Page 45 of Traitor

No matter how many times I say it though, the sting doesn't lessen.

"Do you want to watch something else?" Callum asks quietly.

He expects me to get mad at him, and that breaks my heart. Being treated poorly isn't an excuse to cause harm, and that's what I did. We both needed to grow. We're still growing, and I think we're finally in a place to do that together.

I relax, sighing away the last bits of pain that hearing Cozi's name invokes, "It's okay. I'm okay."

Maybe I should meet Cozi, actually. It'll be easier to look past the circumstances when I know the real person involved. Not the Cozi that my hurt heart created.

When the movie is almost done, Callum seems to grow bored with it, his hand drifting to my pajama-clad thigh.

"If you keep touching me there I'm gonna get hard." I mumble.

"Maybe that's my plan."

"The movie's almost over." I say as he licks my neck. "I'm invested."

"Oh, are you? What's the main characters name? In fact, what's happening right now?"

In truth, I've barely paid attention, we both know that. But isn't it so much more fun to tease him?

"Well obviously, the battle between the bad guy and the good guy."

"Mhm, and why are they battling?"

I'm about to answer when there's a knock on the hotel room door. We haven't ordered anything, and it's way too late for room service. I roll my eyes, huffing as I stomp toward the door.

"What do you want?"

My bandmates' smiling faces greet me at the door as they push their way inside. "It's movie night!" Kellen says, flopping onto the couch. Everyone makes themselves comfortable as they crash our peaceful night.

"Uh yeah," I say, shutting the door. No point in trying to remove them. "We were doing that." I gesture to the TV.

"The more the merrier. That's what they say isn't it?" Oliver says, snuggling into Kellen's chest as he sits on him.

They all annoy me. How are these my best friends? I'm kinda stuck with Scout, but the rest of them? Ay, ay, ay.

I realize that my disappointment doesn't stem from blue balls, but rather the desire to be and stay alone with Callum. If I told myself from two months ago that this is where we'd end up before even the European leg of tour he'd scoff in my face.

I have a feeling that full trust is in our horizon, if it's not already here.

Callum

"Welcome in." An older woman greets us when we walk in the door of a Louisiana spiritual shop. Her long, wavy brown hair rests over her shoulders, framing her face. She looks cool as hell, her head covered with a wrap, neck and fingers adorned with chunky, crystallized silver jewelry. The outfit she has on consists of long flowing fabrics and intricate patterns, none of which match.

She looks like the perfect stereotype of a spiritual woman. It's amazing.

"I love your outfit." Echo says, following his namesake and speaking my thoughts.

"Thank you, darling. Let me know if you need my assistance."

Kellen insisted we come here, but it's honestly kinda cool. I've never really interacted with spiritual stuff unless it was through him, so it's very interesting to be in this shop.

It smells good. Nothing I can describe, but there are oils and incense in containers, and other plants and things. Pretty rocks and books. Echo seems to know more about these kinda places so I follow him. I'd probably do that anyway, though.

"Look at this." Echo says.

"What is it?" he hands me a small bottle only labeled Love. "I thought you couldn't use magic for love."

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