Page 91 of Love You Madly

“I’m sorry if I overstepped.” I can see the sincerity in her eyes and feel the weight of her words.

“Baby, don’t cry. It’s okay,” I hesitate, realizing I probably shouldn’t have called her that.

She cries into my chest and sniffles when she’s finally able to stop her tears. She reaches up at the same time I do to wipe away her tears. “I just thought you didn’t want me,” she finally admits.

God, if she only knew how badly I want her. I pull her face to mine and kiss her deeply, wrapping my arms around her in a hug, holding her close. “I do want you, Callie—more than you know. But I respect you too much to rush this. I want to make sure we do it right.”

She nods, and I can feel her relaxing in my arms. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

“Always,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I promise.”

As the night grows later, I know it’s time to leave. I walk to the door and Callie follows. Before I step outside, I turn to her, taking in her face one last time. I lean in, kissing her goodbye. As I pull away, I notice the hint of amethyst in her eyes and my breath catches.

Wait a minute…

“Goodnight, Owen,” she says softly as I stand dumbfounded as the realization hits me that I’ve seen those eyes before.

This is fucking intense.

“Goodnight, Callie.”

As I walk to my truck, my mind races with thoughts of what this all means. Callie is literally the girl of my fucking dreams.

And I’m so fucking gone for her.

thirty-nine

STAY - RIHANNA FEAT. MIKKY EKKO

CALLIE - JULY 19, 2013

Despite the distance and our hectic schedules, Owen and I have continued to talk every day. I’m still in disbelief over the fact that he bought a crib for my daughter, put it together, and refused to let me pay him back for it. There’s something so sincere about the way he cares for me. I feel like I don’t deserve it.

I am still so mortified over my behavior that night and the fact that I tried to give him a blowjob as a thank you for everything he’s done for me. I’ve apologized to him about it on multiple occasions and he has been so sweet about it, assuring me he just didn’t want to rush it. And he didn’t want me to think that he expected things like that from me.

Tonight, Owen is taking me out for our first official date and I couldn’t be more excited. We haven’t put a label on things but I know I’m not interested in being with anyone else.

With Sara at Adam’s for the weekend, I can’t help but wonder if Adam is going to pull some shit just because heknows I have a date tonight. Even though he has a girlfriend of his own to worry about, I wouldn’t put it past him.

As I get ready, my mind races with thoughts of Owen. I’m filled with anticipation as I ponder what tonight has in store. I rummage through my closet, trying to find the perfect outfit. Something classy but also a bit sexy. Normally, I wouldn’t put this much pressure on myself when getting ready for a date but I want tonight to be perfect.

After struggling to fit into numerous dresses that no longer accommodate my expanding belly, the panic sets in. I grab my phone, frantically calling Brooke.

She senses my distress right away when I give her a shaky hello.

“None of my fucking clothes fit!“ I exclaim, my voice filled with frustration and anxiety. “I can’t go on my first date with Owen looking like a whale!”

A soft chuckle escapes my best friend. “Excuse me? A whale? Don’t you dare talk about my bestie like that. And even if you were, you’d be the cutest whale in existence! Like Baby Beluga!”

I manage a smile, though my nerves are still bubbling to the surface. “Thanks, Brooke… I’m just having a total meltdown right now. I want things to go right tonight. It’s really important to me.”

“I know, honey,” she says, her laughter light but genuine. “Don’t stress. We’re going to find you something perfect. Have I ever steered you wrong?”

True to her word, Brooke arrives a short time later with an armful of sundresses. We lay them out on my bed, and I try them on one by one. After a few misses, I slip into a simple white sundress with black and red flowers. It flatters my body’s new shape without feeling too restrictive. And it makes my tits look amazing. So that’s a definite win, right?

My best friend smiles at me. “That’s the one! You look beautiful, Callie.”

I glance at my reflection in the mirror, feeling a surge of confidence. “Thank you, Brooke. You’re a lifesaver.”

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