Page 177 of Stolen Voices

A wide grin spreads across my face. “I fucking hope not. You’re stuck with me.”

“You’re trying to freak me out on purpose. Open the door, you big jerk.”

I turn on the light and push the door open.

Callie walks in, checking out all my suits on one side and running her fingers over the expensive fabrics. My palms sweat as she takes in the little details: the built-in dressers, shoe racks, cubbies. Her eyes widen, and her mouth forms a perfect O, when she sees the women’s clothing and shoes filling up the other half of the closet.

As she picks her jaw up off the floor, I see the awe on her face change to mischief.

“Don’t,” I warn her, sensing the smart-ass comment on the tip of her tongue. “This is all for you. I had Mona and Letty set this up while we were gone.” If I had known sooner that Taylor’s cousin Mona was a stylist, I’d have gotten her work a lot sooner.

“Umm.” Callie looks at the clothes again as she chews on her lip and twists the ring on her thumb.

“Say something, princess.”She hates it.

She tugs the robe tighter around her chest. “What do you want me to say, Eli? I don’t understand what this means.”

Fuck, I’m dense. I didn’t even ask her. Of course she doesn’t understand. “It means… Move in with me. Never leave. Make my home your home. Let’s make thisourhome. Stay with me forever. Is that clear enough for you?”

A slow grin takes over her face, and her eyes shine with unshed tears as she nods. “Yeah, Elijiah, that’s clear enough for me.”

By the look on her face, I have my answer, but I want to hear her say it. “Well? Are you moving in or what?”

“So romantic.” She bites back a smile as her eyes swim with affection.

“Calliope.”

“Yes.” She lunges at me, and I lift her into my arms without hesitation.

“Yes, what?” I nip at her neck as she snakes her arms and legs around my body, clinging to me.

“Yes, I’ll move in with you,” she answers.

The weight on my shoulders falls away. “Thank fuck. The idea of you leaving gave me anxiety. I never want to spend another night away from you. I want to fall asleep next to your gorgeous face every night, and I want to wake up to your beautiful voice every morning. I want lazy morning sex and dirty fucking after dinner, and everything in between.”

Callie peppers my face with kisses, making me laugh. “Me too. I love you, handsome. I was worried I’d have to go back to the penthouse.”

“No way was I letting you go, Cal. I’d chain you to my bed if I had to.”

“That’s creepily sweet of you.” She cups my scruffy cheek and kisses the other.

“I aim to please. If you want anything from the penthouse, I’ll send Boone to get it.”

“Maybe. For now, I’m good.” With a wistful glance over her shoulder, she looks at the clothes hanging on what will forever be her side.

I carry her out of the closet and take a seat on the bed. Callie is usually all chatter and sunshine, but these past couple of hours, she’s been off.

Not wanting to push but still refusing to let her spend the night feeling alone in her feelings, I broach the subject. “I know this afternoon was a lot to process. I’m here if you want to talk.”

“It was. I’m just…” She shrugs, looking for the right words. Her eyes swim with emotion. “I guess ‘sad’ and ‘heartbroken’ are the right words. I loved my childhood home, and now it’s someone else’s home because Silla sold it. I’m not naïve; I knew it was gone, but this just feels so final, you know?”

“I do.”

She snuggles into my chest, and I pull her closer. It seems like, every day, there’s a new missile launched at Callie’s heart, and I hate that there is nothing I can do about it. Being able to fix things or call in a favor is my thing, and she has me facing my inadequacies once again.

“I’m really sorry. I wish I could fix it for you.”

Callie rears back to look me in the face. “Eli, being here with me, holding me… Thisisfixing it for me.” She points at the clothes hanging in the closet. “You make me feel loved and supported. For so long, I was alone, but not anymore. Now I have you, and having you in my life means so much more than a house.”