Page 71 of We Can't Be Friends

20

CHLOE

I’ve never been to Callum’s condo.

Callum and Liam share it. We could have walked from the hotel to their building, but with Tucker and the collection of items I haphazardly threw into bags, I’m glad Cal drove us. Didn’t mind the extra miles either.

I wouldn’t have pinned him to drive a mid-level luxury car. Not that I know what I think he would have driven; it’s a reminder that as much as I do know Callum, I don’t know him.

Earlier was a lie. Telling him we aren’t friends. We are—maybe best friends.

I thought about calling him when I got off the phone with my dad. My fingers hovered over his contact information. I called Emerson instead.

Callum puts his car in park. “I’ll be right back.”

I slip out of the car, opening the backseat passenger door to get Tucker. He hops out and tugs on his leash in Cal’s direction.

Cal taps a fob to a small utility closet, opening the door. He returns from the closet with a small cart.

From the trunk, we remove my bags—clothes for work, my skin care routine, and things for Tucker—stacking them on the small cart.

I follow him to the elevator where he fobs again, selecting his floor.

When we reach floor 25, Cal puts his hand over the door, letting Tucker and I exit. I spin around, returning the favor as he pushesthe cart out. His hand brushes my lower back as he heads down the hallway. I follow him, again, silently.

Even through my jacket, my skin burns from his touch.

“This is us.” He winks at me. Cal holds the door open for me again.

I drop Tucker’s leash and he bolts inside fearlessly—and before I could wipe his paws.

“Tucker,” I call out to him. “Sorry,” I say to Callum.

“I’m not.”

I tilt my head, watching him. “Are you sure about this? It’s not just me, but Tucker too. I can go somewhere else.”

Callum steps toward me. I step backward, my back hitting the wall across from where he held the door.

It slams shut.

He takes another step toward me. I try to back up more, but the wall now holds me against him. His hands rest next to my head.

“Stop.” Cal is hot, but I’m suddenly cold. Chills prancing across my skin. “I want you here. With. Me. Got that?”

When I don’t respond, at a loss for words for how close he is. How his chest brushes against mine when he breathes. How from this close, I can see his eyes so clearly. The blue beautiful, with bursts of green. How all we would need to do is shift our heads a hair and our lips would brush. How drawn I realize I am to him.

How tethered to him I’m letting myself get. I can’t. I’ll only hurt him.

I should go.

“Henry, answer me.”

I nod. That’s not a no.Why am I nodding? I should be shaking my head.

“I’m a words guy. You need to use them.”

“Got it.”

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