Page 160 of The Bitter Words

“Livianna, I’ll make you something once you two are done talking.” He stomps out of the kitchen.

Callum’s gaze lingers on Bren as he disappears up the stairs.

What the hell is going on between them?

I stride to the cabinet where my mom keeps the flower vases. “Let me put these in water and you can tell me why you’re here.”

Callum treks to my side, takes the lilies from me, and places them down. “I’m here because I can’t let you go. Lily, I… I need you. You’re the only one for me.”

“It’s been two years and I know everything you’ve done since then.”

“None of that matters.”

The misery etched in the creases of his face has my heart breaking all over again.

“Callum, why would you want to go back to the toxic relationship we shared?”

“It wasn’t like that and you know it.” He weaves his fingers with mine and pulls me closer to him. “I still love you like I did when we first started dating. Don’t you get it? You’re part of me.”

“Callum…” My insides whirl with a thousand different emotions and love clearly stands out as the most prominent one. I force it down and focus on all of what he’s done. “If you loved me like you say you do, you wouldn’t want anyone else.”

“I don’t want anyone but you.”

“I wish I could believe you.”

“You should because it’s the damn truth.” He leans down and presses his forehead to mine. “Lily, please take me at my word. I’ve only ever loved and wanted you.”

My stomach sputters out tight waves of devastation and pain. So much fucking pain, I could curl into a ball and weep on the floor for hours.

“We both know it could never work out between us.” I push him away. “You should go.”

“No. I can’t walk away again without giving us everything I have. If I could, I swear on my life I would, but I’m broken inside.” His entire body shakes. “God knows it would be better for you if I just let you go, but I’m lost without you.”

“If you know I’m better off without you, why stand here and beg for something even you think is detrimental?”

“Because the only thing that calms my nightmare of a life is you. Ask Guns. He’ll tell you I scream out your name when I’m sleeping. Don’t you see you’re the only thing that matters to me anymore?”

“How can you say that? You have everything you’ve dreamed of since you were a kid.”

“I’d give it all back if I could have another chance with you.”

“I’m not the answer you’re looking for.” My chest caves in like it does every time we run into each other.

“If I clean myself up and prove to you I can be the man you deserve, would you consider getting back together?”

All the good memories we shared flip through my thoughts. We used to be so in love. Maybe we could get back to that.

I give him an unconvincing smile. “Get yourself together and then let’s talk.”

“I will. Just wait, Lily. You’ll see. When I come back from touring, I’ll show you exactly who I can be for you.”

“I really hope you’re right.”

“I am.” He inches toward me, glancing at my mouth.

He studies me for any indication I’m going to stop him. I don’t move a muscle. If he wants to kiss me, then he should.

He takes me into his arms and brushes his lips against mine. His clean, ocean breeze cologne rises into my nose.