“First off, we are not the same. We’ll get to that. But, the girl… You know I’ve had a past. You’ve made that the number-one reason you never gave me a chance. Am I right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, she is someone I used to hook up with. I was in a mood this morning and Jeff called me out on some shit with you. Pretty much told me you were way too good for me and that it wasn’t going to happen. I wanted to try and forget about you. That’s what I thought I wanted to do.”
“I can’t say that doesn’t feel shitty. But I have no right. I appreciate the honesty though.” She relaxed into my arms again and I couldn’t hide my smile. I felt like a million bucks. “We have a ways to go before I fully trust you with whatever this is—are you positive you’re up for that?”
“Fuck, yeah. You run the show, Callie.” I kissed her head again and my heart clenched when she sighed. “Whatever you want. I want a chance with you.”
“Ugh. When you say things like that, you make my life confusing.”
“You’ve made my life confusing as hell since that day in Target. You think you have it bad…my mom and sister have been giving me shit since they heard all about you.”
“Oh, god. They probably think I’m crazy.”
“The opposite. They dig you already. As you said, I had a bit of a reputation before and you’ve kind of blown that all to hell.”
“Can I ask you about it?”
“Anything. I will never lie to you. Ever.” I meant the words more than I ever had before. “I ask that you do the same.”
“I promise.” She whispered the words and tensed up at whatever crossed her mind. “I’m wondering, I guess… Well, shit. I don’t know if I want to know.”
My stomach dropped. I hated her hesitation, but I knew I had to tell her the truth, regardless of her question. I hoped she believed enough in us now to overlook my past mistakes. “Go ahead. I’ll answer you.”
“How many? A hundred?” She cringed, turning around. I didn’t answer right away and her face paled. “Oh, my god. More than that?”
“Stop. Your imagination is worse than the truth. Definitely less than fifty. It’s not like I slept with a different girl every weekend. I had arrangements of sorts.”
“Repetitive booty calls?” Her nose scrunched in disgust. If I hadn’t felt like a schmuck, I would’ve told her how cute I found the gesture. “I thought you didn’t do relationships.”
“I didn’t. That’s the thing. I slept with the same girls more than once.” I enjoyed her blatant display of jealousy, but not her discomfort. “I was always safe, no matter what. I never promised them anything and as soon as they showed any sign of relationship-y shit, I walked.”
“I won’t throw your past in your face. It wouldn’t be fair, but I’m going to go slow. I can’t get hurt and you, Zade, have the power to break me into a thousand pieces.”
“What makes you think you’re the only one capable of getting hurt? You’ve thrown my life into a shit storm with your toned body and smart mouth. It goes two ways, babe.”
“Then we take it slow.”
“How slow? Because I’ve been dreaming about your mouth and things I want to do to it for weeks.”
“You were going to sleep with another girl tonight. When we kiss, it’s going to be because I’m the only girl you’ve been thinking about for days.” She got up and went toward the window. “Let’s go play some beer pong. I want the full college experience, Zade.”
I shook my head and laughed. She had no fucking idea that she was the only girl I’d been thinking about, but if she preferred to go slow, then slow it was. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to make it easy on her.
Chapter Fifteen
Callie
“You cannot stop smiling and I think I know why.” Greta wiggled her eyebrows at me over breakfast the following morning. “I know I flirted on the side of drunk last night, but you and Zade… Dish it, sister.”
“Even though I told you about it last night and your drunk ass forgot? Fine. I’ll tell you again.” I poured us cups of coffee and got comfortable on the couch. “We’re…doing this thing.”
“What thing?”
“No idea. Thething.” I wish I knew, but nothing was clarified. I supposed admitting we had something going on was the first step.
“Come on, I wanted the dirty details. I wanted something better thanthing.I’m disappointed.” She sipped the drip coffee I’d started making. “This is the best coffee I’ve ever had. So that makes up for the lack of entertainment. Damn, Cal, I thought you’d have at least attacked him or something. You have the hots for him.”
