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“I hope it was worth it,” I say.“Because the only thing you managed to do was remind me how much I love Callan and how much I want to grow old with him.”I smile.“Thanks for that.It actually came at the exact right moment.I guess the Universe really does work in mysterious ways.”
I hold my head high and leave Penelope Rush far behind.It doesn’t even matter what shit she tries to pull in the future; none of it will ever touch me again because I won’t let it.
I’ve just stepped out into the sunshine when Callan calls.
“Liv, tell me you haven’t seen the fucking Instagram post, and if you have seen it, tell me you don’t fucking believe it.Fuck, I swear it’s not what it looks like.She—”
“Callan.I don’t believe it.”
He exhales a long, relieved breath.“Thank Christ.”Then, he says, “Where are you?We need to talk and we need to do that now.I’m done waiting.I’ll come to wherever you are.”
Callan might not wear his heart on his sleeve for most people but he wears it all over his body for me.
“Can you give me one more hour?”
“No.”
I smile even though this is not a smiling matter.But then, that’s how Callan and I always get through hard times.We stick together and we find ways to smile.
“Baby, please.”
“You’re going to stop running?”
“Yes.”
I hear the reprieve I’ve given him in his rough tone when he says, “Okay.One hour.If I’m not looking at you then, I’m coming to find you.”
All I can think after we end the call is thank goodness for Ethan and Instagram.
Ethan told me to hold on for my fucking life.
Instagram and all its bullshit helped me see how to do that.
Over the last two months, I’ve had the people closest to me, and some I’ve only just met, help get me through the awful gossip posted about me.They showed me that they’ve got me.
I think the way to hold on for my fucking life is to hold onto the people who care about me because life really is about the people.
* * *
The second I step foot inside Callan’s office, he’s up and around his desk.And he’s got his hands on me, his arms around me, his mouth on mine.As it should be.
His kiss is intense as is his hold on me.This is him sayingI’m never fucking letting you go.When we come up for air, we’re both breathless.
“I’m sorry,” I say as I grip his arms.
“I’m sorry, too.”
“No, you’ve got nothing to be sorry for.”
“I said some things I should have thought through first.”
“I shouldn’t have shut you out like that.I wish I could promise you that I won’t ever do that again, but I think finding our way through life together is going to be filled with moments like this.And all I can promise to do is learn from them and try not to make the same mistakes again.”
“When you say ‘finding our way through life together’, do you mean what I hope you mean?”
I smile up at him.“I want to grow old with you, Callan.”
His chest rises as he inhales a long breath and it falls as he exhales it.“Thank fuck, Ace, because I was already moving onto figuring out ways to kidnap you.”
