“I feel like a child on Christmas morning.I want to rush down the hall to see the presents under the tree and see how beautiful they all looked in their wrapping paper.But I don’t want to start tearing into the packages because I know then it will be over.I’m never ready for it to be over.I want to savor the experience.That’s how I feel about going to my room, knowing Callon is waiting.I want to savor it, even though I am freaking out inside.”~Lola
“You okay, Honey?”Andi, Lola’s mom asked as she emptied the dishwasher.“You got in later than usual.I mean,” she held up a hand, “you’re an adult and you don’t have to tell me your every move.But, you also seem a little frazzled.”
Lola crammed the last bite of peanut butter sandwich in her mouth as she tried not to act like there was a hot, non-human guy waiting for her.Callon had said he’d be waiting outside her window, but then had texted and made it sound like he was in her room.She got the feeling he wasn’t one to break his word.If he said he’d wait outside of her window, then that’s where he probably was.She paused her chewing and then mentally smacked her forehead.How the hell did she know if he’d keep his word?She’d known him all of half an hour.But something inside of her trusted him.Something about him called her to him, she found his presence comforting.
“Lola?”Rick, her dad’s voice, interrupted her mental musings.“You’re mom’s right.You seem a little off.You okay?”
Her phone buzzed again, indicating she’d received a text.Most likely, it was one of her girls wanting to know more about Callon.They’d just have to wait.Though making Katy wait too long would more than likely mean she’d end up banging on her apartment door demanding to see him.“I’m good.It was a long day.That’s all.”She took the offered glass of water from her mom, swallowed down the final, sticky bite of her sandwich, and took a big drink.When she was done, she rinsed the glass as she continued talking.“I’m going to take a couple days off from work.And–” she paused.She wasn’t going to lie to her parents, it wasn’t the type of relationship they’d ever had.She also couldn’t just tell them that she’d met a guy who believed he was a lion shifter– beastwalker—whatever.She’d have to work her way up to that level of openness.And this whole thing was still very, very new.She took a deep breath.“I’ve met someone, and we’re going to hang out tomorrow.”She turned and looked at both her parents who were staring at her with wide eyes.“I mean, it’s really, really new.I’m not dating him.He’s just a friend.But I’d like to get to know him better.I mean, that’s how good relationships are built, right?Friendship.That’s what you have always told me, Mom,” she rambled nervously as they continued to stare at her.“You can meet him.”No they can’t.She cringed.He’s huge, and not exactly normal looking.How will I explain why he looks like a mix between a model, MMA fighter, and honestly, a little bit of Tarzan going on,she thought.
“Friendship is a great place to start,” her mom finally said, saving Lola from her mental freak out.“I think that’s a smart decision.Where did you meet him?”
“Through work,” she answered.It wasn’t a total lie.She’d started feeling his eyes on her when she’d been at work, so that was maybe more of a lie by omission.Dammit,she mentally chastised.She really didn’t want to lie, but how the crap was she supposed to explain to her parents she’d befriended her stalker, and she definitely had the hots for him?She wasn’t.That’s all there was to it.It was going to be bad enough when she told Katy and Maddie.
“Just be sure to meet in public places,” her father said as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.“And when you’re ready, if you think things are going to progress past friendship, then yes, we need to meet him.”
Lola nodded and snapped her fingers.“Sounds like a plan, Stan.Mm-kay, I’m just gonna,” she tossed her hand up motioning with her thumb over her shoulder.“Skidaddle on to bed.Gotta get my beauty rest.”Why am I so weird?Thankfully, her parents were used to her brand of weird.Andi just shook her head with a small smile and Rick, just chuckled.
She turned on her toe and made a beeline for the hall.Thankfully, her room was at the end of the hallway where her parents’ was at the front.So maybe, with her sitting out on the fire escape they wouldn’t hear her talking to Callon.Her stomach did some weird flip-thing she’d read about in books, but had never experienced in life.So this was what the characters feel like.Thecharacters, Dummy.Lola’s giddiness at something new, exciting, and intriguing was all too real.All of that typically pertained to the main male lead.She’d never had a main male lead.“Okay, you’re going to have to stop comparing him to book boyfriends, Lo,” she muttered as she reached her closed door.
She took a deep breath and blew it out, causing her cheeks to puff out.Lola straightened her shirt, for some reason, feeling the need to make herself presentable, though he’d already seen her.She probably smelled like a mixture of coffee and pizza.“Eww.”She pulled her shirt to her nose but all she smelled was pizza.Well, that was better than both.“Quit stalling.”She walked into her room, which suddenly felt unfamiliar.Instead of a bedroom, it now was a place that would forever hold the memory of the first night she spent with Callon.It would be the place she looked back on years from now and either feel joy or heartbreak.She had the distinct feeling that whatever was happening between them would either bring her indescribable happiness, or drop her to the depths of hell like she’d never known.She looked down as she closed the door and found her hands were shaking.That was the sucky thing about anything new, it might be amazing, or it might be the worst thing to ever happen.
