Page 139 of Shattered

“We had never been separated. Not once. And then I came home one day during senior year and he wasn’t there. They told me he was transferred to another house out in the country. We didn’t see each other until the week after he aged out.”

“I’m so sorry, Sam.”

She looked at him then and intertwined her fingers in his. “You’re sorry? No, I’m sorry.” There were tears in her eyes.

“You don’t have to apologize. Millie is okay. She still goes to therapy and deals with it in her own way, but–”

“No, I wasn’t apologizing for that.” She couldn't get the right words out. Everything was jumbled together and nothing made

sense. “I mean, yes, of course, I’m sorry that happened to her. I’m so, so, so sorry that happened to her.” The tears stung as they fell down her cheeks. “And I’m sorry that happened to your family. But I’m also sorry about him showing up at your house because of me, and then when you saw us playing disc golf, and–”

“You can’t take the blame for something you had no knowledge of,” he stated as his fingers brushed away the fallen tears.

He then reached across the bed to grab his phone.

Whoever he called must have picked up on the first ring.

“Hey. Do me a favor and send a few pictures of the chairs, okay? I can’t come in right now.” He waited for a moment and then spoke. “Thanks. I’ll try to come in later.” And then he hung up the phone.

“Who was that?”

“Chase is on shift at the moment. I’m not leaving you. Not after telling you that.” He curled up behind her and kissed the back of her neck.

*******

She didn’t speak for the next two hours. She knew he didn’t care. Callum just held her tightly and rubbed her arm, her back, her neck. He drew his little circles on her hand, and kissed her temple whenever the tears started to come.

It was midafternoon by the time she finally got out of bed and shuffled downstairs to the kitchen to eat. She was thankful Callum didn’t hover when she walked out. She needed a few moments alone to think. She was standing at the counter, attempting to eat a slice of toast when she heard his conversation.

“I can’t come. Just have them take back the broken ones and I’ll get in touch with the company.” There was a brief silence. “What do you mean we ran out? There were three boxes in the storage room when I checked yesterday.” Another pause. “Jesus Christ, Chase. Just find a way to–”

“Callum!” she called from downstairs.

She heard his rushed steps pounding down the steps before she turned around to find him staring at her, worry etched across his features.

“You okay?”

“Go to Topline,” she urged.

“What?”

“I’m okay. Honestly, I could use a few moments alone. I'll meet you for dinner at y’all’s house tonight.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“Callum.” She placed her hands on his cheeks. “Let me have some time alone, okay? I’ll be okay.”

He stared at her for far too long before placing his forehead against hers.

“Call me the second you need me. I don't care if it’s two minutes after I walk out that door. Call me.” He kissed her, grabbed his keys out of the bowl, and walked toward the front door. He stopped right before he crossed the threshold. “Are you sure?”

“Go. I’ll call if I need you.”

And then he was gone.

Chapter 56 - Sam

She had lain there in bed for far too long after Callum left, every scenario playing over in her head a thousand times. There was the thought of what Christian had done and how he had hurt Millie. There was the thought of what would’ve happened if Callum actually tried to hurt Christian over their last few encounters. And then there were the memories that she and Christian shared. In that one moment, she realized she’d never really known him.

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