Chapter 25 #2
Most patrons leave us alone at that point, but one or two come over. I politely ask them to let us finish our meals first. By this time, we’ve been here going on two hours. Not that I mind, but I was hoping for more time alone with Livianna.
It sinks in that if we’re gonna be together for as long as I hope we are, we won’t be able to enjoy a date out without security or arranging it with the restaurant ahead of time. Especially when I can get out of Ur Boyz and make Mayhem as big as I see in my dreams.
It’s bittersweet. I love that we’re both making our careers work, but a pang of sadness fills me knowing I can’t just spontaneously take her out for coffee or dinner. That’s not the life we signed up for, though, so I suck in a breath and ask for the check.
Our server places the bill down. “I hope you kids have a short drive, given the weather. They just closed the highway due to a big accident.”
I turn around and peek out the window. A huge snowstorm has rolled in.
“It wasn’t even raining on our drive up here.” I take my debit card out and hand it to her. “We were planning on going back to LA.”
“The roads are terrible. The rain came in and then the temperature dropped fast. They’re saying it’s black ice for miles.” She takes my card. “I’ll be back in a minute with your receipt.”
Livianna chews on her bottom lip as she stares out the window. “Callum, it’s a blizzard out there.”
“I didn’t even know it was supposed to snow.”
“Neither did I.” Her brows cinch together. “What should we do?”
“Well, it doesn’t sound like we’re getting back home today, but…” I think about how much money my uncle gave me.
There’s not enough in my account to get a hotel up here during prime season. Not without spending a fortune, which I don’t have.
Without a phone, I can’t text him to ask him to transfer some over. He probably wouldn’t, anyway. We’re still in a tight spot with our bills.
I scan Livianna’s clothes. She’s in a purple sweatsuit with a tank top under it. We can’t stay the night in my car. She’ll freeze.
The muscles in my shoulders tense and my face heats with embarrassment. “My uncle hasn’t put much money on my debit card. Maybe they’ll let us hang out here until we can get back on the road.”
“That might not be until tomorrow.” She glances around the room. “I’m going to use the phone and call my dad.”
“How will he be able to help?”
“Since you yanked me out of my house, I don’t have my purse and he can set us up somewhere.”
“No. Don’t call him.”
Her eyes scroll over my face. “Callum, it’s not that big of a deal. It’s my money. He just needs to get us a room because we’re both underage. They’ll need his credit card for the reservation.”
I clench my teeth. “He’s gonna think I’m a shit boyfriend for bringing you up here.”
She places her hand over mine. “You don’t realize this, but my dad likes you. Somehow, you’ve won him over. Now I’m going to do this.”
“I don’t like it, Lily.”
“Oh, well. You always tell me not to worry about other people. Now’s your chance to do the same.” She smirks. “Any more arguments we need to have about this?”
I turn my head and pull my hand back. “No. Do what you need to do. I’ll be sitting here feeling like—”
“Stop, Callum. Everything is fine.” She gets up and asks if she can use the phone.
The manager welcomes her behind the counter with a huge smile and gives in to her request. I shake my head and look away.
She really does always get what she wants. Her dad warned me about it and she’s said it herself. She’s a pro. A ripple of envy rolls through me.
How is it that some people seem to get everything with ease and others struggle and fight with every breath they take to make the slightest baby step? I’m still pondering the question when she returns.
She slides back in her seat with my debit card in her hand. She gives it to me.
“My dad said he’ll get us a room at The Beckett Brand Whispering Pines. It’s about a mile down the road.”
“That’s the best resort in town.” My heart beats in double time. I have to come clean with her about my financial situation. “Lily, I don’t have the money to pay you back for it.”
She leans closer to me. “Do you know why I don’t call you Cash?”
Her question has me tripping over my thoughts.
“No. What does that have to do with this situation?”
“You’re Callum Mayze to me. I don’t need you to make a lot of money to be important to me. I don’t care if you’re penniless. You’re worth more to me than a dollar sign. Way more. I’m doing this because of that. Understand?”
My heart swells. Nobody has ever seen me as more than a way to make them rich. Not even my ma.
She loves me, but she’s always said I’d be bigger than my pops if I just stayed the course. Then we could live the good life. Because of that, there has always been a sense of obligation to give her that.
I stare across the table at Livianna with an entirely new level of love flowing through my veins.
I get up, move to her side of the booth, and take her in a passionate kiss, pressing her back against the wall so I can be as close to her as I can get. She’s profoundly the best person I’ve ever met.
How did I get so lucky?
I break away and smile. “Promise me you’ll always be mine.”
She pushes herself upright, bringing in a rush of breath. “I don’t know what that was about, but okay. I’ll always be yours.”
The room erupts with cheers and claps.
I grimace. “Fucking hell. We had an audience for that.”
“Like you say. Who cares?” She laughs. “Let’s get out of here and celebrate the New Year’s Eve we never got to.”
“Now there’s a plan I can get behind.”
I take her hand and pull her up to her feet. As we’re leaving, I notice people taking pictures of us. I stand tall, with my chest out like the luckiest man alive.
That is until someone says, “Bet these photos will sell for a lot given the headlines about them. I’m sure we can get top dollar.”
My entire body tenses. I spin and get ready to give them a lot more than they bargained for.