Callum scrubbed a hand over his face, took a deep breath, and followed.It made sense.Of course, Hayden would haul ass back home.Callum hung back on the sidewalk and watched the reunion.His heart swelled for them.Hayden swung his little sister off her feet in a hug.
Hayden set Grace down and strode to him, pulling Callum into a backslapping greeting.“Thanks, man.I owe you everything.”
“Of course.Good to see you.”
“The team’s not the same without you,” Hayden offered.“Actually, it kinda fucking sucks.It’s working out for you at Titan?”
“Yeah.It’s good.”Titan brought him Grace and into a new fold.New teammates.New life.New everything—almost.
Grace didn’t move to Callum’s side as she had for the last few weeks.Callum didn’t take her hand.By some unspoken agreement, they weren’t sharing what had happened between them and fell into the roles they’d always had.Older brother’s best friend.Best friend’s little sister.
“Have you seen Dad and Mari?”Hayden asked.
“Not yet.We just pulled up.”
“Then let’s go.”Hayden hooked an arm over Grace’s shoulders and looked back.“You coming in?”
“Not this time.I’ll let you catch up.”
Grace ducked under Hayden’s arm.Callum’s heart seized.She closed the distance and wrapped herself around him, hugging him so tight he was terrified they’d never see each other again.He wanted to bury his face in her hair and memorize the way her body pressed against his.Instead, Callum held her like she might break, dropped his chin on top of her head, and fought every urge in his body to kiss her goodbye.
Not in front of her brother.
Not right now.
Not until… he didn’t know.
He hung on to her for another moment, pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, and spun her back to Hayden.“Say hey to your folks.”
His throat hurt, and, fucking hell, if he spoke again, his voice would break.Callum tossed up his hand to say goodbye, jumped in his truck, and drove and drove and drove.
Miles and time passed.He didn’t realize where he’d been driving until the house came into view.The front window had been replaced, and a familiar car waited in the driveway.Callum parked and knocked on the door before he even thought of what to say.
With Argos and Toto flanking her side, Alicia swung the door open and scowled as she scrutinized him like only a librarian might, then her face softened.“Well, fuck.You didn’t break her heart.She broke yours.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose and didn’t have shit to say.
“Come inside.You’re letting all the air conditioning out.”She directed him to the living room and walked away, letting him pull his act together.“Lemonade or iced tea?”
He sat on the couch that had been his bed and took in the room.The rug and drapes had been replaced.New books sat among her plants and knickknacks on the shelves.If he hadn’t known better, he would have thought Alicia’s living room always looked like this.She worked fast.
Alicia returned with lemonade.“If you don’t speak up about what you want,” she handed him a glass, “then you can’t complain.”
He took the lemonade.“This is great.”
“As if there’s another answer.”She sat across from him and signaled the dogs to lie down.Sherlock pounced onto the couch, nuzzling his leg.“Guess he still likes you.Grace, on the other hand, might never be forgiven for dragging him outside and into that car.”
“There’s a chance some of his scratches will turn into scars.Maybe that will make them even.”
“Petty logic to a cat?”Alicia harrumphed.“Spit it out.Why are you here?”
He took a long drink because he didn’t have an answer.“Just sort of ended up here without thinking.”
“Is Dominic in jail again?”
“Yeah.He’s got bigger problems to deal with than Grace.He won’t bother her again.”
“Good.He can burn for all I care.”
