Page 23 of Callahan's Haven

Hope sat on Haven’s other side and wrapped an arm around her. “You know we love you.”

“I love you guys too,” Haven said while Destiny dropped her hand and wrapped both her slender arms around her and Hope and gathered them close.

They sat with their heads together, minutes passing while Haven whispered the fear she’d felt—something she wouldn’t admit to anyone else. When she told them of her relief after Cal had barreled out of nowhere, she expected them to press her for more. They didn’t. But she was sure the third degree wasn’t far away. She let herself cry until she couldn’t cry anymore while her best friends cried with her.

What would I do without these women in my life?

“Okay,” Destiny finally said, breaking away from their little huddle and wiping her face. She’d lasted longer than Haven had thought she would. “Can I yell at you now?”

Haven and Hope laughed, with Hope sitting away from Haven but taking her hand.

“If you do, I won’t tell you more about Cal.”

“Yeah. Who is he? I don’t recognize the name,” Hope said, squeezing her hand. “Whoever he is, he deserves a big kiss for rescuing you,”

Haven bit her lip and gave them a coy smile. “I already gave him one.”

“Shut up!” Destiny said, wide-eyed.

Haven nodded.

“Wow,” Hope said. “You kissed him? You, the picky woman who won’t take college guys seriously?”

“You’re one to talk,” Haven said, pursing her lips. Her gaze went back and forth between them. “Neither one of you date that much either.”

The fact was, Hope and Destiny had only dated a handful of times between them since they’d reacheddating age. It had only been the last few years Hope had managed to overcome much of her innate shyness to even consider going out with someone. And Destiny? Well, she’d kept her focus on getting her education and ignored any of the guys who’d pursued her. After what her friend had gone through, Haven supposed it was as good a coping mechanism as any.

Hope playfully punched her arm. “Yeah, but you kissed one after just meeting him, and for you that’s unheard of.”

“Well, he did save her life,” Destiny chimed in, grinning. “She probably gave him points for that.”

Her friends were right. Haven could count on two fingers the number of guys she’d kissed since starting school here. She’d quickly found out most of the guys here were boys playing at being men. They’d only seemed to want one thing—to fumble around in the dark just so they could say they’d poked some girl.

Brayden Collins could actually be their poster child.

And Haven didn’t want a boy. She was holding out for a man—one who would look at her as more than a conquest and who would care more about satisfying her than his own ego. So far, no one had met those expectations.

Until now.

At least she had sensed Cal was different. The heat already in her neck, rose up into her cheeks. After that kiss, well, she could say without a doubt he most definitelywasn’ta boy.

“He doesn’t go to school here. In fact, he’s…he’s older.” Older and one damn fine kisser. He’d had her so worked up she’d tossed and turned in bed, and had finally ended up reaching into her panties for some relief before she could eventryto sleep.

“He’s not a college guy?” Destiny crinkled her brow. “So what was he doing on campus so late at night?”

“I’m not quite sure yet.” Haven wasn’t lying to her friends, even though it felt like she was. His connection to her dad worried her. She wasn’t stupid. She knew there was something more to her dad’s job than what he would admit. What if he was in trouble and had sent Cal and his giant friend—Devin, Derek, De… whatever his name was—to make sure she was safe if something happened to him. She didn’t want to break some kind of protocol by voicing her suspicions to her friends. They’d understand later when she was able to tell them.

She hoped.

Haven frowned at her choice of words.

Breaking protocol. That’s what Cal had said he’d done.

“So, what kind of kiss was it?” Hope waggled her eyebrows. “A simple peck on the check, a full kiss on the lips, or more? And which one was he?”

“Which one?” There was no way… “How do y—”

“It’s all over social media—with video and everything.” Destiny grinned. “I especially liked the part where Brayden got pepper sprayed.”

---