Chapter 6
Chapter Six
LIVIANNA/LILY
Two Days Before Now
Drafted Goodbyes & Midnight Promises
Tonight, the message feels less like a choice and more like a dare.
Itoss my bag over my shoulder and leave the Pilates studio. I’m digging in my purse, searching for my keys, when Callum calls out.
“Hey, vixen. How was your workout?” He’s leaning against his car, wearing a smile from ear to ear.
I shake my head and laugh. “What are you doing?”
“When you told me you were coming here and where this place was, I took it as a sign you wanted me to come pick you up and take you out to dinner before you tried to go back to work.”
I puff out a breath. “Who knew I’d be such a workaholic?”
“You always have been.” He pushes off the hood. “Whadda ya say? Dinner?”
“I am hungry, but I need to shower and change.”
We meet in the middle of the parking lot near my car.
His blues shine down on me. “I think you look amazing.”
“Yeah, no. I’m not going anywhere smelling like this.”
“All I smell is your perfume.” He narrows his gaze. “When did you change it?”
“What?”
“You used to wear that kind that had the lilies infused in it. Now it’s spicy and sensual.”
I glance away, knowing I changed it to put everything Callum related in the past so I could move forward with Jax.
“Lily, it’s not a hard question.”
I shrug and face him. “I know. It’s just, I can’t remember.”
“Oh, it’s no big deal. Either scent is nice.”
“Thanks.” I gesture to my car. “Where should I meet you?”
He rubs his chin between his thumb and index finger. “I’ve got an idea.”
“What’s that?”
“How would you feel about coming over to my place and we’ll order something? You can clean up while I wait for the food.”
“But I can do that at my house and meet you at yours.”
“True, but I don’t like wasting any time where you’re concerned. I like knowing you’re around.”
Warmth climbs through my chest. “You’re very sweet, Callum.”
“Is that a yes?”
I consider the past two and a half weeks. I still haven’t talked with Jax since Coachella, and Callum has been nothing but patient and kind.
My heart picks up pace. “I guess that will work.”
“Perfect. Why don’t I follow you to your place, and from there, I’ll drive you to mine?” He spins his keychain around his finger. “That way you can enjoy some wine with your food.”
“No, I’ll just meet you there.”
“If you insist.”
“I do. Give me an hour if traffic is good.”
“An hour it is.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. “Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
“It’s fine, Callum.” I shrink inside as if I’ve done something wrong, and release a sharp exhale that’s full of clarity. “I need to check on something once I get home, so I might be just a little later than that.”
“Work?” His question sounds more like a warning.
“No. This is something personal. I need to make sure an email went out, or I’ll be thinking about it all night.”
“Personal?” His expression shifts, something guarded creeping into his eyes. “Everything okay?”
I can see him trying not to ask more, fighting that protective instinct he’s always had. The fact that he’s holding back shows how much he’s grown.
“It’s fine. Just something I need to check on.” I adjust my gym bag strap, suddenly feeling the weight of that email.
Has Jax read it yet? If so, has he replied?
“I’ll see you later, Callum.”
“Lily.” His voice stops me as I reach for my car door. When I turn back, he’s watching me with an intensity that makes my pulse skip. “Whatever it is, you don’t have to handle it alone. You know that, right?”
The offer lands in my gut like something fragile and sharp. He doesn’t even know what he’s offering to help with, doesn’t know he’s volunteering to be supportive while I check to see if another man gave me the ending I don’t want. The guilt twists deeper.
“I know. Thank you.” I force a smile. “But this is something I need to do myself.”
He nods, but I catch the flicker of hurt that crosses his face before he masks it. “Of course. I’ll see you soon.”
The drive home passes in a blur of stoplights and second-guessing. By the time I pull into my garage, my hands are shaking on the steering wheel. I sit there for a moment, staring at the wall, trying to work up the courage to go inside and face whatever is in my inbox.
Inside, I drop my bag by the door and march straight to my laptop. The email sits in the sent folder in my private account, but there’s no response. Maybe that’s the answer I’m looking for.
I sit with the realization that I’ve lost the man who helped me heal in ways I never thought possible. I take a moment to mourn the loss, but don’t let myself cry. Tears won’t help. Only time and understanding will.
Callum is waiting for me at his house. He looked at me in the parking lot like I’m something precious he’s afraid to lose again. And Jax is halfway around the world, probably not even thinking about me.
My phone buzzes with a text from Callum.
