Page 21 of Puck Princess

That… was a lot.

All of this… is a lot.

I know who Nicky’s dad is, and the truth makes me feel like I’ve been drawn and quartered. I could crack the shower tiles right now if my fist wasn’t already a swollen mess.

But it’s not just that. Two women—the two women I care about more than anything in the world—could have been seriously hurt today. The people I’ve sworn to protect were in danger, and I barely made it in time.

I told myself they would both be safer without me around, but tonight, if I hadn’t shown up… I can’t even think about what that would’ve meant.

I finish showering and step out, wrapping a towel around my waist. As I step into the hallway, I hear Callie in the living room. She’s crying.

I follow the sound and find her huddled on the couch.

“Hey.” I sit next to her, close enough to pull her against my still-damp chest. “What’s wrong?”

“Everything.”

I get that.

“I know. And I’m so sorry. For everything, Callie.”

“Sorry?” She sniffles, turning to look at me. “For what?”

I don’t even know where to begin.

“I should’ve known something was going on with Miles after the charity ball. I had a feeling, but I didn’t listen to it.”

“Because I lied to you about what happened.”

“And I should’ve known you were lying.” Part of me did know; I just didn’t want to believe it. “I’m supposed to keep you and Summer safe, but if I’d been two seconds later tonight?—”

“But you weren’t, Owen.” She turns to me, her hands on my shoulders. “You’re the reason we’re okay. You’re the reason we’re safe.”

The air is thick again, the same way it was earlier tonight on the couch just next door. If I’d done what I wanted to in that moment, we’d probably still be on that couch. And Summer would be with Miles.

As shitty as things went tonight, I can’t help but feel like they happened the way they were supposed to. Miles got what was coming to him, Summer is safe at home with Nicky, and Callie and I are… here.

As Callie looks at me, our gazes swimming together, I think maybe this moment was meant to be, too.

Her eyes drop to my lips before biting her own, and I can’t waste another second not touching her.

We kiss.

It’s a soft, gravitational pull where we meet in the middle. She slides onto my lap the way she was earlier tonight, deepening the kiss. My towel falls away, and she can see how much I want this.

Maybe that’s why she murmurs against my mouth, “I want you.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, not because I worry we’ll regret it. I’ll never regret a second I spend touching her. Even if this doesn’t work out, even if fate is a twisted bitch and this isn’t meant to be, I’ll never regret her.

But she’s vulnerable right now. Miles’ hands were on her less than an hour ago, and I don’t want to rush her into anything.

“Yes,” she breathes, her fingers sliding into the hair at the back of my neck. “I need you.”

And that’s all she needs to say.

I kiss Callie again, soft and unhurried. We have all the time in the world tonight, but it’s also the only way Icankiss her right now. My face is a mess. Hell, everything hurts. But I don’t care.

I want this. I want her.

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