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thirty-three
Evan
“Callie, I’m following the directions.”
She gives me a sideways, annoyed look. “And I’m telling you, my way is faster.”
We’ve been bickering, or really, she’s been snippy with me since we woke up. I know she’s hungry, but she’s the one who said she’d rather just get on the road. I even offered fast food, but no, she wanted to get home. “I feel the GPS knows better.”
She crosses her arms. “If I were driving, I wouldn’t need the GPS.”
“Would you like to drive?” I ask, and she just grumbles. She said herself that it’s nice to have someone drive so she can play on her phone. Plus, she has to send out a few emails to teachers and stuff, so she wanted to get that done.
“No. I just want you to listen to me.”
“I’d rather listen to the GPS so we don’t get lost and more of an argument ensues.”
“Whatever,” she snaps, crossing her arms and leaning back in the seat. “Do what you want.”
“I will,” I say, chancing a glance. She’s so cute when she’s annoyed. There is a wrinkle in her forehead, and her lips are pursed, all sexy-like. “You better quit before I pull this damn car over and kiss you.”
Her eyes cut to me, and they are killer. “The audacity to think I’d kiss you when you don’t listen to me. Please.”
With that, I swerve roughly to the side of the road, making her cry out, and her phone goes tumbling to the center console. Her eyes are wide as she yells, “Evan! Are you crazy? You could have tipped my—”
I don’t let her finish; I take her by my hoodie and kiss her midsentence. She tries to pull back but not enough to really stop me. Soon, her body relaxes as our lips move together, our tongues teasing each other. When I pull back, her mouth is slack and her eyes stay closed. I kiss her top lip as her eyes start to open, and I say, “I told you.”
She presses her lips together before touching her fingers to them. “I think you bit me.”
“I did,” I say, low and dangerous. “And you’ve got one more chance before I kiss that sass right out of your ass.”
Her lips turn up into a small smirk as she holds my gaze.
“Now, Calliope, do you want me to stop at Starbucks?”
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
I don’t miss her muttering, “But make sure your GPS allows it.”
I roll my eyes and continue to pull back onto the road, shaking my head. Pain in the ass, I swear. After a few moments, she says, “I hate arguing with you. You’re so damn calm all the time.”
I laugh. “You have to remember, I have two older sisters, a twin, and a younger brother who all think they’re right all the time. I have learned that being calm and quiet makes the other person madder.”
“I hate it.”
“Good,” I say, grinning. “Maybe you won’t argue with me over stupid shit.”
“Or maybe you should just listen to me.”
I scoff. “Nope. I’ll just annoy you with my silence at the pure fact that you’re being difficult.”
Oh, if looks could kill. “I’m being difficult?”
“Yes, because you’re hungry and probably need a coffee, which I am getting you so this ride won’t be a clusterfuck.”
She glares. “We’re about to get out of this car and fight, good sir.”
I snort. “Unless we’re naked during this fighting, I don’t have the time.”
That gets her. Her laughter fills the car, and I grin as I turn off at the exit. She leans into me, and I kiss her head. “You make me crazy,” she tells me.
“You are a pain in my ass, my love,” I remind her. “Now stop being a brat, and tell me what you want.”
She sits up, looking at me as I pull into the Starbucks. “Well, you, of course.”
After getting into the drive-through line, I grin, leaning over and kissing her lips. “Sorry, we have a four-hour drive. You’ll have to wait.”
“Darn,” she says, snapping her fingers before she tells me what she wants. “We’re going to Owen’s first?”
“Yeah, so you can drop me off.”
“You don’t want to come stay at my place?”
I tense up. “I don’t think that will go over well with Nico.”
She waves me off. “True. Can I come stay with you tonight?”
I move her hair behind her ear, rubbing her cheek with my thumb. “Are you going to be bratty?”
She grins. “Yes, so we can fight naked.”
I grin back before I lean in, pressing my nose to hers. “Then yes, come stay with me.”
Her lips press to mine as I close my eyes, basking in her kiss. That is until someone beeps at us because we’re holding up the line. We laugh as we part, and then I head to the menu to order.
In the back of my mind, though, I play over and over how this might go with Nico. I don’t want this to be bad. I don’t want the drama. I feel good, I feel confident, and I’m happy with everything. His words still fuck with me when I allow them, and I know I won’t get an apology. I also know that Callie will freak if she finds out what Nico said. Which will put her in the middle. Something I don’t want, which is why I haven’t told her. I’ve been dreading this trip for that reason alone, but what can I do about it now?
I have to stand my ground, not only for myself, but for the love I so desperately deserve.
* * *
