Page 16 of Shades of Grey & Gold

His lips are so close to mine I can feel the heat radiating from them. He moves his lips to the side of my face where they graze the shell of my ear.

“I think I’ll wait until you’re sober. Our first kiss is going to be something you never forget, not something you barely remember.” His forehead rests against mine now, his hand snaking up to his neck to grab my hand. “And maybe when it happens, your friend won’t be eyeing us from the parking lot.”

I glance towards the parking lot while he stares at me. Becca is doing something weird with her hips, pelvic thrusts that speed up and slow down at random intervals.

I pull my eyes back to Cal as he places a kiss onto the back of my hand. It feels like fire. His thumb brushes across my hand before setting it gently back at my side. My insides are melting. It doesn’t feel like a denial; the kiss is still hanging there, suspended between us.

Between Cal and me. Me and Cal. Cal is here in real life.

“I never thought I’d find you like this, but I will let you walk away this time. Only this one time, Max,” he is talking slower while he holds up a single finger in front of my eyes and grins. “And only because I know exactly where to find you on Monday.”

He steps back from me, looking towards the parking lot. I follow his gaze and see Becca looking up at the sky and visibly stealing glances our way. I shake my head and look back at him.

My brain is still comprehending everything that he’s said. I feel like I’m still trying to make sense of it all, but feeling more and more giddy that he is right here in front of me.

“But you said you wouldn’t let me walk away again, Callan Reed.” I step away from the wall, put a fake pout on my face, closing the distance between us again.

He reaches up with both hands, taking my face in his hands. His eyes search mine and all I want is for his lips to land on mine how they should’ve seven years ago. I want to feel the softness of them against my own… maybe taste them.

“You’re walking away to go with Becca, and I’m absolutely sure she won’t stand in my way next time. I won’t kiss you tonight, Sims.” His thumb traces my jaw, heat flooding his beautiful irises. “But when I do, it’ll be worth every second I made you wait.”

Heat rises up my legs and fills my core. I make a show of rolling my eyes, hoping he leaves his hands on my face just a little longer.

“Fine.” I huff, trying to sound annoyed even as my pulse betrays me. “But next time, I’m the one not letting you walk away.”

He steps back with a loud chuckle, shaking his head. His laugh lines make me smile. Callan. Callan is here.

“Fair enough. See you soon, Max, get home safe.”

He starts walking down the street and I wave my arm up behind me, heading in the opposite direction over to Becca, who looks like she is fully vibrating with excitement.

Chapter Six

Max

Idon’tsleepwell.

I knew I wouldn’t forty-five minutes after Becca left last night.

I spend half the night lying in my bed staring at the fan on the ceiling and thinking about Callan Reed.

Not Patrick. Patrick I’ve had years to metabolize. Patrick is a finished sentence.

Callan Reed is the opposite. A sentence that barely had a beginning. One I never got to start, let alone finish.

I sit upand pull my knees to my chest and look around the dark bedroom. Bart is at the foot of the bed, one ear lifted in question, like he’s trying to decide if I’m having a crisis that requires his presence or if he can go peacefully to sleep. He sets his head down, apparently deciding on the latter.

I reach over to the nightstand and pick up the pen.

I’ve been doing this since Becca left. Picking it up. Setting it down. Reading the inscription again and again like the words might change. But they don’t.

Don’t give up your light, Sims, and don’t let it shine on anything or anyone who dims it.

The memory of him handing it to me is sharper than it should be. I remember the weight of the box in my hand. I remember wanting to open it, seeing the look in Cal’s eyes. And then Patrick’s arms were around me and the box was gone before I could say anything, and Cal’s face was—

I put the pen back on the nightstand.

Cal’s face when Patrick pulled me away was something I didn’t let myself look at directly then.