CHAPTER FOUR
Calista
Exhaustion was a beast, but I couldn’t bring myself to sleep. My mind churned about the pendant, how it ended up under the vanity when it had been in the vent, and why my dumb ass made a wish. It stared at me from my bedside table. I could feel its power seeking me. It begged me to put it on. I should have left it where it was and ran from it like he was standing there in the flesh. No, a bit of normalcy was needed before I laid my head to rest.
I opened the drawer on the nightstand and used my Bluetooth speaker to push the necklace into it. Then I hit up Nick—my recent dick pic sender—to come over and wear me out. Mostly, to keep me company. I didn’t want to be alone tonight. I needed the distraction from my dumpster fire of a life. I screenshot Nick’s bio and then sent it to my group chat with Kaiden andGina. After the day we had, and dinner with the parents, I didn’t expect a response from Kaiden, but I wanted him to know who the last person to see me alive was if something happened to me.
Surprisingly, their responses were instantaneous and, of course, contradictory.
K: Douche.
G: Hot.
C: I don’t care what you think! I’m just preventing my could-be-murderer from getting away Scot-free.
I rolled my eyes and set the phone on my dresser as I got ready. The incessant binging and vibrating grated on my nerves. They were either making jokes about my booty call or Kaiden was trying to get Gina to let him into her apartment so he could be hers. He fell in love with her after we became friends, but she had only ever seen him as my annoying little brother. Or so she says. He didn’t have the guts to pour his heart out to her for fear she would reject him, so he stuck with pervy jokes and smartass remarks. They might as well get together. They bickered like an old couple.
Opting for pajama shorts and a tank after my quick shower, I checked my phone for any updates from Nick and found a plethora of missed messages from Kaiden and Gina that kept coming.
C: You know you two could just walk across the hall and have an entire conversation?
K: I would, but Gina refuses to give in to her carnal desires.
G: Maybe…
K: *heart eyes*
C: Do NOT encourage him unless you plan on giving it up.
G: Some days the thought of murdering you and eating your heart sounds appealing. *makes Hannibal Lector sucking noise*
K: Why you so mean to me *crying face*
A heavy knock sounded on my door in a flirty tempo as I thought about Nick’s messages. My hookups always talked a big game. Very few actually brought it. I guess they forgot it at home. I’d find out soon enough. I went to it and snuck a peek through the peephole. Nick was outside, chin down, typing on his phone. I said dress comfortable. He was making sure he didn’t come over here for nothing in his fitted joggers and t-shirt that showed his time at the gym.
My phone dinged with a message from him that he was here. His head popped up, black strands brushed across his forehead above one brow, and he stared at the peephole. I was certain he could hear the notification through the door. I silenced the phone and unlocked the deadbolt to let him in.
“Hi,” I breathed, taking in the view. It was so much better than the fishbowl version of him.
With zero shame, he took me in from head to toe, a smile growing on his face. “Hey.”
“Come in.” I stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.
Nick stopped barely inside and looked around my living room as I locked the door behind us.
“You got here faster than I expected.”
“I figured why wait.” His smirk fell. “Did you need more time?” He looked down my body again.
“No, I’m fine.”
Nick smiled again. “Yes, you are.”
This was the part where things grew awkward and dicey. Some dudes wanted and needed to cuddle or make some kind of emotional attachment in order to get in the mood, same as women. I did not need that, but I’d been told a time or several that I came on too quick and too strong. To me, sitting around knowing the inevitable outcome made it awkward and forced unnecessary idle chitchat to fill the time before they filled my body.
I reached out for his hand, and he pulled me to him. My forehead reached his lips which brushed my skin. Air rushed out of my lungs, taking the stress of the week with it. He didn’t flinch when I wrapped my arms around him and kissed up his throat to his jaw. His Adam’s apple did that sexy bob when he gulped.
“You need anything?” I mumbled between kisses.
