll take you.”
She nodded stiffly and lifted off his lap to get shoes and her purse. She was grateful for the offer and the comfort he would provide. So instead of arguing, she decided to go with it.
With her hand tightly clasped in War’s, Cali made her way into the elevator at Mount Sinai where they exited on the floor that held her father’s room. When they reached the door, she smiled at War who gave her a look that expressed, I got you. She knocked and pushed through the door where she found her father watching TV and her mother sitting next to the bed with a book in hand.
“Cali, honey, what are you doing here?” Her father sounded genuinely surprised while his eyes shifted from Cali to his wife who closed the book and placed it on her lap.
“Mom called and said you were here.” Frowning, Cali met her mother’s hesitant gaze before she looked away.
“She shouldn’t have called. This is nothing major. Just kidney stones.”
“Kidney…Oh.” Cali wasn’t sure how she felt. Instead of her father delivering a greeting that insinuated he was happy she came, he brushed the act of kindness off as unnecessary. Her mother smiled awkwardly and wasn’t any more welcoming than her father.
Sensing the tension, War stepped away from Cali and offered a hand to the man he knew to be her father. “Mr. McCall, I’m War Gerrad, nice to meet you.”
Roger McCall accepted his hand after a brief pause. “Nice to meet you too, War. You’re a friend of my daughter?”
“A little more than a friend but, yeah.” War assumed they didn’t know about Merritt. If they had, he wouldn’t have cared. Cali was his.
“Boyfriend, then?” Donald’s brows pinched, his eyes darting from Cali to War.
Cali interrupted. “So Dad, you’re okay then?”
“Yes, I am. I’m not sure why your mother bothered you in the first place.” He offered a smile that was slightly warmer but still not one deserving of his daughter. It lacked emotion and gratitude. War understood the awkwardness of their relationship but still wasn’t feeling how they treated her. He was seconds away from cursing them both out when the door opened and a nurse walked in. She paused briefly then offered a wide smile. “Oh you have visitors. I won't be long. Just need to check in for a minute and bring you these. How’s your pain?” She held up a paper cup with two pills.
