Chapter 4
Chapter Four
LIVIANNA/LILY
A Week Before Now
Tornado Thoughts he notices.
Me: You’ve turned into quite the nurturer.
Callum: Nah. Just a man who wants to make sure you eat, breathe, and remember you’re not alone.
Something inside me fractures at that. I press the phone against my chest for a heartbeat before I answer.
Me: Thank you. That means more than you know.
Callum: Good, because I meant it. And if you need a distraction later, I’ll bring dessert to your office or your new digs. Your choice.
Me: Dessert? That’s your grand romantic gesture?
Callum: Depends on what you pick. If it’s pie, I’ll even let you steal the bigger slice.
Me: Generous.
Callum: You know me. Always giving.
I roll my eyes, but my lips curve anyway.
Me: You’re fishing for compliments now.
Callum: Just reminding you how things used to be.
Heat coils low in my stomach. He’s not wrong.
Me: I’m surprised you remember. It’s been five years. You could have the details wrong.
Callum: I remember everything about you.
I place my hand over my heart.
Jesus, what’s he doing to me?
Me: You’re different now.
Callum: Is that good or bad?
Me: Good.
The typing bubble appears, disappears, then reappears.
Callum: That’s all I wanna hear. I like it when you’re happy.
I set the phone down, my ribs caving around the truth I don’t want to admit out loud. For the first time in a week, the war in my head has quieted, and it’s because of him.
Callum: Lily? Did I lose you?
I stare at his simple question, my insides tightening because I don’t have an answer that doesn’t reveal how terrified I am of letting him back in, how scared I am that he’ll hurt me again.
Me: I’m here.
Callum: Tell me what’s wrong. I can feel you pulling away even through a text.
My hands shake as I type and delete, type and delete. He knows me too well, reads me like sheet music he’s memorized by heart.
Me: I can’t explore this with you if you’re going to let someone pull strings and manipulate you again.
There’s a long pause. Long enough that I wonder if I’ve frightened him off with my honesty. Then my phone rings.
It’s him. I push the connect button. “Hello, Callum. What can I do for you?”
“That will never happen again, Lily. Never.”
“You don’t know that.” My fear tumbles out. “What if Zara comes back? What if someone else finds a way to get between us?”