65. Callie
CHAPTER 65
CALLIE
T he next day, my iced coffee is delivered in person—by two persons, actually—and accompanied by a couple of kisses that push the boundaries of what’s acceptable behavior on a front porch at five in the morning.
But as we carry on kissing, we decide that no one else in the neighborhood is awake yet, and our hands get involved. Miles says he can’t get enough of my backside when I’m wearing yoga pants, and I’m never going to get enough of the two of them.
Even though they look like they're about to play basketball, they’re actually coming to yoga class with me, and though I thought I was prepared for the class’s reactions, I can’t help but laugh at the way every single person does a double take when they enter the yoga studio and see Miles with Max by his side.
After their third day of attending, the men take me aside. “Any chance we can arrange for private yoga sessions with you instead?” Miles asks.
“Are all the eyes on you getting to be too much?” I tease.
“They actually are, and when we were in the hall filling our water bottles, a cardio instructor asked us out.”
My brows shoot up. “Oh, really? What did you say?”
Both men frown at me for asking what they clearly think is a silly question. “We thanked her for asking, because it was the perfect opportunity to tell someone that the smoking hot yoga teacher is our girlfriend.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“Yeah … aren’t we your boyfriends?” Max asks. “We’re not messing around, Callie.”
But that’s kind of a lie, because later, when I go over to their place, we do a lot of messing around.
Over the weeks and months that follow, we spend as much time together as my schedule allows. Max and Miles fill my workdays with mini dates, joining me on my lunch break, making dinner for me at their place, or giving me a back rub while we watch an hour of TV in the evening at my house.
On my days off, they let me sleep in, and then we set off on fun adventures, take long walks on the beach, or we just relax together.
Occasionally, they invite my mom to go out to dinner with us. If it were just Miles and I out with her, conversation would probably be stilted, but Max draws us all in, and has all four of us laughing together through our meal.
I get together frequently with Sadie on my own, but she and I agree that it would be awkward, if not actually inadvisable right now, for Max and Miles to see Adam socially. Hopefully, once everything is settled with Mr. Hargrove’s court case, things will be different.
During one visit, Sadie tells me that Adam’s sister asked for my number, and wants to know if it’s okay to share it with her. A couple of days later, I receive a message from Alexis thanking me for trying to warn her about Rick. I tell her I hope she’s doing okay.
On a long holiday weekend, Max and Miles take me on a road trip to meet their family, and I can immediately see how they got to be such good men. Their parents make me feel like part of their family right from the start, and so does their sister.
On our drive back, the men entertain me with stories about their work, some recent details they’re allowed to share, but more about past cases that have long since been resolved.
“Have you ever thought about getting into investigative work?” Miles asks during a break in our conversation.
“What? Me?”
“Yeah. You have good instincts. You were on to Willie Gardner before we knew who he was.”
“The greasy-haired man?”
Miles and Max chuckle. “Yeah, that guy.”
I shake my head. “No, I think I’ll leave that work up to you two.”
“Are you still interested in a paralegal career?” Max asks.
“I don’t know. Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about it.”
Miles glances at me briefly before returning his eyes to the road. “We’d like to help you go back to school.”
The men had one remaining secret to reveal right after our fresh start. Their original cover story about working as software consultants had some basis in truth. When they were in college, they developed a software application, sold it to a big tech company, and invested the money.
Once I knew their real jobs, I had wondered how they could afford a beachfront rental on state employee salaries. It was a relief to realize they really had been as honest as they could be, under the circumstances. Of course, they use this as an excuse to spoil me even when I tell them not to.
“You don’t have to help with tuition. I’ll get there eventually.”
“We know you will,” Max says, “but selfishly, we’d like to spend more time with you. We could help with tuition, and you could cut back on your work schedule.”
“I don’t know …”
“Think about it,” Miles says. “We can talk about it sometime in the near future.”
We’re on the scenic highway, and when we’re about an hour from home, Miles pulls into an overlook lot.
I’ve been enjoying the view all along, but the curving coastline looks even better when I’m in my men’s arms. The two brothers stand side-by-side behind me, and I lean back, resting against both of their chests as I gaze out toward the horizon. It’s bliss.
The sun is warm on my face, the ocean breeze cools my skin, and I decide I couldn’t be any happier …but I’m wrong.
“We have another suggestion for saving college funds more quickly,” Max says.
“Mm … what’s that?” Education is the furthest thing from my mind when I’m pressed against the heat of their bodies.
“With the end of your lease approaching, we’d like you to move in with us.”
I turn to smile up at both of them. I’m not surprised by the question; I’ve actually been expecting it, and it’s lovely to be asked.
