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“I asked if I could check on you first before we left,” I explain, my fingers curling into the blue bedspread as I yearn to touch her.
“Oh.” Her worry lines fade, replaced with a sleepy smile. She yawns and stretches underneath the blanket, arching her back and pointing her toes. “I’m okay, just need some rest and to replenish sugar and all that.”
“I’m glad,” I reply as my heart begins to pound in my chest. What if I waited too long?
When I don’t move or say anything further, she sits up against her pillow and takes my hand. “You seem to be thinking really hard. What’s going on?”
I examine our joined hands, hers so much smaller than mine. To the outside observer, she would appear weak, but she’s far from it—not just in power, but in determination and drive. When she wants something, she fights for it. I admire that.
“Earth to Kaleb,” Callie calls, waving her free hand in front of my face.
“I don’t want to be perfect anymore,” I admit, clasping her hand between mine.
“That’s a good thing,” she murmurs, placing her free hand on my knee. “It’s too much for anyone to attempt.”
“All my life, I’ve done what I was supposed to do.” I trace the back of her hand with my fingertips, worried about how cold her skin is. “I did the right things, said the right things, and made sure never to be a problem, because I was raised on horror stories of my parents’ past. They are well over a hundred years old, and I hear them talk often about how despite how things have changed, too much is still the same. Even knowing everything I did would never be enough, I still did it because it was all I could do to protect myself.”
Her tone is soft and empathetic as she whispers, “Oh, Kaleb.”
“But it’s also caged me to the point where I don’t know who I really am,” I continue while rubbing her hand between mine to try and provide some warmth.
She squeezes my knee. “I told you who you are.”
“Rattle the stars, I remember.” My laugh feels choked as I try to get to the point of my visit.
I don’t understand why this is so hard. She already told me she loves me, and I already told her I love her, but everything I fear still exists inside me. I know I’m still jealous, and it will be something I’ll have to fight with every day. Except, something snapped loose inside me when I watched Callie heal Nolan. I saw the love between them, and I wanted it desperately for myself.
“So you’ve decided to stop trying to be perfect, and by doing so, you’re going to figure out who you are?” Callie prompts when I’ve once again fallen silent.
I nod as I try to swallow down my anxiety. “I’m going to start doing what I want to do instead of just what I’m supposed to do.”
She looks at me curiously. “And what do you want to do?”
“I want to be with you,” I admit, lifting my gaze to hers.
Her smile wobbles, and her eyes grow glossy with tears. “I want that too, but can you? Has anything changed since the letter?”
“I realized that tomorrow isn’t promised to us.” I lift her hand to my cheek. “Every day I waste trying to change myself to be perfect is a day when we could be together. I may have a couple hundred years left, or I may just have today.”
“Don’t ever imply that you aren’t going to live until you’re wrinkled and gray,” she chastises, running her thumb along my cheek. “I can’t bear the thought of losing you. I brought one of us back from the dead and another from the brink of death, so don’t think I won’t do the same for you.”
“I promise I have every intention of living a long life,” I assure her, sliding closer to her, “but my point still stands. If I only had today, I’d want to spend it loving you.”
A tear drips down her cheek, and she reaches for my hand, placing it over her heart. “I love you, Kaleb Ward, and if you’re getting to the point that I hope you are, then I accept.”
This time my laugh is genuine, the tightness in my chest easing with her declaration. I lean over and pull her into my arms. Pressing my lips to her ear, I ask, “Callie Lyncas Volkov, would you be my girlfriend?”
“Yes!” she squeals in delight, wrapping her arms around my neck.
“No special things you need to tell me before accepting?” I tease, running my hands down her back.
“Super witch. Extra boyfriends. Mate. Can bring people back from the dead. Oh, and apparently, I’m going to be a matriarch one day,” she says and then playfully scrunches up her nose like she’s thinking really hard. “Nope, that pretty much covers it.”
“Good, because I’m going to kiss you now, and I prefer no additional surprises,” I state, brushing my nose against hers.
“I can’t promise that.” She giggles, her lips hovering millimeters from my own. “I’m just full of surprises.”
“Like?” I prompt, reaching underneath her tank top to caress the base of her spine.
