Page 66 of Love Me Like You Do

“Cal, honey, he’s a man. It took him a long time to get the hint that I liked him, he’s not the quickest when it comes to love.”

This causes me to laugh. “But what do I do now?”

“Give him time. Now that I know, I can work on him, but I think you and Kane need to be honest with him. Tell him everything.”

“Even about the stripping?”

“Everything, honey, no more secrets.”

Nodding, I play that phrase ‘no more secrets’ over and over in my head and realize she’s right. “Fine, I’ll tell him everything but, Mom, we were only keeping it a secret because we didn’t want this to happen.”

“You know what they say about secrets.”

“I sure do, I’m currently living the consequences of keeping secrets.” Looking over at her, I reach out and take her hand. “Thanks, Mom.”

“You don’t need to thank me, I’m your mom. This is what I’m here for, but I do have one question …”

“Shoot.”

“What’s it like kissing Kane? The ladies and I at the country club have always thought he was delectable.”

“Mom,” I chastise. “I’m not telling you that but I will say, he leaves me breathless.”

“Just like your father does to me.”

“Moooom,” I screech, “a daughter doesn’t need to know that.”

“Doesn’t need to know what?” Cari asks, dropping between us.

“How Dad kisses,” I tell my sister.

“Eeeeew,” she growls and fake gags. “I think I’d rather go back to my homework.”

Mom and I both laugh as Cari leans forward and grabs my glass of wine, taking a sip. Mom grabs another glass and the three of us finish the bottle of wine and then I head home. Dad didn’t return while I was there but the next day, he summons me to Kane’s office ‘to talk’.

ChapterForty

Walking toward Kane’s office, my heart begins to race. This is it, it’s time to face the music but when I reach Kane’s office, it seems Dad and Kane started without me because when I walk in, Kane and him are already discussing us. “… I’m sorry you found out how you did, Garrick, but Calliope and I are seeing each other and she—”

“She’s my baby girl,” he interrupts, “how could you?” He stands up and when he spins around, I come face-to-face with my dad.

“Hi, Daddy.”

“Calliope,” he says by way of greeting and I note that it’s still my full name. Not Cali or Princess, it’s still Calliope.

“Kane was just telling me the story of you two.”

Nodding, I walk into Kane’s office and over to him. He kisses my forehead and I close my eyes. Breathing him in and hoping I have the strength for this conversation.

“How could you let this happen?” Dad asks again.

I’m not sure who he directs the question to, I open my mouth to reply but Kane beats me. “How could I not?” Kane voices. “Calliope is the most amazing, strong, fun, spontaneous person I have ever met.” He looks to me and with that glance, I feel every word he just spoke and then he adds, “and I love her.”

“What?” Daddy and I both screech at the same time. Dad’s tone laced with anger, mine with shock.

Kane spins me to face him, grips my cheeks, and says it again, “I love you, Calliope Fischer.”

“Unfucking believable,” Dad vents, while I stammer in utter disbelief. “You … you love me?”

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