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“Have dinner with me.” It’s not a question but more of a demand.
“You want to have dinner with me?” I keep repeating his words as if I can’t comprehend the English language.
He smiles down at me. “Yeah, baby. I want to have dinner with you. Let me feed you, and we can talk.”
“Talk?”
Shit. There I go again.
“Is it okay to leave your car here, or do you want to follow me back to my place?” He must see the question in my eyes. At least I didn’t repeat him this time. “We’re having dinner at my place.”
“I can just follow you.”
“Will you? You’re not going to run off again, are you?”
“N-No.”
He rests his palm against my cheek. The warmth of his skin makes my skin feel as if it’s on fire. “Good girl,” he says softly. He leans in, and I’m certain he’s going to kiss me, and he does, but his lips land on my forehead. Stepping back, he places that same hand on the small of my back and guides me to the driver-side door of my car.
I fumble with my keys and hit the Unlock button on my key fob, and he pulls open the door. He waits for me to settle behind the wheel before he steps back. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Okay.” He nods and walks back to his truck. I watch him go as my head still spins with what’s happening. I can’t believe he’s here, and he doesn’t seem to be mad at me. He called me his girl. My heart flutters in my chest when I think about what that actually means.
I want to be his girl.
He pulls his truck out of his spot, and I do the same, following along behind him. Not that I need to. This is a small town, and I know where he’s living. I’ve always loved the house that he bought. I keep my hands on the wheel and my gaze on the road and try like hell not to let my mind wander, but it’s too late for that. One statement and my hopes are up.
He pulls his truck into the garage, and I’m surprised it actually fits. The second door rises, and he motions for me to pull in. I roll down my window. “I don’t need to park in the garage, Callum.”
“I know I’ve been gone for several years, but to my knowledge, Charmed Cove is still the same nosy small town. I couldn’t give a fuck less if everyone in this town knows that you’re here. It’s your call, Elena.”
Damn.
I know that my choice is important. I can see it in his eyes. I need to decide whether I’m going to take a leap of faith and lean into the vibes he’s giving me or run scared. I’ve run once, and I hated the days that followed. Rolling up my window, I turn off the car, grab my phone and purse, and step out, closing the door.
“My girl.” Callum grins as he leans in and presses his lips to mine. He doesn’t care that he lives on the edge of town that gets lots of traffic and that anyone we know could drive by and see. My shoulders relax as I lean into him. “Let’s go in,” he says, kissing me softly once more before pulling away and taking my hand in his, leading us into his home.
“I’ve always loved this house,” I say as we enter.
“Yeah, I remember.” He smiles down at me. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“No, thank you. Something smells amazing,” I tell him.
“I made spaghetti and meatballs. Full disclosure, they’re frozen meatballs and sauce from a jar.”
“It’s the thought and the effort,” I tell him.
“Are you hungry now? I’ve got it in the Crock-Pot on warm, so we can talk first if you want.”
I can’t decipher the look in his eyes. “I’m okay for now unless you want to eat,” I offer. Unlike outside, I don’t know the right answer here. We need to talk, and I need to apologize, but something in my gut tells me this is bigger than just me getting the chance to tell him that I’m sorry.
“Let’s talk.” He nods toward the couch for me to sit. I do as he asks, and he settles next to me. He reaches out and laces his fingers with mine.
“I’m sorry,” I blurt.
He nods. I wait for him to say something, but he stays quiet.
“I panicked.”
This time he turns to look at me. “Did I hurt you, Elena?”
“No. No, not at all. I was scared.”
“I scared you?” His face falls.
“No. Not like that. Shit,” I hiss. “I’m messing this up.” I stop and pull in a deep breath. I need to just be honest and stop talking in circles. It will be what it will be. “I was scared, and yes, of you, but not that you would hurt me, Callum. I was scared of your reaction once the alcohol wore off.”
