Page 18 of Five Days

Surely he had to believe that Landon and I making amends would only strengthen the asshole’s feelings for me. So why insist on us speaking? Did he keep his fingers crossed I would go off and rip into Landon in the exact way I wanted to? Was it Callum’s hope that I would shatter Landon even further, leaving mere pieces he hoped to glue back together? Was he so desperate for Landon’s attention and love that he would break the man’s heart in attempts to heal it?

I hardly knew Callum, but he didn’t seem the sort to intentionally cause hurt to someone he cared about. He’d been nothing but genuine as far as I could tell, and having escorted for a handful of years, I’d gotten pretty good at reading men.

Regardless of my initial impression of Callum, and thanks to my past, the idea of him setting himself up to be the hero fed off itself. It was a nefarious plan that might serve him the man he was in love with on a platter, but where did that leave me?

Why the fuck do I even care about the outcome?

That question settled in my brain after showering as I lay down in the king-sized bed and stared out the massive window at the pale full moon watching me from high in its lonely sky.

Even though I didn’t think myself capable of trusting anyone enough to be in a relationship, I was tired of being alone. Had been since as far back as I could remember, having gotten tossed into the system as an infant. Seeing my friends at Elite hooking up, marrying, and some even talking about having kids together sent a pang through my heart every time we all got together.

Part of me yearned for what those couples shared—everything. Thoughts, feelings, struggles, and accomplishments. It took serious balls to lower one’s walls and be vulnerable like that, and I wasn’t sure I had that capability.

I’d been fine on my own for years and had a lot to show for it. A nice condo with its heavy blanket of silence I told myself I enjoyed. Appreciation at the shelter and community home I volunteered at. Two men I exchanged up-nods with at the gym and occasionally spotted for.

What I didn’t have?

A close friend, because I’d learned the hard way how easily betrayal happened and how it shattered dreams and ruined lives.

Huffing an exhausted exhale, I closed my eyes and rolled onto my stomach, punching my pillow before settling in once more.

Blue-green eyes flashed behind my closed lids. Lush lips at a height I wouldn’t have to do anything but step forward to taste. A warm palm on my lower back that sent shivers up and down my spine and promised comfort and safety regardless of how well I knew the man.

Floppy light brown hair and amber eyes with their golden ring around the irises rose alongside Callum’s face in my mind. Need like a goddamned tractor beam pulled me in same as it had fifteen years earlier when Landon had climbed atop me, making my dick hard. I longed for the familiar warmth of him against my side regardless of the truth between us. The memory of how tears had welled when I’d whispered no to what he’d wanted to gift me tore at my insides.

Groaning, I turned my head to face the other way, but the images and thoughts of both men followed me into the early morning hours. They drifted in and out of my dreams like haunting wraiths intent on wrecking my soul with both sweet memories and beautiful possibilities of what could be.

Chapter 7

Landon

I woke in Callum’s bed.

At least this time my sleeping ass hadn’t gone all octopus around him from dreams he might leave me and never return. God knew what I would do if he ever walked out on me. Without Callum… Hell, I couldn’t begin to imagine how I would survive. Making it through a single day without his assuring presence and guidance seemed impossible.

Nope. I lay on my side, fuzzy memories fighting for clarity in my brain that was slow to power up. He and Zack had been clasped tightly together in an embrace, even more erotic a sight than when they’d been dancing.

Neither wore clothes, I realized as the colors from the fantasy world I’d been inside while asleep became vivid in my consciousness.

They’d been locked in a kiss, hands groping, frotting in desperation for release against each other.

And I’d been turned the fuck on, dick aching.

I blinked myself out of the memory, and Callum came fully into focus.

He still slept on his back, his far arm wrapped up above his head on the pillow, fingers slightly curled, completely relaxed. Lips parted, he exhaled soft puffs of air without much sound.

Callum had a strong brow and prominent nose, classical almost in its appearance as though he had aristocrat blood in him. Even in sleep, he appeared so put together. Calm and collected. Everything I wasn’t and needed. I’d been lucky to have my first manuscript land on his desk, even though he’d never learned how it had happened. He’d been in charge of marketing, far from acquisitions and having no say in what authors the publishing house he worked for took on as clients.

Whoever or whatever had made our paths cross that day had blessed me beyond measure.

Sighing, I pulled my knees up to ease my morning wood that raged more than usual thanks to that dream of him and Zack.

What Callum had done for me, the money he’d used to hire Zack for five days, was above and beyond what a normal friend would do. I didn’t deserve Callum, and nothing in my past suggested otherwise even though he insisted I was a good man and ought to have whatever my heart desired.

Which would be Zack.

Callum knew that truth of mine—hell, I’d talked the entire affair to death more than once to his kind ear.

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