Page 62 of Stolen Voices

Callie:Ugh. You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?

Eli:Yes. Now, spill.

Callie:Fine. But this is all your fault.

Callie:You don’t have a grumpy face. It’s more serious looking. You mostly use that face with me. But last night, when you spoke about your family, you smiled the entire time. That’s how I know your smiling face is your real face. I like it when you smile.

She likes when I smile.

Heat floods veins and my skin tingles with excitement. I’ve given her very little these past few weeks, and she can still see through my professional façade to the heart of who I am.

She sees me.

My thumbs fly across the screen and hit send before my brain can stop me.

Eli:I’ll be sure to smile more for you.

Fuck. That was bad. Really, really bad.

Callie:I’d like that. I have to go, but I’ll see you later.

“E, what the hell are you doing out here?” Jace slaps me on the shoulder.

I lock and shove my phone into my pants as fast as I can. “Sorry. Work thing.”

Jace doesn’t miss the reaction, but he lets it go. “Alright. Mase and I are ready to head out. Can you still drive us to the airport?”

“Oh, yeah, uh, I’m good. Dez, uh, has everything handled.” I could kick myself for stuttering when Jace’s eyebrow hits his hairline. I’m not a jumpy person. I’m the calm and collected cool brother. But Callie’s confession has me in my feels.

What the fuck am I doing encouraging her like that?

“Well, what are you waiting for? I can’t miss my flight. My very pregnant wife needs me.” Jace gets the far-off look in his eyes, and I know he’s thinking about Rylann.

I love seeing him happy. After everything he’s been through, he more than deserves to be happy.

“Sorry, man. Let’s get you home.”

I follow my oldest brother back inside to find Cam sitting on top of the massage table as Stephen covers the fresh ink in a thick ointment before covering it in plastic wrap and tape. I thank him for coming over at the last minute and promise to hook him up with some new clients soon.

“Thanks, E. If you or your brothers want any more work done, just reach out.”

Stephen is a great artist. I met him a while back through some friends of friends. He offered to do the piece on my back two years ago. His work speaks for itself, and since then, he’s been the one I refer clients to when they ask about getting ink.

“Thanks, man.” I shake his hand.

Stephen gives Cam some final care instructions before packing his equipment and heading out.

When he’s gone, I walk over and inspect the font scrawled across Cam’s left chest, right over his heart. It’s bold and delicate. Perfect.

“Looks good, Cam.”

“It does.” His face lights up as he stares down at the letters again. He’s the youngest, and he’s already found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

Jealousy gnaws on the edge of my stomach. I want what he has. What Jace and Mason have. A wife, kids. Everything.

Callie’s dark-brown eyes pop into my head.

“Alright, my boys.” Dad claps, pulling me from thoughts. “It’s time for me to get home to your mother. She’s got this new book, and I promised her we would try out chapter 27.” My dad wiggles his brows.