Page 87 of Puck Prince

There’s no word for what I’m feeling now.

She’s a pain in my ass.

She knows more than she should.

And I can’t help but smile.

She stands up, and I follow suit. For a moment, we just face each other on the balcony where we met. I wonder if she’s remembering it all as vividly as I am.

I think she’s reaching for the door, but Callie grabs my hand instead. “Thanks for telling me that, Owen. For trusting me with it. Your secret is safe with me. And if I can ever help with anything, let me know. I know what it’s like to… to not feel safe.”

I want to ask a million questions—kick down a million doors—to figure out who made her feel unsafe.

I hate the idea that someone might’ve scared her.

I hate even more that I wasn’t there to stop it.

Without thinking, I’m taking one step closer and another.

This is so against our rules, but I shove the rules right off the balcony and pull Callie against me. She gasps, but I swallow the sound with a kiss.

Her cheek is warm against my palm, and her body softens into my chest. She’s soft everywhere, and I pull her closer, kiss her deeper.

And she kisses me back.

Her tongue slides with mine, her soft moan vibrating in my chest.

After a short eternity we both pull back, coming up for air and studying each other.

“Callie…”

“Yeah?”

“I want to?—”

“Hey, Owen?”

We both jump back. “Uh, yeah?” I shout in a choked voice to Summer calling from the bathroom.

“I need a towel.”

I clear my throat. Callie smiles up at me. “You take care of your nephew. I’ll see you later.”

With that, she leaves.

And it feels like she takes everything in me with her.

27

CALLIE

I really should stay off of balconies. Every time I’m on one these days, something catastrophic happens.

Doors lock. Cats attack me. Lightning storms appear spontaneously.

I end up sucking face with Owen Sharpe.

In my defense, he kissed me.

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