Page 327 of Now and Forever

Chapter 120

Stella

Iwent on two dates that Luciana set up for me and every time Callum waited up like a demented person. It wasn’t that I was goading him or anything, but I needed for him to know that if I couldn’t fully have him, then I had to keep something of myself as well. He got to keep Zara in his heart and I got to keep my freedom. Even exchange? Not really, but I’d rather have it than not have anything at all.

What I liked about him after those dates, though, was how he always greeted me the second I entered the foyer. After kissing me on the cheek, each and every time he’d say, “Thanks for coming back safe.”

Our transition was evolving and I hoped he’d stay this way. I wasn’t blind, I knew he didn’t like me going out, but he had no choice other than to agree with my conditions.

Tomorrow marked a week of me being back here and I promised Clive that I was going to go have dinner with him. After the meal, we had plans to watch the latest horror flick that had recently come out. Callum had a business dinner, so it wouldn’t be a problem if I stayed out a lot later than usual.

I knew I could date who ever I desired, yet for some reason, I didn’t want him to know that I was going out with Clive.

As expected, dinner with Clive was splendid. It was so great that we ended up catching the last slotted time for the show. Watching a horror flick when drunk was actually quite refreshing. Clive and I both ended up laughing at parts that were supposed to be meant as scary.

To say that I had an incredibly fun night was an understatement

Time flew by and I didn’t come home until it was past three in the morning. I tried not to panic since it was extremely late.

I entered the house like a thief; suspicious, alert and sneaky. The house was dark and I sighed with relief as I tiptoed into the foyer, trying to make as little noise as possible. I was planning to sleep in one of the guest rooms when Callum’s voice echoed throughout the dark house.

“That was Clive who dropped you off?”

Fuck. He was up!

“Good of you to check out through the window like a total creeper.” Was he waiting down here all this time? God, I hoped not.

Callum emerged from his dark hiding spot, wearing only his black boxer briefs and nothing else. “What did you guys do?” he asked, folding his arms on his chest, looking at me like a sergeant interrogating his underdogs.

No, he promised not to do this. If I gave in now, he’d do this every time. “In case you forgot, Callum, you gave me your word that you wouldn’t question me. As long as I came home safe, everything was fine.”

I could actually hear him grind his teeth together. “Yes, you’re having a bloody ball. I won’t ask anymore, I swear it, but I need you to answer me this one question. Did you have sex with him?” he grit out, body tense.

Was he trying to intimidate me? “It really isn’t your business.”

He cracked, bellowing at me. “How could you let another man touch you when you claimed that you were in love with me?” Callum was raving with jealousy, however I was having none of it.

I snorted when he mentioned love. “How dare you throw that in my face!” I growled, shaking with anger as I tried to walk past him, intending to sleep and sort this argument out tomorrow, but the blasted man yanked my arm, not letting me free. “We’ll continue this in the morning.” I tried to be rational, yet he wasn’t listening.

“Just answer me, damn you!” he gripped me tighter.

I glared at him. “Fine. I didn’t have sex with him, but I just might if you keep driving me crazy!” I fumed, yanking my arm free. “Goodnight.” I was trying to walk away again when he stopped me, once more.

“Stella—” he pleaded, all the anger seemed to have subsided the second he knew I didn’t have sex with Clive.

He was a possessive man, I knew that, but given our delicate circumstances, he should be a little bit more understanding. I was still drunk, tired and drained, and there was nothing more I wanted to do than crawl into bed and sleep. “What now, Callum!” I spun around, hair waving past my shoulders, ready to lay it out on him when I saw his expression.

“You have a hickey,” Callum hissed out, about to blow a gasket. “You have a bloody fucking hickey! You let him touch you.” His accusing, pained eyes got to me. “You let him touch you… how could you do this to me?”

Fuck. This hurt. It wasn’t intentional, well, not on my part. Clive somehow got a little over-friendly in the movie theatre. We didn’t even kiss or anything, but he did make out with my neck for a minute… or so.

This was one of the reasons why I didn’t want to stay with him. Apart from his jealous streak, I was now seeing what I was missing after going out with Clive tonight. Callum could never be that man for me, but I kept coming back to him. If I wanted to find love, being here would make it impossible.

“You know what, this wasn’t a good idea. I’m going to call a cab and go back to my place,” I sighed as I texted the private agency my address and hit the send button.

“Hell, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again,” Callum immediately apologized, mood changing swiftly. “Stay. Please. I’ll sleep in the other room if that’ll make you happy.”

This was a hopeless situation. I saw it clearly now. We were going to end up even more messed up than before. We both deserved better than that.

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