Her bed was only occupied by Dog, which meant Callon kept his word and remained outside on the fire escape.She walked slowly over to it, her heart pounding in her throat, and sweat beginning to form on her neck and back.Lola pushed the glass up and stuck her head out.She turned to the left when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye.She was met with gold eyes with large black centers.I bet they let him see in the dark.The more she looked at him, the more she saw the parts of him that were clearlynothuman.The air rippled around him, and for a brief second, she saw his handsome face morph into that of a stoic lion’s.He had nearly white fur and a black nose.His lips pulled back, revealing wicked fangs.She blinked, and once again, there was only the incredibly handsome, though still stoic, Callon.
“Took you long enough,” he said in that deep, gruff voice.
Lola suddenly felt speechless.“Well, that’s a first,” she said absently.
Callon cocked his head to the side and blinked.“You’re talking to yourself again.”
“If that annoys you, then I’m probably not the chick for you.”She shrugged, climbed through the open window and leaned against the rail of the ladder.
“I’m sure there will be many things about you that annoy me,” he said with ridiculously, sexy smirk.“That doesn’t mean you’re not my female.It just means I’ll need to remind myself of all the things that overshadow the annoying parts.”
Lola didn’t know if she was offended or impressed.She was offended because he didn’t deny she did indeed annoy him.Not that it was realistic of her to expect him not to be annoyed bysomethingabout her.She was impressed he could acknowledge that things that were annoying weren’t enough of a reason to give up on a relationship.If that was the case, Lola would have kicked Katy and Maddie to the curb a long time ago.
“I’ve no doubt I’ll annoy you, frustrate you, piss you off, and most likely, make you want to hit me—multiple times in a single day,” he said casually.“I’m not a human male, and I do not think like a human male.There are some things you need to know about me before we go any further with this.”He motioned between them.
A brow rose on Lola’s face.“Who said there was a ‘this?’”She mimicked his movement.
“You haven’t called the cops, or told your parents, there’s a male claiming to be part animal sitting on your fire escape.”He pointed out as he leaned forward and rested his forearms on his thighs.Even sitting, he wasn’t shorter than Lola.He was about eye-level, which was a nice reprieve for her neck.
“Fair enough,” she admitted.“But that doesn’t mean we’re getting hitched or jumping into bed together.”Shut up now, Lola.And because she can never take her own advice, her freaking mouth just kept moving.“I don’t know what your past relationships have been like, but I’m not a casual dater.I’m really not a dater at all.I don’t know why.Oddly enough, I have been asked out, even with the vitiligo.Even though I haven’t really dated, I know if I get into a relationship with someone it’s because I believe it’s going somewhere.My parents have a beautiful relationship,”she held up a hand and added quickly, “not perfect.But they love each other deeply.I’ve gotten to watch that love, and have the security of that love my whole life, and that’s what I want.It’s what I want for our kids.”Her eyes widened, and she blurted, “My kids.I mean that’s what I want for my kids.”
Callon’s lips twitched.“Are you telling me you have the ability to get pregnant without my help?Because, that would be impressive, albeit very disappointing.Though, it wouldn’t make them any less mine.You are mine, and that means what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.”His chest rumbled with a deep sound that made Lola shiver.
She folded her arms in front of her.“You know what I meant.”She glanced away from his face, needing to break the intensity of his gaze.“I just don’t want to encourage this idea you have that we are a foregone conclusion.”
“Lola,” Callon said, his voice much gentler.“Come sit by me.”
She snorted as she looked at the stair where he sat.His shoulders nearly touched the building on one side and the stair rail on the other.“Where?”
He scooted toward the rail and angled his body leaving a small amount of space between him and the old brick of the apartment building.“If that’s not enough space, my lap has more than enough.”
She rolled her eyes.Her arms dropped, and she took the few steps to the empty spot.“I’m really beginning to think you’re a patient escaped from a psych ward at one of the hospitals.I probably should have called around and checked to see if any of them were missing a patient.”
“You’re a riot,” Callon told her as she sat down beside him.
She angled her body towards him and there was no way for their knees not to touch.The heat emanating from his body quickly seeped into hers.Lola cleared her throat.“So, tell me.What do I need to know before I spend anymore time getting to know you?”
