Page 145 of Endgame

“I bought it.”

His statement holds the same weight as a cell phone ringing in the middle of a eulogy—morbid but true.

“You bought what?”

“Your house. I bought it.”

He can't be serious.

How would he have done that without me knowing orHelen disclosing the buyer's name? I have so many questions. But first, I need proof and to understand why.

“I’m confused.”

Callaway hands over a laminated and sealed document without me having to ask. The translucent lamination gives my eyes an easy view of the text.

“Here. It’s all written out for you.” My eyes scan the text, confirming the question in my mind.

“You bought my house.” I hand him back the document, my hands finding their way into the pockets of my jean shorts as we stare at each other in silence.

I’m not sure what his plan was behind this, but I wish he had told me he was interested in purchasing it. I can’t guarantee my reaction, but it certainly would have been better than how I feel now.

“I boughtourhouse.”

“Callaway, seriously, you’re not making any sense. I own this house, and you’re purchasing it from me, making ityourhouse once I sign.”

He shifts on his feet, placing the document back into my grasp, ushering me to continue. “Open to the second page. You missed something.”

I’m trying not to feel annoyed, but I’ll do this for him. There’s nothing he could show me that would change the fact that he bou?—

“Cal.”

The tears in my eyes have unleashed into streams I can’t control.

My emotions barrel past the brink, leaving them in clear view of those watching. His words etched into my heart.

“It’s our house. I bought it for us.”

I…I…don’t know what to say. Every part of me is screaming to be upset and hurt he went behind my back and purchased something important to me, but the part that loves this man is telling me to run to him and never let go.

He did this for me—for us.

It’s like he knew how hard it would be for me to say goodbye, but knowing I could never afford to put the love and care into it that it deserves.

It would be like losing my parents all over again. He saw that before I did.

My right hand reaches to cover my mouth as I choke down a sob, wrenching from the depths of my heart. Callaway quickly nestles beside me, setting the camera down as he holds my puffy face and directs my attention to him.

My hands grip his forearms as he speaks to me softly.

“I know what this place means to you, and because it means so much to you, it means even more to me. I’ve told you this before—you’re my endgame, the one I see standing beside me until my time is finished on this earth. I never want you to feel burdened by things you want in this world, Dakota. I will give them all to you, including this house, to make it into your dream home for our family. I know it’s presumptuous of me to assume I’m a part of that, but fuck if I’m not hoping for it. My name is the only one on the loan, while both of ours are on the deed. If any part of you doesn't want this with me, I’ll purchase the same, but keep your name alone on the title and sign it over to you as a gift. The loan will be entirely paid in full for you to do with it what you want. But please, I’m begging you, do it with me.”

My heart has reached complete fullness.

I’m hopelessly and entirely in love with him. How dare he doubt that even in the slightest.

I refuse to put up a fight.

“Fine, I’ll live with you. But only if you keep our pantrystocked full of all my favorite cookies and tell me useless funny facts every day.”

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