Miles strokes his hand up and down my arm. “We’re planning to look for a house before our lease ends, or maybe have one built, and we’d like you to be involved in those decisions.”
“Oh.” This part is a surprise, and I’m quiet for a moment, taking it all in. As they promised, the two of them have been showing me every day that they’re committed to me. All the secret mission wedding stuff aside, they’ve never given me any other reason not to trust them. They make me feel safe, loved, and cherished every single day.
“I would love to move in with you,” I say. “I’ll just need to discuss things with Ana and Marissa, and make sure they have plans for housing. Ana just got a new job, so she may want to take over the lease on the townhouse.”
“That’s perfect, and when you talk to them about that, you can also ask them to be bridesmaids,” Max says.
“What?” It is windy, and I’m pretty sure I misheard him.
“Bridesmaids,” he repeats. “In the wedding. When you marry us.”
My head juts out as I squint at him. “What? What kind of proposal is that?”
“It’s a warm up … for this kind of proposal.” In perfect twin coordination, Max and Miles each drop to a knee. Their eyes are on me as they both fish in their pockets and pull out ring boxes, opening them at the same time to reveal two diamond rings. Two!
Suddenly, I’m trembling and need to reach for the nearby railing to keep me steady.
Miles takes my hand. “We’ve known you were the woman for us for a long time now. You’re smart, beautiful, strong, and funny, and we want nothing more than for you to be our wife.”
“Others may think our relationship is unconventional,” Max says, “but it’s never felt anything but perfect and natural ever since we met you. We want to spend the rest of our lives making you happy, because you do that for us every moment that we’re with you.”
“Callie Margaret Baker, will you marry us?”
A silly little corner of my mind is amused and pleased that Miles remembers my middle name, one of the many details we covered during our first fake relationship prep meeting. The larger part of my mind is split in two: half of it stunned into silence, the other half giddily running around in circles.
“Callie, will you marry us?” Max echoes.
Potential images of my future flash through my imagination in no particular order. Me living with the two of them, the three of us starting a family—something we’ve talked about and found we share similar goals for—setting up a house together, me wearing their rings, telling my family we’re engaged, me walking down the aisle, both of our families gathered to watch the ceremony …
“No.”
Two identical faces fall, as their eyes fill with concern.
“No? Are we moving too fast?” Miles asks.
“It can be a long engagement,” Max says.
“No to the bridesmaids. I say yes to marrying you, but only if we can elope.”
Relief takes over their features, along with a hint of exasperation and laughter that fades away as they both stand to kiss me and pull me into hugs. Their touch grounds me. This is really happening.
“Of course, we can elope,” Miles says. “Our parents might not be thrilled at missing out on a big ceremony, but since both of us can’t legally marry you, they’ll understand. We want to commit to you, though, Callie, just like a marriage. We’ll be your husbands, and you’ll be our wife.”
Max presses his lips to my cheek, then my forehead. “Just the three of us, always.”
I pull both of their heads close as my tears start to flow. “I love you so much. I would love to be your wife.”
After showering me with kisses, Miles remembers the rings. He takes my hand and slides his onto my finger. When Max does the same, I see that the diamonds are in the shape of hearts, and they fit together perfectly, side by side.
Somehow, we get back in the car and continue on our way, though I feel as if I’m floating.
When we get back into town, Miles drives us to their place rather than taking me home. Inside their beach house, he makes a big show of stretching his arms overhead and bending to the side. “Anyone else stiff after that long ride?”
There’s a glint in Max’s eye, as he says, “Now that you mention it, yes. I could definitely use a good stretch.”
I shake my head and laugh at them. “You’re both being incredibly obvious.”
I do occasionally lead them in yoga sessions at their house. Sometimes, we invite Ms. Collins to participate, but more often than not, we keep it private, just the three of us.
Miles moves in behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me into a delicious hug. “It’s naked yoga time! Everything off except your new rings.”
I giggle as his mouth nibbles its way up the side of my neck before gently tugging at my earlobe. Meanwhile, Max steps in front of me and bends to bring his mouth to mine.
“I thought you wanted me to work less,” I say when we part, “yet you’re always insisting I lead these naked yoga classes.”
Miles gathers my hair to one side, then kisses a path down the center of my back to my waist.
“I think we’re getting the hang of it. We’ll lead tonight.”
“Yeah?” My head falls backward as Max presses hot kisses across the top of my chest.
“Yeah,” Max says. “Now be a good girl and take your clothes off.”
Before I can do as I’m told, Miles picks me up and carries me into the bedroom. Max follows right behind, and together, we get into some of our favorite positions.