AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fine. Just tired.”
Not fine. Not tired. But I didn’t know how to explain what was wrong. Mom wasn’t hurt. E and Lennon were healthy and as obnoxious as ever. All that got damaged was a car.
The second we were done, I jogged to my tree house and hid inside, too shaken up to do much else besides stare at the wall. Heat burned the backs of my eyes. Tightness suffocated my chest.
“Cal?” Jolene’s voice penetrated my fortress, followed by her head poking through the door. “You okay? I heard about the accident.”
I shook my head—no, I’m not okay. I bit my cheek. Tried to find my equilibrium, but I kept picturing our smashed car, and my eyes burned hotter. I didn’t want to cry, but a swirl of emotion spun through me until biting my cheek didn’t help.
“Oh, Callahan.” Jolene climbed all the way in and wrapped her arms around me, hugged me so tight I thought she’d break a rib. “It’s okay. Let it out. It must’ve been so scary.”
I gulped out a sob. An embarrassing sound as the stressful day rushed out of me. “Fuck. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I gathered myself, rubbed my eyes and nose. “They’re all fine.”
She hooked her arm through mine and rested her head on my shoulder. “You love your family, and something really bad could’ve happened today. Of course you’re upset.”
I nodded and leaned my head on hers, breathing easily for the first time since that car slammed into us. “Thanks for coming over,” I said.
“There’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be.”
Because we were best friends. Because if one of us was hurting, the other was always there to offer a shoulder when needed. Friends before anything else. Like right now.
I stretch my jaw, wipe my dampening palms down my jeans, and step into Jo’s doorway.
She’s under the covers, wearing her green leprechaun T-shirt. A piece of our history.
I clear my throat. “How’s the patient?”
She tucks the covers tighter under her arms. “Embarrassed and will hopefully pass out shortly. Anika gave me something for my headache, and I took a muscle relaxant for my back.”
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Jo. The apartment’s a disaster zone. Anyone could’ve fallen.”
She shakes her head, her mouth puckering slightly—trapped words knotting the corners—but she doesn’t speak.
I drag in a breath, readying to explain what I’ll be doing for the rest of the evening. She was my shoulder growing up. I’ll be hers always. “I’m going to sleep in here tonight.”
Her tired eyes widen. “You’re…what?”
“Anika,” I say, as if that explains everything, including the uncomfortable tingling taking root at the base of my spine. Miniature lightning strikes. Static electricity near Jo. “Anika said to keep an eye on you, and…” I glance at the floor, where I should sleep. Lay out a blanket and pillow by the wall, but what if Jo gets up and is disoriented? What if shedoeshave a concussion and confusion hits and I don’t hear or feel her and she takes another spill getting up?
“Your bed,” I say.
“What?” she says again, her voice sounding as panicked as my thoughts.
Panic that seems to be draining my IQ. I’m a college graduate, for God’s sake. An avid reader, when I find the time. Where the hell are my words?
“Anika,” I start again, “said to keep an eye on you, in case you wake up and feel dizzy or confused. I could sleep on the floor, but if you get up and don’t remember I’m here and you stumble out of bed, you could hurt yourself. If I’m on the bed, I’ll feel you move.”
“You’ll feel me move,” she says, sounding less frazzled, but her eyelids drift lower and huskiness weaves into her tone.
Hell, do I want tofeel her move. With me. Under me. Over me. The two of us locked in a seductive rhythm I have no doubt would singe my skin. I slow my next blink, search for my control. The brother I am, first and foremost. The best friend Jolene deserves.
“It’s settled,” I say and give a sharp nod. “I’ll shower and be back here shortly. Hopefully you’ll be asleep by then.”
She doesn’t answer. Just watches me intently as I strut for the door and the coldest shower I can handle.
chaptertwenty-nine
Callahan
