Page 156 of Stolen Voices
She snakes her arms around my shoulders and brings our mouths closer, mere centimeters separating us. “Eli, I have been in love with you for years. Every song I write is about you.”
Fuck, I hate myself even more for pushing her away for so long. I leave the guilt in the past, because we have our entire future to look forward to and I have the rest of my life to make it up to her—starting with the words.
“I’m so fucking in love with you now, and I don’t want to live another day without you. You are it for me, princess.” I place her hand over my heart. “This is yours until it stops beating, and even then, it will still beat for you in the next life.”
Tears stream down Callie’s cheeks as I take her mouth with mine and kiss her, pouring every ounce of love I have for her into it.
We never make it back to the room, and I end up making love to Callie on the floor in the kitchen. When we finish, I let her play her little game of “chocolate cock” before I spread her out on the counter and eat her for dessert instead.
thirty-three
Eli
Calliesitsintherecliner beside Rylann’s hospital bed, holding the newest member of the Miller clan in her arms. She looks achingly beautiful as she smiles down at the little bundle of joy.
Jeremy Dillon Miller, who we are calling Remy, arrived around the same time Callie and I were making a chocolate mess in the kitchen. Jace texted this morning to let everyone know Rylann and the baby were doing great.
My girl singsSomewhere over the Rainbowwith the biggest smile on her face. I want to take Remy from her arms and return him to my sister-in-law so I can lift Callie off her feet and kiss her.
She’s a fucking natural. I can picture her holding our child. She’ll make a wonderful mother, all smiles and singing as she dances around the living room with her guitar.
“I know that look.” Jace slaps me on the back, erasing the vision of my future. “Does she know?”
“Know what?” I laugh to myself. Callie’s right: I answer a question with a question a lot.
“That you’re going to knock her up and she’s going to have your babies soon,” Jace jokes. He’s so happy. He’s clueless to how loudly he’s talking.
“She knows,” I confirm.
Callie grins, as she pretends not to hear my and Jace’s conversation, and fiddles with her necklace. The gold band on her thumb catches my eye, reminding me of our conversation.
She would have said yes. “Elation” is too light a word to describe how I felt at hearing her admit she would have married me after only being together for a week.
Soon.
“And it will be soon.”
After our fun in the kitchen, we went to bed and talked about how we saw our life together—after we eradicated Silla from it, of course. I learned a lot of things about Callie—one being that she doesn’t want to be a performer, and two, she wants children. Not as many kids as Jace and Rylann have, though. She told me having a baseball-team amount of kids was not her thing. I’m not sure where that came from, but I know my brother, and he would most definitely have that many kids if Rylann would allow it.
“I like this look on you. I’m glad you finally put your reservations aside and followed your heart.”
I turn to Jace, confused by his remark.
He chuckles to himself. “Remember when I was all messed up after Hawaii, the second time?”
“I do. You were a sad fuck. You looked and smelled like shit too.”
“Haha, dick-weasel.” Jace finally lowers his voice and whispers, “That day, you mentioned something about giving anything to be with the one who got away. It confused the shit out of me, but now I know. She didn’t get away. You pushed her.” He nods in Callie’s direction. “You were talking about her, weren’t you?”
I had completely forgotten I’d said that to him. When Jace came back broken and sad, it was around the same time Hudson and I had signed Callie. We were going through all the Harold drama, and there she was, making me feel all the things I had no right to feel. She was my temptation and my greatest weakness.
Not long after, my infatuation turned to anger. I was pissed at her for being the one to make my heart come to life. Pissed at my heart for beating for her—and only her—ever since.
“I was,” I admit. “And save it, big bro. It’s not lost on me. I didn’t take my advice. Pushing her away was torture, and I will live with that guilt for the rest of my life.”
Jace smacks me on the back of the head. “Knock it off. I understand why you did what you did, but believe me, no good can come from holding onto guilt. Let it go. You’re together now, and I’m proud of you for changing your mind and going after what you want. She’s good for you. I enjoy seeing you this happy, E. You deserve it.”
Jace’s words hit me in the feels, making my nose tingle. I sniff back the swell of love I have for my brother that’s filling my chest and throat, choking me up. “Thanks, J.”
