Page 91 of Endgame

I point backward, trying to clue him in on the space that’s literally right next to me. He must really be tired.

His stubbornness is in full force tonight. “Scoot over, Dakota. I need to be by the door.”Oh.

“Um, okay. Do you favor the door side, or is this you being too exhausted to walk around?”

I can’t see his face clearly, but I can imagine he’s rolling his eyes at my ability to argue with everything.

Tough shit, buddy.

Giving up, I slide myself to the other side of the bed, waiting for him to lay down in the spot I conveniently left warm for him.

“Thank you. I need to be closest to the door. At least this way, I know you’re safe. I’m biologically wired to think of the worst-case scenario in unfamiliar places. Now go to sleep.”

I feel his heavy exhale as soon as we both settle. “Sleep tight, baby.”

He kisses me on the cheek and rolls to wrap his arm around my waist before falling into a deep sleep.

I’m wide awake and stunned. Callaway’s care is immeasurable.

I’m past the point of no return. He’s everything I want in a life partner and a future.

Nothing can keep me from pursuing him now.

38

DAKOTA

At least Iknow you’re safe….

I can’t get his statement out of my infatuated little brain.

I’m crushing hard.

The entire trip to Cleveland feels like something out of a movie. I want to rewatch it over and over again.

The simplicity of our date was exactly what I would have picked for us, and Callaway knew what I would like without having to ask.

Despite my obvious feelings for him, the possibility of us not working out terrifies me. I know we would never work as friends. We’re both in too deep for that, but it would destroy me to lose the friendship side of us.

I know Callaway would pull away.

I can’t risk that. I’m going all in—failure isn’t an option with us.

I want it to work. He matters enough to me to giveusmy all.

Once we get back to Atlanta, I do my best not to seem clingy at the idea of seeing Callaway outside of work sooner than later. When he invited me over for a movie night at hishouse tonight, I had to collect my charmed bearings and play it cool.

This meant I held in my squeal and almost felt my heart hiccup attempting to reign in the giddiness. It feels good to experience these feelings without patronizing myself for them.

I’m falling for him.Madly and deeply.But I’m also falling in love with myself again, and that’s a riveting feeling—there’s so much free space in my heart open to loving him, it makes me optimistic I’ll one day soon have the love my parents once shared.

I’m sure of it.

I have no idea what Callaway has planned for our movie night, but I’m excited about it.

I’m pretty sure I went through at least five different outfit options. You know, to lay around the house in.

After running through my options and hating them all, I settled on black leggings, a sweatshirt, and some fuzzy socks with my bear slippers.

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