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“We can tell them the truth,” he states.
“The truth?”
“Yeah.”
“And what’s the truth, Callan? That me and the boss are exclusively fucking and living under the same roof? That sounds like an HR field day.” I roll my eyes.
“I am HR, Sterling.”
“How convenient,” I say, and he chuckles a little, lightening the mood a bit. Some tension lingering still, but the air feels a bit more breathable around us.
“We don’t owe anyone anything. But we do owe it to ourselves, to explore this.” He leans into me, pursing his lips before he blows air onto my neck, the warmth of his breath encasing me so seductively that my body tightens with need. “I want you to know that I won’t throw around your feelings anymore, I won’t hide from you. So if it helps, you can say that you’re living with your boyfriend.”
“What?” I pull back, searching his expression. It’s serious. He’s actually serious right now.Boyfriend.
“I want to give this a shot.”
He’s right. We both clearly want this. I don’t know what’s getting in the way of me saying yes. Maybe I’m still anxious about getting hurt. Falling too deep. Burning alive with the fire that Callan has set inside of me.
He presses a pillowy kiss to my temple as his hands gently caress my back.
I bring my hands up to the sides of Callan’s face, my thumbs gently stroke his cheeks as he leans in to kiss the palm of my hand. In an instant, his lips are on mine. It’s a kiss laced with fear and hope and reassurance.
A kiss that scares me and claims me all at the same time.
A kiss that tells me that he’s got me and he’s not going to let me go.
twenty-eight
Sterling
“So,whatcanyou tell me?” Her sweet little voice sounds up at me as I watch her pack clothes into a suitcase.
“I can’t tell you anything, Sara,” I laugh at her as she rolls her big brown eyes.
I’ve missed Sara so much these past couple of weeks. I was so relieved when I got a call from Mrs. Chen moments after Callan offered me to live with him. Moments after I told him that I wanted to take it slow and that I needed time to think. I’ve never had a boyfriend before, and I want to make sure I won’t regret this.
“You’ve got a boyfriend, don’t you? It’s about time you old hag. I thought you’d die alone.” She tosses one of her stuffed animals at me.
Being here with Sara gives me the space I need, the space to step away from such a hectic weekend, despite the bliss I felt not long ago. I don’t mind finishing my Sunday night off by listening to cringy pop music and putting on a fashion show with my favorite 12-year-old. When Mrs. Chen called earlier, she said it was an emergency, and was practically halfway out the door when I got here. I’m trying not to worry too much about it, but it was a little unsettling seeing her so frazzled, when she’s always been so poised and put-together.
From the moment I arrived about an hour ago, Sara’s been begging me to fill her in on the latest things happening in my life. She said she couldsense a change in me.
“It’s your boss at your fancy new job, isn’t it? Did he ask you out or did you ask him?” She smiles and looks right up at me.
Brat.
I reach across her bed and grab a flower-shaped pillow to toss at her head.
“What the heck!” She jumps up and tries to fight back while I laugh at her.
“What are you packing for anyways?”
“I don’t know. Mom just said to pack a bag, I hope she surprises me with a fun vacation for my birthday,” she giggles.
“Oh yeah. Don’t remind me. You’re going to be thirteen soon.” I jokingly roll my eyes.
“Don’t be jealous because I’m a cool thirteen-year-old and you probably weren’t,” she deadpans.
