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“I blamed myself for a long time too, but now I know that blaming only helps if it has the power to change us. To make us better.” I find Luke again, begging him to hear this part.

“Elena’s death made us better, Luke. And now we have a chance to make it matter. To makehermatter.”

“She matters, Case,” he says quietly, lifting his gaze to mine. A muscle moves in his jaw. “So much.”

Relief like I’ve never felt floods through me. I didn’t even know how badly I needed to hear him say that until this moment.

“I know she does. I know.”

I grip Luke’s arm and complete the circle with a look to Callie. Her watery eyes speak for her. I pray mine do too.

The silence that settles in is completely different this time. It’s soft and warm and sad. It’s the healing that can transform a hollow void into serene peace.

“I’m going to make some tea,” Callie says, climbing to her feet.

“Tea sounds great,” Luke says on an exhale.

Our universe has officially shifted.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I didn’t think I was a fan of tea. But when tea leads to flirting, which leads to being tackled by Callie for an impromptu make-out session, which leads to the two of us in the guestroom stripping each other, my opinion on the beverage changes dramatically.

She’s breathtaking naked. I find every inch of her beautiful and fascinating. But beyond her attractive exterior is her gorgeous interior that shines out in everything she does. She’s just as authentic and open with her feelings and desires as she is about everything else. I love how she can be so sweet and innocent one moment, then demanding and aggressive the next.

Right now she has me on my back, her hands flattened against my chest, pressing me into the mattress. Her expression is all playful temptress as she leans in for another devastating kiss.

Her tongue sweeps over mine, and I tangle my fingers in her hair to drag her in. I’ve never tasted anything so sweet, felt anything as sublime as the rhythmic syncopation of our bodies.

Rush after rush moves through me, and we roll until I’m on top, driving the beat I’m reading in her reactions.

Her gasps form the perfect melody, the shifting tension in her body a flawless harmony.

And when she finally lets go, I match her every breath, desperate to take it all in.

I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I will never take a single moment for granted. I’ve seen too much living lost to waste any more.

We remain still for several seconds, locked together amidst the soundtrack of our labored breathing. Her shy smile when she relaxes into the sheets warms every inch of me. She reaches up to frame my face and pulls me in for another deep, slow kiss. When I lean back, stunning hazel stars blink up at me, lighting up this entire damn planet.

“Want to know a secret?” she whispers, pink lips tipping into a sweet smile.

“As long as it’s not about tea.”

Her soft laugh is everything. She runs her thumb down my cheek and grazes the corner of my mouth.

“Not about tea. About you. Well, sort of… I’ve always had a thing for the drummer. Whenever we’d see a live band, I’d always call dibs on the drummer.”

“Really,” I draw out. “Interesting.”

“Yep,” she replies with a smug look.

“I see. So I’m not your first drummer?”

Her teeth sink into her lip as she scrunches one eye in thought. “Um…”

I snort a laugh and shake my head. She giggles as she pulls me in for another kiss.

This one ends with me dropping to the bed beside her. I hold up my hand between us and she links hers with mine. She drags our knotted fingers to her lips and kisses my knuckles.