She starts making little patterns along my skin, her touch switching from long strokes to circles and dots. “Want to teach me stargazing now?”
“Right now?” I ask, surprised she even remembers that was the original plan.
There’s a smile in her voice as she answers, “Yeah. Unless you don’t want to.”
“I absolutely want to.” I squeeze her tightly, happier than I ever thought possible. “I love you so unbelievably much.”
“I love you too,” she chirps, and then she points one finger toward the sky. “Is that part of a constellation?”
“Pretty sure you just pointed to the North Star,” I inform her with a warm grin.
“Oh, yay!” She bounces in excitement. “That’s one of the important ones.”
For the next hour, snuggled within each other’s embrace under a warm blanket, I share what my dad taught me about the stars. Though it was a risk, I know I made the right decision by rejecting my door. Heaven is right here in this moment, and there’s nothing the afterlife could offer to make me believe otherwise.
Chapter 15
Callie
It’s cold, but thankfully dry, or as dry as the Pacific Northwest gets, the night of the homecoming dance. Twin Cedar Pass is too small of a town to support any kind of limo service, so to be fair, I told the guys I’d drive myself to the dance.
I feel like a fairy princess in my pale pink, strapless gown and matching slipper shoes that have ribbons tied up my shins. My hair is expertly pinned on top of my head with cascading curls framing my face. Small, pink roses with baby’s breath are tucked into one side of my thick locks, adding to the feeling of being from another world, because all of this is so different from my normal. I’ve never felt so feminine in my life.
Holding the long box that contains Kaleb’s birthday present, I make my way toward the front of the school auditorium, my skirt swishing prettily with each step. A smile blooms across my face when I see the guys huddled in a straight line, dressed in well-fitting suits, clearly looking for me in the bustling crowd funneling into the dance.
Connor and Nolan are the first to spot me, their eyes widening as their jaws drop open. Their weird behavior catchesDonovan’s and Kaleb’s attention. When they follow the others’ line of sight to me, Donovan develops a crooked grin, while Kaleb gives me a look so full of heat, my mind immediately goes to the night we shared. My skin tingles as I recall his skillful mouth and hands on my body.
A blush burns across my cheeks, and a warm glow fills my chest from witnessing their reactions to me all dressed up. I know they think I’m beautiful no matter what I’m wearing, but it’s nice to be appreciated when I’ve put in so much effort. Collectively, we walk toward each other as if we are made of magnets, except one of my magnets is missing.
“Where’s Felix—er, James?” I ask once we’re within hearing range.
Nolan pulls his phone out from his pants pocket and thumbs through his text messages. “We don’t know. I’ve tried texting him, but I haven’t gotten a response.”
“He’s probably driving here and is smart enough not to text back,” Donovan reasons, but there’s a tightness around his eyes that has me wondering if he believes it. “If his driving is anything like Callie’s, then he’s probably barely doing the speed limit. No offense, angel.”
“Nothing wrong with safe driving,” I quip, repeating what Felix said to me leading up to our last driving lesson.
A flash of heat sizzles through my veins as I remember that night with him under the stars. It was perfect, and afterward, I felt so happy and safe. Felix was the first friend I ever had, and I’m so grateful our romantic relationship has only strengthened our connection.
Connor, sensing my emotions through the mate bond, slides up behind me. His hands rest on my waist, and he leans down to nuzzle my neck. “You look beautiful,mi reina.”
“Thank you,” I reply softly, tipping my head to one side to make it easier for him.
There’s sharp awareness in Nolan’s gaze, and as if he can’t resist me any longer, he tucks his phone back into his pocket and closes the short distance between us. As Connor kisses and nuzzles my neck and shoulder, Nolan grabs my hips and kisses me with an intense hunger.
Gripping Kaleb’s present like a lifeline, I drown in the cacophony of sensations—Nolan’s deep, penetrating kiss, and Connor’s tender lips against my skin as his hands begin to wander.
We only break free when Kaleb puts a heavy hand on Nolan’s shoulder and clears his throat. “Remember tonight is my birthday, and we agreed to share.”
Donovan scoffs as Nolan stops and blinks like he’s only now realizing other people outside of me even exist, let alone are around us in public.
Nolan runs a thumb over his lips, smirking when his finger is stained with pink lipstick. “Sorry, birthday boy, she’s hard to resist any day.” His gaze slowly glides down my body. “Looking like this, it’s fucking impossible.”
Connor hums his agreement, not bothering to move from behind me, and instead buries his nose in my hair.
Kaleb sighs, resting his hands on his hips. “I didn’t say you couldn’t kiss her.” Then, in a surprise move, he hooks his arm around my waist and steals me out from between them. He cups my face with that same fire in his eyes. “I just said that we needed to share.”
Kaleb leans down and brushes his lips over mine. Like a conductor with his orchestra, he expertly leads me in a danceof lips and tongues that leaves me breathless. The sounds of the world fade away, and I’m lost in his all-consuming kiss. Lightheaded, I feel the world sway beneath me, and it’s only Kaleb’s touch that keeps me tethered to the ground.
