17. Callie
Callie
Leaning on Blake’s shoulder with my eyes closed, I listen to the guys talking about my stalker and what they are going to do to keep me safe.
They listened to my story intently as I told it again, each becoming visibly angry when I got to the parts about Danny and me being attacked and the lack of help I received from the police. I told them my mother delivered the message before leaving, having heard it from Christian himself, as they run in the same circles. Anytime they asked me anything else about her, I redirected it. I can’t deal with that whole situation right now, and after everything she’s done, she’s as good as dead to me.
I thought about spilling it all, telling everyone about her involvement, but my mother’s words echo in my mind. Haunted by the way this played out once before, I’m reluctant to tell Blake the truth about her, especially since he can’t seem to accept my version of events regarding my father’s so-called abuse. If I tell him what she’s like and he questions her, would she be able to convince him I’m crazy like she has everyone else? Or worse, that I was truly engaged to Christian and I had simply gotten cold feet before the wedding?
It’s something she would do. Lying is as simple as breathing to her, and I’m not willing to take the chance of losing Blake or any of these guys because of my mother’s manipulative ways.
I open my eyes when I hear Blake call my name. Lifting my head to look at him, I realize everyone is quietly staring at me.
“What?” I question, making Marcus chuckle.
“Did we lose you there for a little bit?”
I flip him off, making him laugh. “Fuck you, Popeye, it’s been a long day.”
He sobers at that, making me feel bad.
“Sorry, I’m just grumpy. Ignore me. Anyway, what did I miss?” I apologize to him. None of this is their fault—my nerves are just frayed.
“Just the part where you move in with Blake,” Kellen says with a smirk.
“Wait, what?” I focus on Blake, who looks at me like he’s ready for me to argue with him.
Smart man.
“How did we go from make-up sex, which I might add I have not had yet, to me moving in with you?”
The guys laugh around us, making me blush. Balls, I forgot about our audience.
“Well, Callie, if you move in with me, I’ll give you all the make-up sex you can handle,” he promises.
I mull over his words, weighing the merits.
“Plus, there’s morning sex, shower sex, wall sex?—”
I place my hand over his mouth to shut him up. “You had me at morning sex.”
He grabs my wrist and pulls my hand from his mouth, offering me a quick peck before facing the smiling guys. “I need someone on Callie at all times I can’t be, so we need to go over the books and see who has what so we can work out a schedule.”
“Shit, I hate that I’m disrupting your lives so much,” I groan, feeling guilty.
“Oh, hush, this is what we do, love. If we weren’t watching your fine ass, we would be watching someone else’s,” Marcus adds with a wink, making Blake growl from beside me.
“I better not find you checking out my woman’s ass, Marcus, or I’ll gouge your eyes out with a spoon.”
I pat Blake on the chest to calm him down and shake my head with amusement. “Calm your shit, Bundy. Yeesh,” I tell him, making him glare at me for a moment before he leans down and kisses me again . And let me tell you, this is no peck; this is a full-on assault designed to show the boys exactly who I belong to.
“And that’s our cue to leave before the live porn show begins,” I hear Banner mutter, but Blake doesn’t care as his tongue continues to duel with mine.
“Speak for yourself, man. This is just getting—oof.”
I pull away from Blake and turn to see Felix on the floor, wheezing for breath, while the others look around innocently.
“All right, assholes, time to leave. We’ll talk more tomorrow. Callie needs some rest,” Blake informs everyone with a shake of his head.
I stand up and accept the hugs the guys offer me, ignoring Blake’s grumbling, then wave goodbye as he sees them out. I gather up the cups and glasses and wander to the kitchen, placing them in the sink before arms wrap around my waist, and Blake rests his head on my shoulder.
“Leave them. Let me take you to bed and love on you for a little while. We’ll pack some stuff and head over to my place tomorrow. But for now, we need some rest.”
I don’t argue. His plan sounds heavenly right now.
“Okay, Bundy, you’ve twisted my arm.”