Page 97 of We Thought We Were Invincible
“You could come with me, you know.”
“You might be ready for this, Cal, but I'm not.”
I leaned my head on his shoulder. “Before this year, I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss you too.”
A car door slammed, and Morgan came into view with Jay and Jamie not far behind. She glanced at the fledgling fire, then at us and grinned. “Well, this is how we started the year. Only fitting we end it like this as well.”
* * *
Jamie wasn't playinghis guitar anymore, but the music was stuck in my head as I walked around the point of rocks, out of sight of the rest of the group.
I couldn't take the goodbyes any longer. It wasn't only my friends, it was this place. I'd always felt like Gulf City wasn't where I was meant to be, but this beach was. L.A. had beaches and many many more waves to catch, but would I feel the same way about it?
Would I still feel close to my mom?
I knew now that she'd spent a part of her life there as well. California. Had she named me after the place or the people she'd left there?
My entire life, I thought I represented a failed dream, my name weighed down with regret.
Looking out toward the darkened sea, I saw the truth reflected at me.
I was, I am, I will always be California. My mom's California.
“You look happy.” Jamie's voice made me jump, and I clutched my chest.
“Don't do that,” I gasped.
“I saw you disappear around the corner.” He stepped toward me. “I had to make sure you were okay.”
I turned to him, feeling my way in the dark, and touched his cheek. “Thanks.”
His features were hidden from me, but it heightened my awareness of him.
“What time do you leave tomorrow?” I took a step back, needing space.
“I don't want to talk about leaving. Not tonight.”
“Then what do you want?”
The air around us was charged, preparing for lightning to strike.
“Callie,” Jamie whispered, his voice pained.
He moved, bending to capture my lips with his and for the first time in weeks, I could breathe. Winding my arms around his neck, I pushed closer, shivering as his hands rubbed up and down my sides.
His tongue parted my lips, seeking the same thing I'd been looking for. To feel whole. He could swallow me, devour me, and I wouldn't care. All I wanted in that moment was him. Nothing else mattered.
I played with the hair at the base of his head, and he growled into my mouth before pulling back.
“Callie,” he whispered. “California. I love you so much it's killing me.”
My voice shook as I tried to speak. “Show me.”
“What?”
“Show me how much you love me. Give me something to remember.”
It was a line we'd never crossed before, him being much more experienced than me, but I suddenly wanted it to be him. Only him.
