Page 127 of The Twisted Beats

“Yes, Daddy, but Callum needs to have a discussion with you.” I motion to him to come to the phone.

His face drains of color. He stares at me for a moment like I’ve slit his jugular, then pushes himself up and strides over to the speaker.

My dad clears his throat. “What’s this about?”

Callum sucks in a breath. “Mr. Hemings, I just want you to know I didn’t plan this and I will pay you back. You can add it to?—”

“Cash, that didn’t cross my mind once. Lorna and I have seen the news reports. It’s a freak storm that seems to have come out of nowhere. Livianna explained earlier you went for a drive to talk things out.” He pauses. “You two enjoy the night, but?—”

My mom’s voice cuts in. “Be smart and be careful. The hotel has people who can get you anything you need. And I mean anything. Don’t be afraid to ask.”

This time I grimace and my cheeks burn. “Mom, stop. You’re making this so much worse. Callum looks like he’s going to vomit now.”

My dad laughs under his breath. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but your mom’s right. If you need anything, the staff can help you out. Stay in tonight and come home when the roads are safe. I want you here in one piece.”

Callum runs his fingertips over the console like he’s trying to make a physical connection with my parents. “Mr. and Mrs. Hemings, I didn’t do the things the articles are suggesting and Livianna and I talked about the text messages. I swear on my pops’ grave, I never lied to Lily. I never meant to hurt her.”

There’s a moment of silence. Not even I expected him to say anything about the text messages, the pictures, or the planted stories and how they were affecting me.

I stare at Callum in amazement that he took that head-on with my parents and not in a dick way. It was from his heart.

My mom breaks the pause. “We all make mistakes we wish we could take back. Unfortunately, you and Livianna live in a different world than we did growing up. There are a lot of predators out there who want to make money off a story.”

My dad continues, “You’re kids who are expected to act like you’re thirty and know what’s right and wrong when you’re just trying to figure out your place in the world. Trust that we stand behind you both. As long as you treat each other well, we’ll be here for you.”

My mom sighs. “You won’t get it right, so don’t even try.”

“Thanks for understanding. I’m not trying to take advantage of any of you.” Callum’s shoulders drop and a sudden sadness falls over him. “I love my ma and uncle, but you’re all more like… You’re good people and I’m grateful you’ve let me in.”

I might be young, but even I know there’s so much laced in his words. What is going on in that house of his?

We hang up with my parents reassuring Callum he’s donenothing wrong and don’t expect anything from him. He stands next to the phone with a glaze of shiny disbelief over his eyes.

Is he about to cry? If so, why?

“Callum, you heard my parents. We all love you.”

He sweeps me up in a hug and holds me tight.

He whispers in my ear, “One day, I’ll pay your entire family back for all you’ve given me.”

“Hey, you owe us nothing.”

He pulls away and kisses me. His tongue swipes over mine. The tenderness is beyond anything he’s shown me before.

He’s always treated me like a delicate flower, but this is a kiss full of gratefulness and adoration. It’s completely full ofhim. He’s giving his whole self to me and it penetrates my heart like napalm.

It’s in this moment I know there’s not another soul alive who could feel this intensely for me. Nor will I feel like this for anyone else. Callum Mayze is mine forever and I’m his.

He cradles me in his arms and carries me into the main bedroom. “I don’t think I’ve properly made love to you in a bed made just for us.”

“No, I don’t think you have.” I run my hand over his chest. “I love you, Callum.”

“Forever. I mean it, Lily. Forever, I will always love you.” He lays me down on silky high-thread bedding and moves over me, unzipping my sweatshirt as he does.

Our gazes connect and desire takes hold. We strip each other of our clothing and lie naked in each other’s arms. We explore one another in awe. My emotions grow and cause my skin to tingle as everything inside of me heats to a burning level.

He stares into my eyes. “You’re my everything. Promise me you’ll never leave me.”