All lowercase, no punctuation. Now, if only I had a potion to take all of the grief out of my mind.
Callum, our story, the aftermath of it. All of it is engraved on me. I look back up into the mirror at the dark circles under my eyes. What am I going todo?
Suddenly, I catch sight of something sitting on my bed behind me in the mirror. A dark green velvet box, adorned with a black ribbon and a small black card, rests near the pillows. Biddy must have left them while I was in the shower. I tiptoe quickly over to the bed, trying not to slip and fall. I grab the card and turn it over. Plain black, about the size of a businesscard. I flip it open:
I sit staring at the note for a few more seconds. I notice that his handwriting looks so different from when we were teenagers, but I swear I’ve seen similar writing in recent years. I can’t think of where, though.
I place the note on my nightstand and grab the velvet box. I slide the ribbon off and remove the top. Even the tissue paper inside is pretty, black with tiny gold flecks. I pull the tissue paper one side at a time to reveal the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen, along with a pair of shoes I would've killed for. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Despite myself, I’m impressed, and I smile as I wonder when he got this.
I hang the dress on the back of my door and place the heels at the bottom, then, I step back a few paces to get the whole picture.Wow.
The dress is a deep green, so deep it almost looks black. The bodice features a U-neckline, just on the edge of racy, with delicate spaghetti straps that descend into corset lacing down the back, and slits along both sides that will definitely showcase my long legs. The heels are strappy black Louis Vuittons.
I stand there for a few more seconds, feeling very impressed with Callum’s excellent taste. It’s definitely…me. And the fact that he’d put in so much effort softened me a little more. He’d always been thoughtful when we were young, but something about how he’d taken control of the details like I’d asked him to, goingwayabove and beyond. It was…sexy.
Suddenly, my phone rings shrilly from the nightstand. Nessa’s ringtone.
I let my head fall back and I groan in exasperation, then I grab it and answer.
“Yes?”
“Clearly, you didn’t get enough sleep last night. I messaged you multiple times, and you still haven’t responded. Here's a question for you. Do you even know who Callum is? Do you know what he has beendoingover the last several years, Maeve? He works for his father. I heard he has killed people. He’s dangerous.”
I sigh. I'm familiar with our culture. If Nessa knew of the things Ihad done, she’d have a damn coronary. So, I can’t hide the sarcasm in my voice.
“Oh,no! There’s no way I can work with a man who haskilledsomeone. Let me tell my father. That willsurelyget me out of all this.”
She scoffs, “Why are you acting so obnoxious? Did Callum say something to you about…. never mind, forget it.”
“What would he have told me, Nessa?”
“Nothing, bye,” she says hurriedly, then hangs up.
Now I’m annoyedandconfused. I toss my phone onto the bed and head to my closet, hunting for something to lounge in until it’s time to get ready. I need to think. There must be something significant happening. Orin has been on an assignment for my father today, but the details have been left out, as usual.
I get dressed hurriedly, then I head out of my room and down the hall toward the safest space I know. My library.
I walk in and flip the light switch, letting my eyes roam over the floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves, packed with books. The shelves are a deep charcoal color, almost black, and hundreds of colorful book spines brighten their gloom. They stretch around the entire room and over the large arched window overlooking my mother’s garden. Plants are scattered here and there, pothos and philodendrons and monsteras in a riot of green.
I sigh and walk over to the oversized reading chair in the corner, across from the window, my mind spinning through endless questions. Warm morning sunlight filters in, caressing my face and shoulders. I close my eyes for a second, enjoying the feeling, trying to clear my head. Then, I grab my book from the little side table next to me and begin to read.
This book gives me hope, I realize, looking up from the page. I started reading it last night, and I hadn’t realized it was a second-chance romance. The irony of that has me rolling my eyes. I have to admit it, though. Being around him last night was… intense, especially after all this time. He’s the same Callum, just bigger. Darker, somehow. Dangerous. The way he looked at me, the way he touched me… it felt intoxicating. It made me feel out of control. Outside, on the bench, I’d almost kissed him. Practicallybeggedhim for it, leaning in the way I had. But after everything he’s put me through, a big part of me feels vindictive, like I want to hurt him back. Makehimfeel some pain.
But then, where does that leaveme? I sigh and rub my temples, feeling a little stupid. All these years, I’ve been so fixated on all theshyteI’ve been through that I missed what was going on right in front of me. Now, I’m caught up in something way bigger than myself, and I don’t understand it at all. No matter what, I have to get answers from Callum tonight. And I can’t let my emotions get in the way of that.
After reading for a while, I close the book and stand up, stretching my arms overhead.
My phone pings, and a number I don’t recognize pops up. The text is just one question.
Ready?
I know exactly who it is, of course. I walk back to my room, staring at the message, waiting for another one to come through. Then, I realize what time it is.
Shit, already 3. I’ve got to get myarsein gear.
Before I start getting ready, I type out a curt response.
Nope.
