Page 64 of Endgame

Exhaustion seems to hit me out of nowhere, and the idea of my warm bed and an unconscious level of sleep seems to sound better and better as the night goes on.

With my yawns taking over my energy, I decide to call an Uber and head out. I don’t have much planned this week, as it's the off week, but meeting the realtor at my parents' house is on tomorrow's agenda. I will need all the sleep I can get.

I turn towards Navy and Tenley. “I’m gonna head out.”

They both look at me like they’re about to tag team and force me to stay.

It feels good to be wanted by them. But not enough to stay.

Sleep sounds much better at the moment.

They nod in understanding and stand to hug me before turning back to their conversations. I take that as my sign to say goodbye to the rest of the group, letting them know I’ll see them Saturday for the photo shoot.

The strangest part about Cal and I is that we are in this weird limbo. Hefeelslike more than a friend, even thoughhe’s not; and hefeelslike a friend, even though he’s more. It makes greeting and saying goodbye an awkward thing to navigate; except tonight, I don’t have the energy to fight it.

Cal’s looking up at me like he’s waiting for me to initiate the goodbye. This seems to be him letting me take the lead. It looks like I may shock him with this one.

Leaning down, my lips hover beside his ear, “Walk me out?”

I look towards Navy, finding her eyes already on us as I send her a soft smile hoping she doesn’t assume the worst.

Cal’s stupid happy beautiful smile that makes me weak greets me as he makes quick work to stand and ushers me to the exit door. His hand against the small of my back sends chills down my body.

His touch makes me hyper-aware of every move.

Outside, the parking lot is deserted except for our group of cars. It’s eleven at night and the road leaves nothing but gravel to the eye, perks of Joe’s being in the middle of nowhere. Moving to the side of me, Cal watches me intently as I rub my arms hastily, trying my best to warm myself against the coolness of the night. He looks down, almost silently convicting himself for not wearing a jacket. Thinking quickly, he moves his large frame to stand behind me, and my body stills as his heat overwhelms me. His body heat feels like the first sip of coffee in the morning. It’s the comfort and warmth my body needs to make it through the day, slowly what Callaway’s presence is becoming for me. I’m starting to see my inability to fight these feelings I have for him.

Sheltering myself in his warmth, we stand in silence for what feels like hours, not wanting this moment to end. I decide I may shrivel to nothing at some point, and getting home is my protection against that. I move to grab my phone from my purse, finally planning to call for an Uber, whenCallaway's strong hand covers my phone, placing it back into my purse.

His low voice meets my ear, “Take a drive with me. I’ll bring you home after.” I really shouldn't. My anxiety about tomorrow comes in waves, but the better part of me knows it’s necessary. Sadly, I’m ready for the mental exhaustion to end.

It’s as if my mind has yet to catch up with my actions; without even thinking, anokayescapes my mouth.

27

CALLAWAY

I didn’t planon asking Dakota to take a drive with me. Nothing ever seems to go as planned when I’m around her; the need for her is too damn strong. I’m a desperate man, picking up any and all scraps she’ll give me.

I hope the words I poured over her in the bathroom meant something to her. She’s every single one of those things, and I can’t wait for the day she lets me prove to her how much I mean them.

The sound of the Jeep acts almost as a buffer in the midst of our silence. Her yawning and dozing off back at Joe’s showed me she was tired, yet I still keep thinking she is ready to get away from it all. Seeing Dakota open up and have fun tonight is something I’ll remember most on the days I second guess her feelings for me. Lately, that’s been often. Our situation is constantly making my heart leap and then drop to the pits of my stomach. I’m ready to get off the fucking ride and enjoy her.

Her eyes, through my peripheral vision, seem glassy, so I decide to shift the feeling of space. “Did you know that ketchup was once prescribed as medicine to people?”

Crickets. It may be even too quiet to hear them.

Until the loudest, most dramatic laugh I’ve ever heard filters through the night sky. It’s a symphony to my ears. I could listen to the sound of her happiness until my last dying breath. I’m sitting here, catching glimpses of her and eyeing the road ahead of me, smirking like I’ve got a reason to be this cocky because I might be her center point of joy.

That thought pleases me immensely.

My angel’s stone-cold heart is finally making room for me.

She looks my way, “Why does that not surprise me?”

She’s laughing, and it’s the sweetest sound.

“Yep. It used to help fight indigestion in the 1800s. Pretty interesting if you ask me.”

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