Callum: Should I still expect you, or did you change your mind?
His vulnerability screams. God, I pray I’m making the right choice.
Me: I’ll be over soon.
Callum: You okay?
Did he pick up on my sadness? Can he tell I’m struggling?
Me: I think so. Being around you will help.
Maybe tonight’s the night I tell him I’d like to explore a second chance with him.
Callum: Hope you’re in the mood for Italian. Can’t wait to see you.
The sweetness of his text makes my chest ache. I type back before I lose my nerve.
Me: Perfect. On my way soon.
I shower quickly, change into a blue sundress, and grab an overnight bag without really thinking about it. Maybe I won’t need it. Maybe I will. Either way, I don’t want to come home tonight to this empty house.
I pull out of the driveway before I overthink everything. The city blurs into a string of quiet lights, every red signal giving me one more chance to turn around and send another email to Jax. I keep going.
When I turn onto Callum’s street, his house glows warmly. As I approach the door, a sliver of music hums. He opens before I knock, as if he’s been standing there waiting for me to show up.
“Hi.” I offer a gentle smile.
“Hi.” His eyes sweep over my face with that careful scan he does when he’s trying not to let on to his worry. “Perfect timing. Food got here five minutes ago.”
“Great. I’m starving.” I step inside, overnight bag slung over my shoulder. I try to ignore the way his eyes light up when he notices it.
“Planning on staying?” His voice is neutral, but I catch the desire underneath.
“Maybe. If that’s okay.”
“More than okay.” He takes the bag from me, fingers brushing mine in the handoff. “I’ll put this in the guest room, unless…”
The innuendo hangs between us, loaded with longing emotion. We both know what he’s asking—what I’m not quite ready to answer.
“Callum, put it wherever you want it to be.”
“You know where I want it, vixen.” He releases a nervous laugh. “Dinner’s staying warm in the oven, and I opened that wine you like.”
“Thanks. Are you sure it doesn’t bother you that I have wine?”
“Positive. My therapist isn’t convinced I need to steer clear of it forever. I chose not to because I enjoy having a brain that doesn’t hurt the next day.”
“Makes sense.”
He points down the hall. “Make yourself at home while I put this in my room.”
Bubbles of nerves fill my insides. I nod and mosey into the kitchen. Garlic and basil fill the air. Takeout containers from a little Italian place on Melrose are spread across his counter.
He’s transferred everything to real plates, set out cloth napkins, and lit candles like he’s trying to make takeout special. The gesture makes me warm inside.
After a few moments, he returns. “Sit and let me serve you.”
“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble.”
“It’s not trouble.” He hands me a glass of wine, our fingers touching again. “It’s what you do for someone who matters.”
We eat with music playing in the background. The conversation flows easily and smoothly, punctuated by comfortable silences that don’t need filling.
“This is nice.” I clink my glass to his. “Here’s to catching up.”
“Yeah, to catching up.” His gaze lingers as he lifts his glass and drinks his water. “Let’s take this to the couch.”
“Sounds like a plan I can get behind.”
We move to the other room, and he settles beside me, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his skin.
“You know, Livianna, I spent so many years thinking I needed to live my life numb. Turns out all I needed was the right person to be with.”
I gaze at him, finding his blue eyes already focused on my face.
“Callum…”
“I know we’re taking it slow. I know you need time.” His hand comes up to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I need you to know that being here with you like this, it’s everything I’ve wanted for five years.”
The tenderness in his voice breaks something open inside me. “Honestly, I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of getting hurt again.” The admission comes out in a whisper.
His thumb traces along my jawline. “What if instead of worrying about all the ways this could go wrong, we just focused on how right it feels in this moment?”
Before I can assess it, before I can catalog all the reasons this is complicated, I lean into his touch. “It does feel right.”
“Then that’s enough for now.”
The kiss happens slowly, like we both know this moment will change everything and we want to savor it. His lips are soft against mine, tentative at first, then deeper when I don’t pull away. And for the first time in days, my mind goes completely quiet.
His fingers tangle in my hair. I press closer, needing more of this feeling, this connection that’s just like coming home.
When his tongue traces mine, I open for him more, and the sound he makes low in his throat sends fire straight through my veins.
He shifts, angling himself over me. I relax back and enjoy the moment.
“Lily,” he breathes against my lips.
The want in his voice snaps me back to reality. I break apart, breathing hard.
“We need to slow down.” My words come out shaky.