Chapter 14
CALLUM
Well, that happened.
When I went into the house, I was not expecting to hear my Sunflower’s voice coming from my brother's office. I didn’t think anything nefarious was going on, but I just wanted to see how she was doing.
I needed to know that her nightmares weren’t plaguing her like mine do me.
That somehow, someway, my Sunflower was stronger than I ever expected.
I did not expect her to be in their office asking about her fiancé.
You idiot, what did you expect? The brutally honest voice in my head snaps at me. She has a fiancé. Did I really think that the quickie we had at the football game, and me saving her, were enough to get her to leave him?
A weight lifted off my chest when I offered her the guest house, and she didn’t fight me on it. Once she agreed to the move, I left the office. I didn’t want to give her the opportunity to overthink it. The longer I can keep her here with us, the longer I have to break her walls down.
The walk out to the guest house goes quickly.
The fingerprint scanner beeps quietly and unlocks the door for me.
The sunlight is shining in through the glass.
Giant windows line most of the wall that faces their pool.
I can sit in my recliner and watch the pool, but no one can see me here staring.
I wish I would have had a chance to use that before giving up the space, but I know Kyra needs her privacy.
Heading back towards the bedroom, I snag my large suitcase out of the walk-in closet, throwing the clothes I have in it.
I am not bothering with much folding or organizing because I will immediately put them away in the house.
Kyra doesn’t have much here right now, but eventually we will go get her belongings.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I set a reminder for tomorrow to call storage units in town. She will need space to store her things, and most of the shit I have here will not be needed in the house for now. I will put them in storage until I locate an apartment or house for myself.
My clothes packed, I grab my Tbr pile and set that in my suitcase with everything else.
I don’t read much, but I do enjoy reading a few chapters before bed each night.
Everything from non-fiction like biographies and self-help, to fantasy, and I have even dabbled a bit in romance.
Nyx likes to lend me books to read just to get my reactions.
I have never had a sister, but I imagine that this is what it must be like.
Our relationship, while still in the early stages, is full of laughs, jokes, and picking on one another.
Snatching my hygiene, or toiletries, bag out from under the sink, I fill it with the basics. My glasses, contact case, extra pairs of contacts, and solution. I continue to fill the bag with my beard balm, shampoos, and body wash. Last but not least, I throw in my toothbrush and toothpaste.
While I grab the last few things I know I will need tonight and into tomorrow, I hear a gentle knock on the door.
Placing the hygiene bag in my suitcase, I walk through the living room to the door.
Standing on the other side of the glass is my beautiful Sunflower.
Her short blonde hair was pulled half up, half down, exposing her neck to me.
She is still in an oversized t-shirt, which I believe is one of Graham’s.
The sight of her in my brother's clothes turns my vision red. A wave of jealousy rushes through me. I have never, in my life, felt this instant jealousy that is running through me. I rip the door open and drag her into the house by her arm.
“Oof.” The breath rushes out of her from the shock. “Cal, what’s going on?” Her eyes show just how confused she is at my actions.
Explain this away, Cal.
“Is this Graham’s?” My words are short and full of ire.
Fuck, breathe.
“Ummm…” She looks down at her shirt, where I can just barely see a pair of lounge shorts poking out of the bottom. “I think so. It could be Demitri’s, though. I am not sure.”
“Take it off.”
“No, why would I do that?”
God, why do I love that she is fighting me? I can see a little fire in those green eyes. It is at that moment that I decide, if she won’t open her heart yet to me, I will push her to see this spark. I will make her see that she is strong and can tackle anything she wants.
I stalk off to my open suitcase and pull out one of my t-shirts. It is a worn-out navy blue University of Michigan shirt that just says “Hail”. If she needs a sleep shirt, she should be sleeping in mine.
“Here, wear this.” I hand the shirt over to her, and she just stares at it.
“What is wrong with the one I am wearing?”
“If I tell you, you will think it’s weird.” I stare at my feet because I know I have no right to be this mad over a shirt, but I hate seeing her in someone else’s clothes.
“Well, right now I think you're just insane, so I feel like any explanation is better than what I have right now.” I lean my head down to look in her eyes. I can’t resist staring into those beautiful greens.
“Well, you see…Seeing you in someone else’s clothes may have made me irrationally angry and jealous.”
Her giggle warms my heart. She takes my shirt out of my hand and heads for the small powder room off the living room. A few moments later, she comes out in my shirt, and my heart stops.
“Is that better?” She has a smirk on her face that tells me she thinks I’m crazy, but is okay with it.
“Much.”