He thought about his crappy apartment, which could use a serious upgrade, and his job.In the last few days, he’d given his colleagues his complete trust and was rewarded with teammates in something far deeper than name only.They were a team, and for the first time, he felt like a part of Titan.“Home.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
ThefirstdaywithoutCallum sucked as much as the twentieth.Though “without Callum” was a misnomer.Grace had all of him.There was no question about that.
But she hated the distance and hadn’t discussed him with her family.She wasn’t concerned that they would doubt Callum was a good guy.They knew him, and any of her bro-code concerns with her brother had faded.But she was scared they would think the same thing Vivian had thought.That she and Callum were a white knight-damsel-in-distress collision of adrenaline and hormones.
Every morning, he called her to say good morning.
Every night, she called as she fell asleep.
He had visited her four times in twenty days.Each time they’d stayed in an extravagant hotel room, staying in bed while he promised he loved her, saying everything except the ways he would take care of her for the rest of her life.She knew he would, and that he was giving her the space to reclaim her autonomy.
But staying in hotels wasn’t nearly enough anymore.
Grace sighed and studied the design she’d been sketching.It was done.Any further work would spoil the concept.She set her stylus down and would submit it to her client later today.
Mari walked in and plopped on the couch next to Grace.“Working on anything good?”
“Just finished.”She positioned the screen to show her stepmom.“It’s the third book in a series.I really love the way the stars pop in the sky on this one.”
“Gorgeous.”
Grace beamed.“Thanks.”She tucked her feet under her legs.“I’m going to be gone for the day and will be back tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’ll tell Dad not to make too much dinner then.”
She fortified her insides and fidgeted.“I’m going to be with Callum.”
“That’s what we figured.Things are working out well at his new job?”
Her lips parted.They knew?“Why did you figure?”
Mari tilted her head with a knowing eyebrow lifted.“Why wouldn’t we?”
“Mari.”
She laughed.“Apparently, even grown adults forget their parents always know what’s going on.”
“I don’t think youalwaysknew.”
“He’s been watching you almost as long as you’ve watched him.He was less obvious than you, of course.”
“I wasn’t obvious.”
Mari snorted.“You?As a teenager?Not obvious?I think you cried when he and Hayden took a set of twins to the prom.”
“I did not.”Well, actually, she had.“Are you going to tell me to give myself time, that whatever I feel is because I had a hellacious adventure with him?”
“Nope.”
“No?”
“No.That wouldn’t take into account all those years where you ignored him because he ignored you, and he was too worried about what Hayden would say.”
Grace’s frown deepened.That pretty much described their teenage years into their twenties.
“You two weren’t meant for first-love heartbreak.You were meant for forever love.”
