Endgame (The Atlanta Boys)

38. Dakota

38

DAKOTA

At least I know you’re safe….

I can’t get his statement out of my infatuated little brain.

I’m crushing hard.

The entire trip to Cleveland feels like something out of a movie. I want to rewatch it over and over again.

The simplicity of our date was exactly what I would have picked for us, and Callaway knew what I would like without having to ask.

Despite my obvious feelings for him, the possibility of us not working out terrifies me. I know we would never work as friends. We’re both in too deep for that, but it would destroy me to lose the friendship side of us.

I know Callaway would pull away.

I can’t risk that. I’m going all in—failure isn’t an option with us.

I want it to work. He matters enough to me to give us my all.

Once we get back to Atlanta, I do my best not to seem clingy at the idea of seeing Callaway outside of work sooner than later. When he invited me over for a movie night at his house tonight, I had to collect my charmed bearings and play it cool.

This meant I held in my squeal and almost felt my heart hiccup attempting to reign in the giddiness. It feels good to experience these feelings without patronizing myself for them.

I’m falling for him. Madly and deeply. But I’m also falling in love with myself again, and that’s a riveting feeling—there’s so much free space in my heart open to loving him, it makes me optimistic I’ll one day soon have the love my parents once shared.

I’m sure of it.

I have no idea what Callaway has planned for our movie night, but I’m excited about it.

I’m pretty sure I went through at least five different outfit options. You know, to lay around the house in.

After running through my options and hating them all, I settled on black leggings, a sweatshirt, and some fuzzy socks with my bear slippers.

Yep, I’m rocking the bears today.

Does that mean I’m too comfortable with him? Maybe. I’m good with that.

He told me not to worry about bringing anything but myself. Since I’ve never been able to do that, I chose to disobey him and bring a bag of peanut M the one where I was beaten to a pulp seemed to take the lead. The social worker eventually reported back that my mother had fled town with no leads to her whereabouts. I knew I was screwed, and this was my new reality.”

Tears seep from my eyes, falling onto the thin material of his shirt.

I can’t imagine how scared Callaway must have felt.

It makes me sick to think about how many terrible humans have gotten away with treating children that way.

“Callaway. I…I can’t imagine.” Tears drain every emotion from my heart. “You didn’t deserve that. People are cr uel, and it makes me hurt to think of the pain they caused you...”

I want to hold him and never let go.

His eyes are closed—almost like he’s reliving it.

I almost tell him not to continue. I can’t bear to feel even for a fraction of a moment what he spent years living.

However, he continues, “That went on for five years, five years of different families every six months. My life had never felt so unstable. All I wanted was to be loved. It’s not much to ask of a child. But it seemed impossible at the time—until Delilah and Scott. My parents.”

I can imagine young Callaway the moment he found his family.

The family that chose him.

I can picture him succumbing to the love he’d dreamed of from a mother and father—to have it finally. My heart aches for the pain he went through but also rejoices in the outcome of it all. He’s now a part of the most loving and kindest family, a family I know is better now because he’s in it.

That’s the same way I feel now having him in my life.

I rub my thumb gently over his strong knuckles before whispering to him quietly, “I can’t help but look at you and see all the good things you represent. The families that treated you like you were nothing are the ones suffering from the loss of you today. Your heart was kept safe during those times to be ready for the love on the other side. I’m so thankful to be on the receiving end of that love, Callaway.”

He looks slightly choked up over my words. This moment between us is one that represents vulnerability and transparency. We’ve shown each other our scars and have invited the other to fill the space left to love.

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be .

He closes his eyes, soaking in my sentiment, as he pulls me close to kiss my forehead sweetly. “Thank you.”

Those words mean everything in the same way mine did to him. It means we’re no longer alone and have someone who will proudly be in our corner fighting alongside us.

I almost think the conversation is put to rest as we lay together silently, the sound of the movie still playing in the background, until Callaway speaks up, “I’d like to adopt someday.”

My sweet and beautiful man.

He’s got the biggest heart.

When I think he couldn’t be any more perfect he proceeds to show me what kind of father he would be without even trying.

“I think you’d be the perfect father to any child in need. You should do that when the time is right.”

He’s looking at me like he can’t see anything outside of me. It sears into my heart, fighting to burst from my adoration for him.

How did I get so lucky?

And why has he not been snatched up by now?

“And with the right woman.” His eyes sparkle with devotion and warmth, leaning into me. It’s a warmth I want to claim in him and hold onto forever.

“Yes, with the right woman for you.”

My head finds his chest again, our breathing in unison with each other.

I can’t shake the thought of being the right woman for Callaway.

The woman who can fit into his life perfectly. Is that woman me?

I can only hope.