“Thank God!”
“I was waiting on your diva ass to get out of the shower.”
“Bec-” Mother starts, then stops, holding up her hands in apology. “I’m sorry. You’re on vacation. Cuss away.” She pauses, then says, “Damn it! Ass!”
Lizzy and I look at one another, then burst out in giggles.
Mother does not cuss. Like hardly ever.
We were at the store once and she was leaning over to get something and smacked the back of her head good on the shelf above. It damn near knocked her out and all she said was fiddlesticks and biscuits. If it was me, the store would have thought they were under attack by pirates. I would have likely made up a new cuss word and said it so loud and so many times that people around me would have thought they missed out on some new word.
No. Mother does not cuss.
Well, apparently until now.
EVERLEE - 4 LETTER WORD
Theheatofthesun pulls me from my sleep as my hand roams the bed looking for warmth, but realization hits.
I’m alone.
Callum’s scent dances around me like a cruel joke. A wish, a memory of what once was.
Rolling onto my back, I open my eyes and stare at the ceiling fan, unmoving. Is it stupid to miss the spin of the blades? It’s the first time I’ve slept without a fan on in months and I miss the low hum.
My legs carry me toward the bathroom, because I’m still too mopey to walk with purpose.
And tired.
I feel like I tossed and turned all night. After dinner last night, we all sat in the living room and talked about random things. Beckett and Will talked a little about the firehouse, while the boys talked about their businesses, except for Allure. Probably not the best topic of conversation. Of course, mother latched onto Bo’s because she loves to cook. She even volunteered to come up and visit, saying she’s been meaning to, so we could go to Bo’s. At times the conversation was great, felt normal and natural, but then I'd remember there was a veil over the entire thing. A truth that could never come to light.
Just before ten, we walked onto the beach and found a spot to watch the fireworks. It was dark outside because even though it was nearly a full moon, it was deep red and low on the horizon. I had envisioned the night a lot different- me cuddled in the middle of all my guys, nestled between someone’s legs, watching the fireworks. Instead, it was me on a towel with Lizzy and Tony nestled, and the guys scattered around. Mother was with Beckett and Will, and would occasionally pick up a conversation with Emmett.
Jax and Knox were near the water's edge with their heads together and I was dying to know what they were talking about. And then Callum. He sat closest to me and occasionally in between the fireworks lighting up the sky, his hand would reach over and rub against mine. Just the light brush of his pinky. A gentle reminder he was there.
My rock.
When I get downstairs this morning, Teddy Swims is playing on the Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen and mother and Emmett are moving around the kitchen like a pair of synchronized cooks talking about something, while Callum sits at the table working on a crossword looking hot as fuck. He’s wearing a pair of dark blue bathing suit shorts with a white t-shirt v-neck that only mutes the tattoos under his shirt and does nothing for the two full sleeves of tattoos he has on his arms.
Tony, Lizzy, Beckett and Will are spread out between the two couches watching the end of an episode of Schitt’s Creek where David and Patrick are trying to find their wedding location.
Beckett glances at me and gives me a quick nod before looking back at the screen, and I can’t help but wonder what his thoughts are on marriage. Not the act of marriage, but marrying Will. Will is the only guy he’s had a steady relationship with and they are so great together. Callum watches me from the table, so I walk over to talk to him. When I get near him, my body buzzes, eager to touch him, to feel him touch me.
But we don’t.
“Where’s Jax and Knox?”
He looks in the kitchen and my eyes follow to see mother mixing something on the stove, talking up a storm to Emmett. Callum’s hand drops from the table and rubs up the back of my knee, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin. My body hums with excitement at his touch and my eyes snap shut to relish this feeling. He keeps his eyes focused on the crossword, pen tapping on the table like he’s deep in thought. “They went for a run this morning. They should be back soon.” His words and his tone are casual, but the energy radiating off of him is delicious and… dangerous.
His hand snakes further up and my legs buckle as I lean onto the table for support. I look under my arm to see my mom still at the stove stirring away, still talking Emmett’s ear off. He catches me looking, and a sly grin spreads across his face before he tosses me a quick wink.
Callum’s hand continues to travel up until his index finger slips just under my shorts and brushes over my pussy. He looks at me knowingly, as I try to hide the shock on my face.
What in the actual fuck is he trying to do?
“No panties,” he whispers, running his finger up to my clit.
“You ass,” I grind back.
