“Uh…?” I pat her back awkwardly. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she says but her voice is a little watery. “Thank you for telling us all of that.”
“Oh.” Suddenly feeling awkward, I avoid their eye contact but wrap an arm around Vivi, letting her linger in the hug. “It’s not a big deal.”
Hudson snorts. “Obviously it fucking was.”
“Shut up,” I mutter but flash him a wry smile.
Vivi pulls away, laughing at my jab. “We really love Liam for you.”
“Ugh,” I playfully spit. This is where I have to put my foot down, for the sake of my own heart. “On that note, get out of my house.”
All three of them laugh but none of them move to leave. I would never admit this to them or Liam, but I don’t want to be alone after this weekend.
So, I throw the remote to Asher and we order food from The Loop. It’s been a long time since it was just the four of us, and none of us are in a rush to end the morning.
Liam
It’s nearly nine p.m. by the time I’m walking through the front door. We got back to Amada Beach a couple of hours ago but had to stop at the warehouse to unload the trucks.
For the next five days, we don’t have to worry about them, but come Monday morning, it’s crunch time. It’s a lot less stress-inducing knowing they are in my possession, though.
Now, the only things I’m worried about are my woman and my dog…
Who are both in the kitchen, surrounded by a variety of ingredients, empty pots, and baking sheets.
“Hey, honey,” I call over the music.
“Oh my God!” Calypso jumps in surprise and turns down her “emo kid throwbacks” playlist. Turning on her heel, a pretty smile tugs at her lips when she sees me. “You’re home.”
Walking up to her, I notice Rosie laying on her bedon the counter. With a raised brow, I snatch Calypso around the waist and pull her into me. “I am. What’s going on here?”
She bites her lip and gives me a wry smile. “Okay, don’t freak out.”
“Well, obviously, I’m freaking out now,” I tease and squeeze her hip. She flinches when I tickle her, and I’m coming off a lot calmer than I feel. Did something happen with Stefan? Glancing back at Rosie, I wonder if she’s okay.
“No, everything is okay. I promise.” Calypso rubs my chest in a soothing gesture. “My siblings all came over for their shifts.” She rolls her eyes playfully. “No run-ins with Stefan. But I did take Rosie to the vet clinic.”
Concern knits my brows but she continues before I can say anything. “She threw up this morning, so Hudson and I went. Adrian examined her, and the little gremlin just has separation anxiety. Like, seriously? She can barely even be away from you for one day without getting sick. And to thinkyouwere worried aboutme.”
Her tone is teasing but she seems genuinely worried—either about Rosie or my reaction.
Reaching across the island, I slide Rosie’s dog bed closer. “So that’s why she’s getting special treatment and…?” Leaning around her, I eye the messy counter. “And homemade dog food?”
Groaning, she covers her face. “And treats. It feels so stupid now.”
Laughing, I pull her hands down and look at her with so much affection that my heart is about to burst. “It’s not stupid. You’re endearing as fuck, Calypso. We’re lucky to have you in our lives.”
I pat Rosie’s head and she lets out a quiet yip. She’s much calmer than normal, but looks okay. If Calypso, and Adrian, said she is, I believe them.
Her face softens as some of her embarrassment washes away. “Yeah, you guys are alright.” The teasing smile is enough to tell me her true feelings—how much she loves hearing these things.
After our “fight” on Saturday (if you can even call it that), I realized Calypso might need more words of affirmation than I thought. A lot of what she said was out of fear or frustration, but there had to have been some truth to her words, too. Maybe she can’t separate the very real feelings I have for her from the façade we put on in front of the town. That hasn’t been fake for me in months, though.
I’m not doting on Calypso because I want to win over the town; I’m committed to her because I want to winherover. I actually believe I’m getting close to that goal. Even if she asks me to move out in a few weeks, I won’t give up. I’ll be at Brighter Daze every day, and I’ll be here with Rosie on the nights she wants our company.
The three of us work so well together, and I hope she doesn’t ask us to leave.Ever. But I’ll take Calypso in any way she’ll let me, for as long as I can.
