Page 272 of Now and Forever

Chapter 97

Stella

The first few days of waking up alone in my bed was weird, but after the fourth day—thank goodness—I was almost back to normal. A week wrapped in his arms and I was reduced to being a sentimental idiot.

Yeah, the first week was difficult. Since we both agreed that we were going to go back to how things had been between us. I somehow still expected something, though. Maybe a text or a phone call, possibly even flowers selected by Eleanor; something. I hadn’t expected this nothingness. When I insisted on going back to our normal life, I wasn’t completely expecting the usual normal. Okay, did that even make sense? Yeah, I was dwelling on Callum for reasons I couldn’t even understand.

Or maybe it was because I declined his arrangement proposal… when I had desperately wanted to say yes. The major thing was, I was reluctant and scared to say yes. If it were any other man, it wouldn’t have been difficult, but this was Callum; the man who I’d had a big crush on since I was fifteen. Not to mention the blatant fact that I always ended up getting all hot and bothered when he was around. It was great and all, yet I didn’t want to risk falling for him. My first boyfriend was a playboy, too—much like Callum—and I had ended up getting my heart broken when I caught him cheating.

Besides, Callum had done so much for me already. I couldn’t risk ruining our friendship, or what was left of it anyway.

It had been almost two weeks since he dropped me off in my flat… and still he lingered in my thoughts. Yeah, I’d been counting down the days, wondering when this feeling would subside. I was giving myself another week, two maybe, a month total to get back to normal. If there was no improvement by the end of the month, I was going to be in big trouble.

Unfortunately.

“Hiya, sweet cheeks!” Mark knocked before letting himself into my office, carrying coffee with him. “Thought a good caffeine boost would do you a world of good, sour puss.” He slid the lidded cup towards me, grinning like mad.

“Don’t get a habit of calling me that, Mark. I loathe it,” I muttered, sipping from my hot beverage.

“Your loss.”

I rolled my eyes as I got up from my seat and strolled towards the comfortable sofa I sometimes took naps on. “Aren’t you supposed to be working with Alec or something? What are you doing here at two in the afternoon?”

Mark plopped next to me, tickling my footpads. “Well, I came to remind you about the dinner reservations we have tonight and the cocktail party afterwards for Alec’s birthday bash?”

“Stop it.” I tried to kick him, but he was too quick for my own good.

“Tickle fight!” he declared.

I was making a lot of “squees” and a lot of giggling because he was attacking me relentlessly.

Our little foot and fingers war halted when we heard the sound of a throat being cleared, as if to try to get our attention. Mark looked up as I twisted my neck to the side to see who it was.

It was Lucia, looking furious… next to a stoic-looking Callum.

“Are we interrupting?” Lucia raised her brow, green eyes murderous.

Mark casually shook his head. “We’re just relaxing a bit. Anything we can help you with?” He darted Callum a steady gaze. “Kensington, right?”

Duh. He knew who Callum was, so why pretend like he didn’t? Mark was such a wanker.

Callum, however, was detached and completely ignored him. “Stella, may we have a moment?”

Not looking directly at him, I blushed. “Yeah, sure,” I grumbled, shifting my skirt that had ridden upwards.

Shit.

“You can let go of her foot now,” Callum demanded, voice chilly and with an underlying threat evident in how he said the words.

Mark, the total teaser geezer that he was, seemed unfazed as he eyed me with amusement. He even had the gall to kiss my big toe before he whispered into my ear, “Looks like big bad wolf is the jealous type. I love you, but please be cautious with him? He’s not like Derek. He’ll annihilate you like the rest of them.” Mark then kissed my cheek and then stood up. “See you tonight. By the way, don’t forget to look smashing hot.” He departed with those words, not even making an effort to greet Lucia.

The woman was sending me murderous glares as she looked at the open door and then back at me. She made a scary growl before she walked out of my office, slamming the door with her.

Fuck, she was mad.

Mark and I always fooled around like kids, what was the big deal now? Was I missing something here?

“Was that Derek?” Callum broke through my thoughts.

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