"I'll admit... when I found out he was still your emergency contact, I was worried," Callum says, his expression faltering for a moment. "I thought maybe you were keeping him on it for a reason..."
My heart drops, "Callum—"
"Tonya already straightened me out on that. I was spiralling because I was worried about you," he admits, kissing my cheek in an unneeded apology. "I trust you, Sophie. More than I've ever trusted anyone. So, if you want to speak to Paul, or even if you don't, I will support you no matter what."
I don't want to live in what-ifs. Especially not now, not with chemo done and the surgery looming.
"I choose you. Against Paul, against any other man on earth—fictional or otherwise," I add, making him chuckle and pull me closer. "I choose you, Callum. Always."
"Always," he murmurs, gently placing a kiss on my lips. "I love you, Sophie. I love you more than I ever thought capable of loving someone."
"I love you, Callum," I whisper, smiling against his mouth. "More than anything." I pull back just enough to add, "I'm notunblocking his number, though. I'll call Donna."
???
"Why do I feel like I'm about to rumble?"
"So are you aSocor aGreaserin this scenario?"
I mock-gasp, offended he would even ask what side I'm on.Greaser for life, obviously."How dare you!"
Callum chuckles from next to me, gently bumping my shoulder with his.
We're seated on the cash register counter, waiting for Paul to show up at the store, where he agreed to come to talk to me. I considered going to neutral ground, but then quickly pushed that out of my head. Why should I spare any thought for his comfort? If he wants to meet with me, he can do it where I feel safest. I wasn't going to let him back into the apartment we shared, and it's way too cold out to meet on the boardwalk. While I love Donna and Rich, I didn't feel comfortable going to their house.
So, I told him to meet at the store on Friday at 8, after closing, and he agreed through Donna. Maeve pressed a tiger's eye crystal in my hand, kissed my head, and whispered just what I needed to hear. "Forgiveness isn't about excusing what broke you—it's about unhooking your soul from it. You don't owe your past anything but peace, my dove."
I smiled at her and cradled the tiger's eye like it was precious in both my hands. "Thank you, Maeve."
She smiled at me and patted her son's cheek before heading up the stairs.
I blow out a breath and lift Callum's arm to check his watch—7:48. Callum uses that arm to wrap around my waist and pull me closer to him. "You're feeling okay?"
"I'm fine," I tell him, looking up to meet his searching gaze.And I am.
I only feel a small pang of nerves, the same one I normally get when I'm about to present at work or when I'm waiting to hear if my doctor thinks the treatment is going well. Nerves, but not fear, not dread. Not that I'm looking forward to seeing Paul, but I think this talk will be like the closing of a long-overdue book.
"Really, I'm fine," I smile. "I don't expect clarity. I don't want friendship. I... don't really want anything from Paul."
"Is there anything you do hope to get out of this conversation?" Callum asks me, curiously.
I open my mouth to respond before—
Knock-knock.
Paul stands at the door, a KN95 mask covering the lower half of his face. I had told Donna to please make sure that he was wearing it, or I wouldn't speak with him. He raises his hand in a wave, and Callum pushes himself from the counter to let him into the store.
Paul nods politely as he steps into the store. "Callum."
"Paul," Callum returns, his voice a low rumble as he walks back to my side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Paul's eyes track the movement, tracking the possessive, protective way Callum holds me, and I take a deep, steadying breath.
"Hi, Paul," I say.
"Hi, Sophie..." Paul says, his voice gentle and quiet as he shifts uncomfortably on his feet. His eyes scan me from head to toe, "You look great."
Callum's hand slides from my shoulder down to my hip, squeezing and drawing me closer into his side. With Paul's mask hiding half his face, I meet his eyes—those eyes that used to make me melt, so blue and bright. I used to imagine children with those eyes. I used to wish for it.
Now I look at them and feel...nothing.
