Eighteen
Callie
What the hell just happened? He drops a bomb like that and says we’ll talk later. I want to talk now. Well, maybe not right this second. I’m still trying to wrap my head around his confession. But this doesn’t feel like a “later” conversation. It’s for the best, though. We don’t need to chance Lexi walking in on us talking.
I’ve always seen you. Those four words play on repeat as I finish getting ready for bed.
Not once did he give any indication he felt something for me when we were teenagers. I replay as many interactions as I can remember in my mind.
I can’t go down this rabbit hole tonight. Tomorrow is too important. The last thing I need is to look exhausted when I show up to work. It probably wouldn’t give the best impression.
Climbing into bed, I pull the covers over me, snuggling into the warmth. I close my eyes and will my brain to turn off so I can sleep.
No dice. Over an hour later I’m staring at the ceiling, the fire is dying down, and all I can think about is the fact Peter saw me all those years ago. And did nothing about it. There’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep or start my job tomorrow until I know exactly what’s going on between us. I mean, technically, it is later.
I throw the comforter off me, annoyed I even have to have this conversation in the middle of the night. My fuzzy slippers are beside the bed and I slide my feet into them as I stand. I grab the throw blanket from the bottom of the bed and wrap it around myself. There’s no reason to put actual clothes on right now. Not when I plan on going back to bed, and this will keep me warm enough. Hopefully, Peter is still awake. Otherwise, this will be for nothing.
The slippers make a soft shhh sound as I make my way across the room. I softly pull the door open a crack to see if there’s any noise coming from the rest of the house. The light under the guest room door is off. I would never know if Lexi is actually asleep or not. She sleeps with music playing through her headphones.
There’s a soft glow coming from down the hall, but no sound. The orange is from the fireplace. But it seems like the TV must be on as well. There’s no sound, though.
Opening the door wider, I try to make my steps as silent as possible down the hallway to the living room. I don’t want to wake him up if he’s asleep. At least not right this second.
A shadowy lump is taking up space on the sofa. Peter’s feet hang off the side and I feel horrible for taking his bed. I can fit on here without a problem, but no…he has to inconvenience himself instead.
“Peter?” My voice is loud even though it’s a whisper. He doesn’t move. “Peter.”
This was a bad idea. I turn to head back to the room, but I stop in my tracks.
“Callie? Why are you still awake?”
Instead of his voice being husky from sleep, he sounds completely normal. Maybe his thoughts are bouncing around the way mine have been all night.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Me neither.” He moves until he’s sitting on the sofa and pats the space beside him.
Part of me wants to take the safe option and take a seat in the recliner on the opposite side of the room. But I’ll have to talk louder, and I don’t want to risk waking up Lexi. This is a conversation best had in private. We could always go back to the room, except I don’t trust myself with him.
“What’s on your mind?” I sit down next to him, pulling the blanket tighter around myself. It’s an extra barrier to keep my hands to myself.
“You.”
There’s no elaboration. He merely throws down the gauntlet and remains quiet. I guess it’s up to me.
“Oh.” Stellar comeback, Callie. You sure know how to express yourself. I can’t seem to keep from making an ass in front of him. Even through teenage me was scared to make a move, she wasn’t this flustered around him.
“Yep.” I can see him nod in the faint glow of the TV.
“Well, it’s later. We should probably talk about…well, everything.” Hopefully, that opens the door for him to start the conversation. He’s the one who dropped the bombshell about always noticing me and then walking out of the room.
“I meant what I said earlier. Every time you were acting different, I knew something was wrong. When girls were mean to you, I noticed.”
“Why didn’t you say anything back then? You knew I liked you and didn’t do a damn thing about it.” It would have saved me a lot of heartache. Probably would have kept me in town, too. But I wouldn’t have Lexi if things had played out differently.
“I couldn’t.”
“You realize that’s not a reason, right? I’m gonna need you to elaborate.” Where did this brazen version of me come from? I’ve never had a problem pulling her out with other people, just never Peter.
