Page 100 of Shattered

“You’ve never been to the beach despite living here most of your life. You work your ass off to make good money, but, from what Kristin says, you never spend it, and you have a scholarship that helps you pay for school. One that you’re scared to death of losing if you make bad grades.”

“That wasn’t a question. That was more a list of observations.”

He rolled his eyes as if to sayI’m getting there.

“Did you grow up really poor or something?”Oof.Not exactly what she’d been expecting.

“Um, you could say that,” she answered as honestly as she could.

“You know, you never give me a solid answer to anything I ask.”

“I’m a very private person. You already know more about me than most everyone else.”

“That’s sad, Sam. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’m about as private as they get as well, but you still know more about me. I don’t know if your parents are married or divorced. I don’t even know your middle name.”

“I don’t know your middle name either.”

“Franklin,” he said a little shyly.

“No!” Sam laughed out loud. “Callum Franklin Barker. Sounds pretty fancy to me.”

“Don’t ever repeat that.” He eyed her sternly and then laughed. “What’s yours?”

“I don’t have a middle name.”

He looked at her like that was the oddest thing he had ever heard, and Sam knew there was another upcoming question. She continued before he could further pry, “Callum, listen. The life I had before I came here to college and met Kristin is very different from the life I’m now living. There are only a few people that know my past. If I told you, your entire view of me would change. I don’t want that.”

“Try me. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.” Callum smirked and Sam recalled having once used that same line on him.

“That was my line.”

“Well, now it’s mine.”

“Can I tell you later? I just want to enjoy the water without all that shit lingering over us.”

“You promise to tell me later?” He pulled her into his chest with a pleading look.

“I promise.” Sam nodded, knowing her little bubble would soon come crashing down, most likely followed by him wanting

nothing further to do with her.

“Alright, let’s see how far out you will go.” He wiggled his eyebrows and let the current lead the way.

They spent most of the afternoon wading in the water. That was, until he was conned by two six year olds into giving them twenty dollars for their shovels and buckets. He then spent the next fifteen minutes building Sam her very first sand castle. She was still bursting out in laughter when he yanked out his phone and snagged a picture of her beside the half fallen down structure.

Chapter 43 - Callum

She fell asleep in the car.

Again.

And he loved it.

The only problem was that she hadn’t fallen asleep until they were fifteen minutes into the drive, which meant he had only maybe another fifteen to watch her before they arrived back at the market.

He realized at that moment that he never wanted to stop watching her. He wanted to watch her as she slept and as she cooked. He wanted to be there when she studied and when she worked. He wanted to celebrate with her when she got into medical school and he wanted to be the person she called when she had a bad day. He wanted her to get mad at him for not folding the towels correctly and then he wanted to kiss her until she forgot exactly what it was he had done to make her mad in the first place. He wanted to bring her lunch and make her breakfast. He wanted to eat ice cream with her after dinner and walk along the beach with her at sunset.

He wanted every moment, every tear, every laugh, every smile. He wanted it all. And he would do whatever it took. He wanted nothing more than to be able to experience all of that with her.

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