Chapter 26
Olive Branch
CALLIE
There are twenty brand-new books stacked in front of me.
I love processing new titles for the library.
Some are popular new releases from known authors, but there are always a few customer requests we approve for lesser-known or new writers.
I have to enter them in the system, create a barcode, label, and get the books on a cart for shelving or display.
At the moment though, I’m staring glassy-eyed into the abyss, otherwise known as the giant dry erase board, that takes up an entire wall of the library back office.
I can no longer handle not talking to someone about what’s going on in my life right now. And there’s only so many people who I would even consider talking to about Wes.
It’s been over two weeks since I’ve had more than a short text conversation with Lola, and it’s driving me insane. I’d die to talk to her about all this.
I grab the next book from the pile and extract information from the copyright page for our database.
My phone is on the table next to me, dark for the moment, but I’m tempted to go scroll through my conversation with Wes.
He texted me a few hours ago, but I want more.
More texts, more touching, more of him in all the ways.
Every time I close my eyes—like right now, with the new book clutched in my hands—I flash back to Friday night.
Memories flood my mind. The way he saved me from Jones and pressed me against the wall in the fight club bathroom, then kissed me when I told him to.
When he touched me in the kitchen of his apartment, his mouth on my breast and his fingers inside me.
When he whispered my name like it was a prayer.
My eyes fly open as the librarian enters the small office, humming to herself. I swallow and take a deep breath.
“Hey, Callie. How’s it going with the new books?” Rebecca, the middle-aged librarian working this afternoon, picks up her water bottle from the desk in the corner and takes a long swig.
She knows I’ve been thinking about going back to school to get my master’s degree, but I haven’t exactly told her I’m planning on moving across the country. It’ll hurt to quit this job, but I will do it so I can truly start over.
“I’m almost done.” I throw a smile at Rebecca and hope she doesn’t notice my flushed cheeks or hear my racing heart from thinking about Wes.
“Good, because it’s almost five o’clock. You can finish whatever is left tomorrow. I’m gonna go lock the door, but you’re not closing tonight. Get out of here.” She grins and disappears with the keys.
My phone lights up on the table, and I eagerly pick it up.
Wesley
what are you wearing
I crack up and press my lips together.
Me
a long skirt, t-shirt, and long cardigan
Wesley
fuck yeah
what’s your hair look like?
Me
it’s…in a braid
Wesley
stop talking dirty to me
This time I laugh out loud. I was afraid it’d be awkward interacting with Wes once we went our separate ways after the night in Boston. But it hasn’t. It’s so much better. He’s texted me multiple times a day to check in or say hi or make some comment about how hot I am.
So many things happened that night.
What does it say about me that I’m spending just as much—maybe more—time thinking about what it felt like to kiss and sleep with Wes as the fact that I discovered he’s a serial killer? That I actually witnessed him and Noah in action?
And that it made me feel more for him, not less?
We had so much sex. I was sore all over for days. Shane wasn’t interested in me or my body, was cheating on me, and I certainly didn’t want him to touch me. Even before that, it was rare and unsatisfactory.
But that night with Wes was the best I’ve ever had.
I bring my hand to my neck and close my eyes.
This thing with Wes is the best distraction.
Overall, this isn’t a pleasant period in my life.
Between my father dying and me divorcing Shane, it was always going to be a shit time.
But having the attention of a six-foot-three, dark, tattooed, muscled man who adores his old rescue cat and bakes amazing apple pies? I love it.
So he’s a serial killer. No one’s perfect.
I stand and pick up my phone as it lights up. Nope. No one’s perfect, but I should not officially date a criminal. Good thing I’m not dating Wes. We’re just doing… whatever this is.
When I look at my messages, I see it’s not from Wes, but Lola.
Lola
hi! How are you?
It’s like she heard me thinking about her. My best friend is eagerly and enthusiastically trying to win me over. She feels bad about the Jake thing, and it’s time I got over it.
Me
hey
I’m gonna stop by the bookstore in a bit, okay?
Lola
yes! Great! I’ll be here until seven!
I smile to myself. I miss my best friend.
“Callie!” Lola appears from behind a tall bookshelf and throws herself at me. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.” She steps back and runs a hand through her straight brown hair. Lola is sweet and fiercely loyal. Well, except for that one night.
“Hey, I know, I’ve been busy.” I search Lola’s face, and her pinched look shows me she’s worried.
“Busy with what?” She waves for me to follow her. “Sit for a minute?”
I nod and trail her to a back corner of the bookstore and sink into one of the two comfy chairs. I tuck my feet under my butt, smoothing my skirt over my legs.
“Well, I’m making progress finding Shane.”
“Really?” Her eyes widen. “Have you talked to that hacker guy?”
I snort, and she stares.
“Oh, yeah, actually.” I so want to tell her everything. She’d scream and jump up and down and be appropriately excited about it. And that’s why I came here, isn’t it?
My phone vibrates in my pocket, but I ignore it.
“Has he found him?”
“He thinks he knows where Shane is.”
“Oh my god. Where is he?”
I almost answer right away, but then I press my lips closed. Jake can’t know about this. There has to be a hard line in the sand, especially after Wes beat the shit out of Jones in Boston. It might get ugly.
“No telling Jake.”
“Callie,” Lola says, and her face crumples. “Of course not. We were only texting because we were concerned about you.”
“Okay.” I nod, deciding to trust her. “Wes thinks Shane is in New York.”
“Woah.” Her jaw drops. “So what are you going to do?”
My phone vibrates again.
“We’re going to go to New York and find him.”
“We?” Lola’s eyes grow as wide as saucers.
“Wes, me, probably Noah.”
“Oh my—wait, who the fuck is Noah?” Lola breathes out. “Callie, you need to give me more information about this. About everything. I’m dying!”
“Noah is Wes’s brother.” I chuckle at the expression on her face. Intense interest and awe. I’m probably giving way too much information, but I love her reactions. It’s exactly how I’d imagined her responding.
“Are you sure you should be traveling with two strange men?” Her brow furrows.
“Um, I’m sleeping with one of them, so I think we’re okay.”
Lola leaps up from her chair and screams. Actually screams.
“Shhhhh,” I crack up and wave her back down to her chair. She ignores me, probably because it’s her bookstore.
“Callie! You’re fucking the guy who’s finding your husband?” She lowers her voice dramatically for the word fucking.
“I mean, yes?” I can feel my face heat, and I definitely can’t wipe the giant smile off my face.
“You look… happy. Good. Oh my god, Callie. I’m happy for you.” Lola throws her arms around me and practically sits on my lap.
“Easy, it’s not like we’re getting married. It’s just sex. Just for now.”
“Are you sure?” Lola returns to her chair.
“I’m sure.”
“Maybe he’s a reason to stay in Portland?” The hopeful look on Lola’s face is painful.
“No. This changes nothing. It’s just some entertainment while I’m still here.”
Lola sighs, deflated. “Okay, I guess. Can you tell me, like, everything?”
“Not everything, no.”
“Start somewhere, Callie!”
I smile and give her a cleaned-up version of my time with Wes. She doesn’t need to know about the intense connection we seem to have. How he’s stalking me, how I’m trying to be dangerous, how he’s loyal and kind and is kind of obsessed with me.
How he’s a serial killer.
I’ll keep those things close to my heart.