“You’re a good person,” I whisper against her skin. “Thank you.”
“I try,” she murmurs. “You are too.”
“I try,” I echo, my lips falling to place another kiss between her brows.
Her breath grows unsteady, but her fingers continue to trail along my skin, from brushing my cheek to stroking the back of my neck.
I’ve been so focused on trying to save her that I didn’t consider she might save me, but here on this cliffside I feel free. Free to break down. Free to bare my soul. Free not to be perfect.
My mouth drifts further until it’s mere centimeters away from hers, and she licks her lips.
The only relationship I’ve ever had was built on lies. Rachel didn’t… couldn’t know the real me, but Callie… I can show her the truth. Maybe we can save each other.
I nuzzle her nose with mine, and she follows in this dance of anticipation. Then as I tilt my head to one side…
Her phone starts ringing in my back pocket.
“Crap, that’s my aunt,” she cries, the moment lost. “I didn’t tell her I was leaving.”
Retrieving her phone, I hand it over, while nerves and reason once again take control.
Faex! What the hell was I thinking? She just moved here and has so much going on right now. She doesn’t need a boyfriend. She needs a friend. How could I be so… To take advantage of… I’m an idiot.
Putting my polite mask on, I pull back my wings and step away, giving her privacy. Callie looks up at me, chewing on her lip, while Mildred talks, and I give her the ‘everything is okay’smile.Nothing to worry about. Safe, dependable, boring… Perfect Kaleb is here to take care of everything.
“A giant wolf?” she exclaims with a furrowed brow. “Wait, you mean Connor’s on our porch?”
Deodamnatus! I completely forgot about Connor. Now, I’ve let three of my friends down. Just need to screw up with Donovan and Nolan, and I’ll have completed the set.
“I’m really sorry,” she apologizes, her free hand tracing the denim lines of her jeans. “Where am I? Ummm… not far. I just went for a walk. Wanted to clear my head. I’ll head home now. Next time I’ll tell you, I promise. See you soon.”
She quickly hangs up then rubs at her face. “It’s funny. Every moment of my life before coming here was controlled. You’d think I’d be super aware and paranoid about telling my aunt things, but it was exactly because I never had a choice in what I did that I keep forgetting I need to check in. I never told the Bastard… er, my father anything about my life. I just didn't do anything because I wasn’t allowed.”
“I’m sorry for putting you in this position,” I reply, my gaze shifting to the skyline because it’s hard to look into her eyes. I’m afraid the mask will crack again.
“It’s okay. She’s not that mad. Just worried. We’re still finding our footing with each other, I think,” she assures. “I do need to get home.”
I nod and brace myself to remain unaffected as I hold her in my arms again.Friends. We’re friends.
It’s a little more awkward this time around, both of us a bit more shy as she wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist. The flight back to her house is short and quiet. Instead of on her balcony, I land us near the edge of the lawn’s clearing, so she can be seen walking up to the front door.
“Thank you, Kaleb,” she murmurs, looking up at me from under her lashes. “For everything.”
“Anytime,” I answer; my perma smile back in place.
Callie waves goodbye then speed walks toward the front door. When she reaches the steps, Connor, in his wolf form, meets her, rubbing his head and side against her. She laughs and scratches behind his ears.
“You’re here because of the fire earlier, aren’t you?” she accuses, but without any anger or annoyance.
His answer is to stare at her for a few moments, then bump his head against her stomach again.
“Fine,” she sighs good-naturedly. “You can stay, but no hogging the bed. Just because you’re bigger than me, doesn’t mean you get to spread out.”
This is answered with a tail wag, presumably to mean those are acceptable terms, and then they both walk into the house.
While deciding I should find better cover to take off, just in case Mildred catches me, my phone buzzes in my front pocket. Walking toward the highway, I answer it.
“You better not be where I think you are,” Donovan growls into the phone. “Get off your moral high horse. If he doesn’t want her to know, you shouldn’t tell her.”
