Page 46 of Just One: Box Set

Chapter Nine

A ndre couldn’t stop replaying the phone conversation from the night before.

Calli’s confession, her vulnerability—it had stirred something deep inside him.

She had expected him to run, to back away at the news of her being a virgin, but the reality was, it had only made him want her more.

He wasn’t about to let her slip through his fingers over something like that.

His fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex.

It wasn’t the worst place he’d seen, but there was something about the old building that didn’t sit right with him.

His instincts flared, making him uncomfortable with the thought of her living there.

He parked, killed the engine, and climbed out of the truck, his boots heavy on the concrete as he made his way to her door.

When she opened it, he felt his breath hitch.

Calli stood in the doorway wearing a sweater dress that clung to her curves in a way that made his blood heat.

The hem hit just above her knees, teasing a glimpse of skin before her knee-high boots took over.

Her hair, golden and flowing, shimmered under the low light.

She was a vision of understated sexiness, and it took everything in him not to grab her right then.

"Damn," he muttered, stepping forward as she motioned for him to come inside. "Calli, you look stunning."

Her cheeks flushed pink at the compliment. "Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself," she teased, eyeing him with an appreciative smile. "You look a lot better than the last time I saw you."

Andre laughed, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "Yeah, I imagine a hospital gown didn’t do much for me."

She tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Hard to believe anything could make you look bad."

A low growl escaped him before he could stop it. "We should go before I give in to temptation right here."

But Calli didn’t seem to want to wait. She stepped closer, pressing her palm against his chest. Her touch sent a jolt of electricity through him. Looking up at him, her gaze locked on his. "I’d like to get this out of the way first," she murmured.

He barely had time to process her words before her lips were on his, soft and tentative at first. It took only a second for the shock to wear off, and then his arms were around her, pulling her against him.

Her kiss deepened, and Andre felt the world spin out of control as her tongue slid into his mouth.

She tasted like everything he’d been imagining all night, and the soft moan she let out against his lips sent his restraint crumbling.

His hands cupped her ass, pulling her closer, feeling her melt against him.

When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily. Andre took a step back, shaking his head. "We need to go. Because in about sixty seconds, I’m going to forget all about being a gentleman."

Calli’s lips curled into a teasing smile. "I’ll hold you to that. But later." She reached for his hand, her fingers lacing with his, and together they headed out the door.

The drive to Donovan’s was filled with light conversation, but there was an undercurrent of anticipation between them. Calli rested her hand in his, the warmth of her skin against his own feeling impossibly right.

"So, tell me about this friend of yours," Calli asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Liam?" Andre glanced at her, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "We’ve known each other since high school. We went through the fire academy together, and now we work at the same station. He’s loud, wild, and not the settling down type. Let’s just say, he’s never had a relationship longer than a few months. "

Calli’s brow furrowed. "I thought you said he was bringing his girlfriend tonight?"

Andre chuckled. "Girlfriend? No, whoever’s with him tonight is probably just the flavor of the week. Liam doesn’t do commitment."

Calli stiffened beside him, her body language shifting slightly. "So, he’s a player?"

"Pretty much. But Liam’s always been that way. Doesn’t mean I am, though. Trust me, my parents raised me with different values." Andre glanced at her, sensing her discomfort. "He’ll grow up one day. Maybe."

She nodded but didn’t say much else, instead sharing what it was like growing up as an only child. She talked about how much her cousins meant to her, filling the void of loneliness that came with not having siblings. It was clear how important family was to her, and it struck a chord with Andre.

"You want a lot of kids?" Andre asked, his tone casual but his eyes watching her closely.

Hearing him call her by her full name sent a strange thrill through Calli, the way the formality rolled off his tongue feeling intimate in a way she didn’t expect. She smiled softly. "Yeah. I do. You?"

Andre paused for a moment, considering. He had always envisioned himself with a big family, but with the way things had gone over the years, he’d almost given up on that dream. Until now. "Yeah, I’ve always wanted a home filled with kids, just like the one I grew up in."

He pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot and cut the engine, turning to face her. "Ready to meet Liam and have some food?"

Calli nodded, though something about her demeanor had shifted slightly. He helped her out of the truck, his hand never leaving hers as they walked inside. But the moment they neared the table, Calli stopped abruptly, her face draining of color.

Andre frowned, stepping closer. "What’s wrong?"

She stared at the man sitting at the table, her voice tight. "Please tell me that’s not Liam."

Andre followed her gaze and immediately saw the problem. Liam’s expression mirrored Calli’s—shocked and uncomfortable. He turned back to her, already knowing the answer before he asked. "Do you know Liam, Calli?"

Her jaw clenched. "I don’t know him as Liam. I know him as Will."

"Will," Andre growled, the realization hitting him hard. "Short for William . We’ve always called him Liam."

Before he could say anything else, Liam stood and approached them, his hands up defensively. "Dre, can we talk?"

"No," Andre said, his voice low, controlled rage simmering beneath the surface. "What the hell, Liam? You told her your name was Will? What kind of bullshit is this?"

"Hold up," Liam replied, trying to calm the situation. "Let’s talk this through."

Calli’s face hardened as she glared at Liam. "You cheated on me and have the nerve to act like everything’s fine? You made me feel like I wasn’t good enough because I wouldn’t sleep with you. And now I have to face you again, pretending this isn’t a complete nightmare?"

Andre’s hand clenched into a fist at his side, barely resisting the urge to punch Liam right then and there. Calli’s voice trembled with emotion, and he could feel her pain as if it were his own. "Calli," he called out, reaching for her, but she pulled away.

"I told you I don’t do messy, Andre. I can’t believe this." Her voice cracked as she spun around and stormed toward the exit.

"Calli, wait!" Andre’s heart sank as he watched her leave, knowing deep down this wasn’t something that could be easily fixed.

He turned to Liam, fury darkening his expression. "I swear to God, I want to hit you right now. That girl is everything I’ve ever wanted, and because of you, she’s gone. If she doesn’t give me a chance because of the way you treated her?—"

"Dre, she was just a—" Liam began, but Andre cut him off, grabbing him by the collar and pushing him back.

"You don’t get to talk about her," Andre snarled, his voice barely controlled. "Calli is the most genuine, kind woman I’ve ever met."

Releasing his hold on Liam’s shirt, Andre stalked out of the restaurant, his heart pounding as he watched Calli’s Uber disappear into the night.

"Andre!" Liam called after him, but he couldn’t stop. Not now. He jumped into his truck and sped toward her apartment, his heart in his throat. When he arrived, he raced up the stairs, banging on her door. "Calli, please, baby—let me in. We need to talk."

There was no answer. He pulled out his phone and typed a quick message.

Andre: Calli, I’m here. Please, let’s talk.

A few seconds passed before the dots appeared, followed by her reply.

Calli: I need time, Dre. I’ll call you later.

Andre slammed his fist against the door, frustration and hurt twisting inside him. He had never felt so powerless. He turned and walked away, the weight of what had just happened pressing down on him like a storm.

If he lost her because of Liam’s mistakes, he wasn’t sure how he’d ever forgive him.