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My blood froze in my face. Reality knocking so hard I pulled up where I stood, brain spinning. I pictured the apartment; the dog-clawed sofa, the shredded cushions, the lacerated door panels. The dog bowls, the fur everywhere, Callum’s measly belongings on the dresser. Fuck. Serious fucking fuck.

Make it eight, yeah?

I crossed my fucking fingers.

Seven thirty. I won’t be late.

That was the best I was going to pissing get.

***

Only one canvas remained in the garage. Callum’s work in progress was a six foot cityscape. Along the bottom of the image lay a dying man, and a crowd were huddled around him, taking selfies, smiling pretty for the camera.

“Feels like that,” he said. “Round East Veil, anyway.”

He was pensive, sitting on his stool, eyes downcast.

“It’s going to be great,” I smiled. “Better than great. Bex says the dealer really rates your work. He’s going to love this one.”

“Maybe.”

“There’s no maybe about it, Callum Jackson.” I squeezed his muscled shoulders from behind. “You’re a star.”

“Don’t feel much like one.” He reached up for my hands, pulling me forward until I was flat to his back. I folded my arms around his chest, breathing him in. “Just wanna go home.”Home. He called it home.“Need to talk and need to fuck. Need to be where you are.”

“Talk? What about?” The hair on the back of my neck prickled at his tone.

“Just some shit going down. We’ll talk about it later, yeah?”

I let out a sigh, but it didn’t ease the nerves in my gut any. Here goes nothing. “About later,” I said, “something’s come up.”

He spun around on his stool, guiding my hand to the heat of his crotch. “Something’s coming up, alright. Can’t wait to fuck you.”

“I’m serious,” I groaned. “I’m going to have to give this evening a miss. Sorry.”

He looked taken aback. “You got plans?”

“No... Yes... it’s complicated. Got some family crap kicking off, I’ll call you when I’m done, though.”

“I could help?” The look in his eyes was so genuine, it broke my heart to shoot him down.

“There’s nothing for you to help with. I’ll call when I’m done, first chance I get.”

He shrugged. “Alright. I’ll go to Vick’s. Crash on her sofa ’till I can come over. We’ll talk, though, yeah? Later?”

I swallowed the panic in my throat, head swimming with cleaning chores, and DIY and explanations. “Of course.”

He started clearing his paints, putting them ever so neatly back on their racks. “Case can go with you, she don’t like Vick’s shed no more.”

“Casey’s probably better off with you,” I said. “I’ll be busy, and it’s difficult... you know... taking care of her.”

His eyes narrowed. “You don’t wanna take Case?”

“It’s not that I don’twantto,” I sighed. “Can’t I just see you both later? Please?”

“Guess that’ll have to do.”

I kissed his beautiful mouth, lips tight against his like I never wanted to leave. I wished I was brave enough to tell my sister to get stuffed, hand in my notice on the property and set up a new life on my own. I could do. I could stand tall, hold my ground, tell them that I loved my job, and I loved that dog, and I loved Callum Jackson, too.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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