Page 82 of Shattered

“What the hell is all this?” she questioned no one in particular.

“Mr. Barker did it,” Jess chimed in and then nudged her side with a knowing look.

She wanted to laugh.

Mr. Barker.

That's how everyone here saw him.

But not her.

Their Mr. Barker was her Callum.

HerCallum.

The Callum who’d filled his home with her scent. The Callum who filled her ears with her favorite music. The Callum who now had stocked the coffee station with her favorite flavors and then some.

Her Callum.

Even if the last time they’d seen each other she had made it abundantly clear they were only friends. It didn’t matter. Somewhere deep inside of her, she knew he was hers, and she was his, and that was frightening. If she was being completely honest, it was absolutely terrifying. Mostly because the feeling was new and unknown and she wasn’t sure how to reconcile that with the knowledge that they were now, because of her, just friends.

Only friends.

He was a friend who put together an entire coffee bar with all of her favorite things.

She smiled when she saw the peppermint flakes. She had never added that to coffee before, but she figured she might as well try it. It sounded amazing.

She could not believe how boggled, yet totally clear her mind was right then.

Callum.

Callum.

Callum.

This tiny, amazing gesture just summed him up so perfectly. He was so considerate. He always listened to her. He had never pushed her about anything that made her uncomfortable. He had followed her home and made sure she was safe. He was there for her at the drop of a hat, as soon as he thought she might need him.

Sam knew that she wanted him in her life, but she wasn’t sure what exactly that might look like. She stared at the new additions as she tried to picture that friendship.

She burst out into a laugh at the thought. There was absolutely no way in hell she could just be this man’s friend. She felt like a ridiculous idiot. She laughed so hard at the notion that she was bent over and holding onto her stomach when she felt a hand grip her shoulder.

When she looked back, she found Callum’s face tilted in confusion as to her outburst.

“What’s so funny?”

“You.” She looked at him pointedly.

“Me?” he asked, rather shocked.

“Yes. You.” She rolled her eyes as she smiled. “You and your peppermint diffusers, and your new playlist, and yourimprovedcoffee bar.”

His cheeks went red.

“Is it working?” He ran a hand through his hair.

She looked around to find them standing alone without another soul in sight and leaned forward to whisper in his ear.

“Yeah. I kinda hate you for it,” she said with sarcasm and a smile. “But it’s working. You are a really,reallygood friend.” She blushed as she spoke.

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