“In the best way. Truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?”
“Anywhere?”
I nod. “Anywhere.”
“I’d be here.”
I furrow my brows. “But you could be anywhere…”
“I know.” Calla smiles softly, taking a small sip of champagne. “But I’d like to be here. With you. My turn: truth or dare, Blake?”
“Truth,” I utter, my lips practically numb.
“What’s your biggest regret?”
“Easy.” I swallow. “Not asking for your number the first time I met you. Or the morning after. Or the third time.”
Calla smirks. “You mean when we fucked on your new kitchen counters?”
I tip the neck of the bottle towards her before taking a mouthful, wiping the froth from my lips with the back of my hand. “Those very ones.”
“So, why didn’t you?”
“I was scared you’d turn me down,” I answer honestly, peering at Calla to catalogue her reaction.
“Only the stupidest girl in the world would turn you down, Blake. Do you think I’m stupid?”
I shake my head wordlessly.
“There you go, then. Your turn.”
“Truth or dare, Calla?”
Her eyes crinkles at the edges as she grins. “Is it boring if I pick another truth?”
“With you? Nothing is ever boring, sunshine. What’s the dream?”
“The dream…” Calla spreads her arms out wide, side to side, mirroring my posture, tipping her head back so she can stare up at the tiled ceiling. “To be happy.”
“Mhm.”
“To wake up every day in love, feeling safe, wanted, secure. To be able to brew a cup of tea and drink it outside, the sun on my face, looking out at my acre or two of land somewhere, messy children and animals running about the place and be able to say I did it. I achieved my dream. I created a type of freedom you can’t possibly buy.”
I feel my eyes widen and my throat thicken. “You want children?”
“Yeah.” Calla sits up suddenly, causing the water to slosh about our chests. “Is that so surprising?”
“No.” I shake my head. “I didn’t mean to sound so surprised, I just… I thought you’d want to be out there travelling the world.”
“I used to think so too, but my dreams changed as I got older. It’s just one of those things, isn’t it? Would you like to travel?”
“Nah.” I swallow back three large mouthfuls of champagne, feeling it fizz as it slides down my throat with ease, before hitting my stomach. “I want what you want. A big house. Children. A wife. Someplace to put down roots, so I can stop running, chasing things that aren’t meant to be.”
Calla smiles at that, taking back the bottle. “Ask me.”
