Chapter 8 #2
Take it from a woman who has lived a long time. Control is useless once you realize it’s only an illusion. Don’t take life so seriously.
Heaven knows I never did, and I’ve gotten plenty of laughs because of it. I know it’s a cliché, but you truly do only live once.
Now, if I could convince my stubborn niece to leave her slimeball husband, I’d fix the two of you up. She’ll be here eventually.
I know her, and I’d like to think I know you too. Don’t waste any more time. Let go of the past and look toward your future.
With what a wonderful man you are, I know it will be a bright one.
Love,
Shirley
Tears immediately blur my vision, and I move the letter before I ruin it.
They’re tears of grief, longing, and happiness all mixed together.
A small smile breaks through my sobs.
She wanted us to meet.
I bet she’s been watching our blunders from somewhere, enjoying the show.
My aunt was spot-on, though.
About everything.
I wish she were still here to give me advice like this.
I had no idea she and Cal were so close or that she cared for him so deeply.
Why didn’t he tell me?
I get up and begin pacing around the living room.
I need to give this to Cal.
I need to see him.
I hope he isn’t upset that I read it, but it was written by my aunt and found in my house.
Technically.
I wipe my tears and rush to put on my shoes.
I haven’t even finished cleaning downstairs, but I don’t care.
I wrench open the door while still pulling on my left boot.
As I move forward, I collide with someone.
I look up and meet Cal’s sad eyes.
He’s standing on my doorstep.
“Cal!”
I throw myself into his arms and bury my face against his chest.
His arms naturally close around me, and I hold on tighter.
One hand strokes my hair while the other cradles me against him.
“What’s wrong, Sloane?”
“I was just coming to find you. I... I’m so sorry for the way I pulled back, Cal.”
“Hey, I don’t want you this upset. I understand, Sloane. You’ve been through a lot.”
“I didn’t even give you a reason.”
“I’m sure you have one.”
I nod against his chest.
“Why don’t we talk inside?” he suggests.
He opens the door again, and we walk into the house.
“What the hell happened in here?”
“You did.”
“How is this my fault?”
“Let’s just say I was a little ragey after the party last night.”
“I see.”
He smirks, and I remember why I was tempted to punch him yesterday.
“Anyway, you were coming to see me?”
Nice subject change.
“You were coming to see me,” I point out.
“I was.”
He sits on the couch and pulls me down beside him.
“I want you to go first, though.”
I reach into my back pocket, unfold the letter, and hand it to him.
His gaze drops to it.
His eyes widen when he sees his name.
“Is this... Is this from Shirley?”
“Yeah. I found it this morning after destroying her desk last night.”
He takes the letter and begins reading.
I watch as emotion overtakes his handsome face.
Then a smile slowly appears.
Funny.
That was my reaction too.
She always had a way with words.
He finishes and gives me a soft smile.
“She was an amazing woman.”
“She was.”
“So, I’m assuming your nosy ass already read it?”
“Guilty.”
“Hmm. What am I going to do with you?”
“Well, my aunt did suggest laying off the control-freak tendencies.”
He laughs.
It’s a genuine one.
Tears glisten in both our eyes, but his shine with a light I haven’t seen in them before.
“According to this, it sounds like we might even have her blessing.”
“I had no idea you two were so close. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugs.
“I didn’t want to come across like I thought I knew her better than you.”
“I don’t think that’s true. We both knew her in different ways.”
“You had just lost her. I wasn’t about to make anything more difficult for you.”
“So, instead, you decided to show up here, harass me, and continue taking care of her house?”
“That’s about right.”
I grin.
“I understand why she liked you so much.”
“I’m a handy guy to keep around.”
He wiggles his eyebrows, and I laugh.
“Are you going to tell me why you came over today?”
“Nope.”
I look at him curiously.
“What?”
“No?”
“Yeah. No.”
“Why not?”
“I came over to talk some sense into you, but it looks like your aunt already handled that.”
“Cal.”
“What? It’s true. You were driving me nuts. You’re hard to stay away from, you know that?”
He lunges toward me, and I giggle.
“Hey!”
“Don’t you ‘hey’ me. You’ve iced me out for weeks.”
“You deserved it after the jealous rage you inspired last night.”
He grins and leans down to kiss my pouting lips.
“It was all an act. Tess is harmless.”
I scoff.
“I wouldn’t use harmless to describe her. It looked like the sheriff was about to arrest her on the spot.”
He smirks. “Most likely.”
Cal begins kissing my neck, and I arch into the pressure like a cat.
His kisses are soft and teasingly light as they travel across my neck and collarbone before returning to my lips.
“I’ve missed this,” he murmurs.
“I missed you.”
I grip the back of his head and deepen the kiss, seconds away from losing myself in him.
Then I abruptly pull away.
He groans.
“What now?” he asks in protest.
“Wait. We haven’t resolved anything.”
“What are you on about, woman?”
“You don’t even know why I pulled away. I also don’t like that you gave up on me. And I’m not sure this will work if your control issues are going to run both our lives.”
His eyes meet mine.
“Sloane, I won’t lie and say I’m not a control freak. It’s been ingrained in me since I was little. But I can promise you I’ve already started working on it.”
“Working on it how?”
I wait for him to continue.
He sighs and leans back, running a hand through his hair.
“I haven’t told anyone yet, but I enrolled in therapy last week.”
My eyes widen.
That surprises me.
Cal seems like the type of man who would avoid therapy at all costs.
He catches my reaction and nods.
“Yeah. Honestly, Shirley’s letter is coming at a strange time. It’s like this was all part of some timeline. I started having similar thoughts after you kicked me out. Everything felt like it was spiraling out of control.”
He shrugs.
“I was wasting time and energy stressing over things I couldn’t control. Therapy has been good so far, but it’s still early. I promise I’m sticking with it.”
My heart softens.
I throw myself at him for the second time today.
I kiss his cheek, nose, forehead, neck, and anywhere else I can reach.
This beautiful, beautiful man.
I understand why Shirley adored him.
He’s damn easy to love.