Page 70 of Breakaway Hearts

I’ve been telling myself that everything is fine, but right now, it doesn’t feel fine at all.

Is this whole thing Reese and I are doing a huge mistake?

Chapter24

Reese

I stand in my bedroom, staring out at the backyard. It’s a different view than the one I’m used to, since I switched rooms with Callie. Normally, I might enjoy the novelty of it, but my gaze isn’t really focused on anything in particular as I chew my lip.

It’s weird. Ever since the away game in LA a week ago, Callie has put some distance between us. Nothing to endanger the ruse we’re putting on, but enough where I feel a strange, uncomfortable tension between us when we’re at home. She still wears my jersey, still comes to our home games, and cheers wildly in the crowd. But she’s not the same happy, vibrant Callie, the one I love to have fun with and just be with, even if we’re not doing anything at all.

I don’t like that. I don’t like it at all.

I have plans with the guys today, since we don’t have a game, but I text them to say I can’t make it. It’s a Saturday, and Callie is holed up in her room, painting or reading or just avoiding me. She’d probably come downstairs if I left, enjoy the living space, and then go back upstairs when I got home.

Fuck, why does that hurt when I think about it?

Nodding decisively to myself, I turn and leave my room. When I knock on Callie’s door, there’s a few seconds pause before she calls for me to come in. She’s on the bed, reading a book, and glances up at me with a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.

“Hey,” she says. “What’s up?”

I clear my throat. “Hey, uh, do you mind if I borrow some of your books? I’m pretty curious about them. And I feel like I’m in a reading rut lately. I thought it would be nice to try something new.”

That gets her attention. She sits up and bookmarks her spot, cocking her head.

“Seriously?” She slides off the bed and goes to her growing pile of romance novels, which she’s been steadily ordering while the renovation on her apartment continues. “If you’re serious, I’ll lend you a few I’ve finished.”

“Yeah.” I take a few steps in the room, and as I do, I see her body go stiff for a second. Then she shakes it off and continues looking through the pile. “I’d love to read whatever you recommend.”

“Of course. I love recommending books.” She pulls a few from her pile and crosses the room to hand them to me. “A few ground rules, though. No bending the spines. I like to keep my books in pristine condition. Don’t dog ear the pages—I’ll give you a few bookmarks so you have no excuse. And don’t write in the margins. I’ve seen your books downstairs, and I know that’s a bad habit of yours.”

“Writing in the margins isn’t a bad habit,” I argue, but when she reaches out to take the books back, I pull them tighter against my chest. “But for you, I’d do anything, obviously.”

She smiles, and I feel like it’s the first genuine smile I’ve seen on her face in days.

“I’ll give you some sticky notes,” she murmurs. “For good measure.”

She goes over to her nightstand, where she’s got a pile of tabs of all colors and at least a dozen bookmarks. Fuck, she’s so cute, it’s unbelievable.

I run my fingers over the smooth spine of one of the books and take a deep breath.

“Actually,” I say slowly, “I didn’t come in here to borrow books. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely want to read them, but there’s somewhere I want to go with you, if you’ll come with me.”

Callie’s back is stiff, her shoulders tensed. My heart feels like it’s beating in my ears. I hate that it feels this nerve-wracking to ask her to go someplace with me. I hate that it’s no longer second nature, easy and comfortable, and I’m not even sure why that’s the case.

She turns around, holding a bookmark and a little stack of tabs. She walks over to me, puts them in my hand, and takes a step back.

“Listen, Reese…” She trails off with a sigh. Her fingers toy with the ends of her curly hair as she backs up a few steps and sits on the edge of the bed. “Is it something important? I’m not really in the mood to put on the fake girlfriend act today.”

My stomach clenches at the weariness in her voice. I didn’t realize the fake girlfriend thing was taking such a toll on her. Maybethat’swhat’s been getting her down, but I hope today will fix some of that.

“It’s not a fake girlfriend thing,” I assure her. “I want to take you somewhere, just the two of us. No act. Nobody to put on a show for. It’s a surprise, but I promise there will be no pretending between us.”

She furrows her brows as if she’s still doubtful, but there’s an air of curiosity in her expression that brings a smile to my face.

“Come on, Firefly,” I say encouragingly, ducking my head to catch her gaze. “Please come. Do you trust me?”

The tension in her expression smooths out a little, and the vise around my heart loosens incrementally as her lips curl up at the corners.

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