“I love you, Callum. In a way I never knew I could. I know long distance isn’t something you’d pick, and I don’t expect you to wait—”
“You’re fucking with me, right?”
I blink at the simmering hurt in his tone, his brows knotted in a furious, yet endearing, expression.
“We just confessed we love each other and now you’re telling me that you expect me to find another woman because you won’t be in the country?”
“I can’t ask you to wait for me. That’d be selfish—”
“Thenbeselfish!” he blusters. “Be selfish for me, for your career, for whatever you want. Because I want to give you everything you desire.”
“You could resent me for picking cricket over us.” It’s the one thing I’m afraid of and I wouldn’t blame him for it. I want to be chosen. I want to be loved. Why wouldn’t he?
Cal’s jaw twitches, like he’s working out a response internally.
“I told your ex I wouldn’t make the mistakes he did with you. To my shame, I nearly failed. Forcing you to choose something you’re not ready for isn’t what I want for us.”
I almost pipe up with an argument when he shushes me.
“I’ll miss you,” he admits. “But, if you stay, your heart will be mired in what-ifs and regrets that will corrode how you feel for me. So no, baby, I won’t resent you for going to India. Because I’d rather wait to haveallof you than lose you bit by bit.”
“Cal,” I sniff, my throat closing as emotions spike, the burn in my sinuses firing up with a vengeance. “Two years of long distance won’t be easy.”
“I’ve had a lifetime of easy, Tots. I’ve stayed away from complications and allowed myself to feel only surface level emotions. I don’t want that again. I won’t be waiting because you did or did not ask—it’s because there is no one else for me. You’re it, Alia. Go make your dreams come true and let me cheer you on like I should’ve donefrom the first fucking moment. We’re going to make this work. You know why?” he asks, lovingly swiping away the wetness under my eye with the blunt tip of his thumb.
“Why?”
“Because,” he pauses for emphasis. “We’re amashmade in heaven.”
I snort out loud. It’s a terrible pun, but he’s so proud of lightening the moment for me, I fall in love with him a little bit more right then.
Cal will always balance the stormy clouds in me, clearing them away gently with his indomitable sunshine. He cups my face and pulls me in for a deep, drugging kiss.
“A few years of hard work, and then a lifetime together. Understood?”
My heart threatens to collapse at the intensity of his words. At how assured he sounds. Certainty thrums through me, growing increasingly stronger until I’m smiling so wide, my cheeks hurt.
“Answer me, baby.”
“A lifetime together,” I promise. No doubt about it.
51
ALIA
My feet are frozen outside the bar that’s become quite familiar to me.
The noise of revelry and raucous enjoyment is audible even through the closed door. The Ironhearts are meeting at Block on Wood tonight. It’s been three days since their crushing defeat against Anaheim and everyone’s decided it’s time to quit moping.
Or at least, mope together. Not sure how much of that will happen once Cal and I walk in holding hands. Yes, we’ve been sneaking around, but it’s time to tell everyone.
And Rohan.
Oh my god, Rohan.
Breathe,I remind myself.Just keep breathing, breathing, breathing.
“What’re you doing?” Cal’s amused voice interrupts my respiratory exercise. I pause, my mouth pursed like a fish.