Page 114 of Sunkissed Colorado

The bartender approached, and Piper rattled off our order, putting it on Dane’s tab. “Sure, we’re talking about arelative scale here,” she said while the bartender went to fill a pitcher. “Callum is never going to be the dark and broody type. But there’s a reason he’s always shining brighter when he’s around you.”

I made a skeptical sound.

“You doubt me? I’m something of a relationship connoisseur. It’s all about observing. That’s why I’m great at setting people up. For everyone but myself, of course, but that’s a different issue.”

“I changed my mind. Can we talk about your issue instead?”

“Nope. Focus.” Piper grabbed the pitcher the bartender slid toward us, passing over the stack of glasses to me. “Callum might be new to the relationship thing, but if he says he’s ready to do this with you, he’s in with his whole heart.”

“That’s exactly what scares me,” I whispered, and Piper gave me a sympathetic look.

Iknewhow amazing Callum was. I’d seen the way he made everything better just by being his funny, wicked, unpredictable self. He made me impulsive in the most satisfying ways.

It had been hard breaking up with Ian, even with how toxic our relationship had become. From the start, we’d never been right together. But if I let myself fall for Callum and then lost him? His friendship already meant the world to me. If I was honest, he was my closest friend.

And I knew what it was like to lose my best friend. The person who completed me.

Could I really take the risk of going through that again?

We headed back outside. Callum looked over and waved, giving me a brilliant grin that struck me like an arrow to the heart. And suddenly, it was so painfully clear. The very thing I’d been trying not to acknowledge for days.

I’d come home to Silver Ridge lonely and defeated. But everything had changed.He’dchanged everything.

Callum, the guy I’d hated for years, was now my best friend. That would’ve been bad enough. But that wasn’t all. Oh, not even close.

Because I was already in love with him.

I’m in love with Callum O’Neal.

And it was the worst possible thing that could have happened.

TWENTY-NINE

Callum

Zandra wasquiet in the seat beside me on the way to our next destination. She’d been subdued ever since leaving the brewery and saying goodbye to my friends and family.

I wasn’t worried about that though. Just meant I’d given her a lot to think about. Right? If Zandra wasn’t actively glowering at me or grumping, then I figured I was in the clear.

The visit to the brewery couldn’t have gone better. Seemed to me like she’d had a great time, especially when she came to join in on playing lawn games and Stella finally warmed up to her.

At one point, Zandra sat on the grass and Stella came right over to lick all over her face. I mean, who could blame Stella? Z’s face was pretty irresistible.

I’d also gotten a little status report from Piper, who said things were looking positive on the Zandra front.

I was in a great place. Phase one of my mission was complete, and phase two was a go.

“Not even going to ask where we’re going?” I glanced over at her as I drove. We’d just taken a turn away from the route that would’ve led us back to Silver Ridge.

“Would you tell me if I did?”

“Ah, you’re learning.”

Zandra punched me in the bicep. “Ow,” I complained as I laughed. I had deserved that. I reached for her hand and tangled our fingers together. “Don’t stress. You’re going to love our first date.”

Her fingers tightened on mine. “What about the cooking lesson? Surprised you don’t claimthatwas our first date. Retroactively or something.”

She was going for a sarcastic tone, but I knew her well enough by now to hear the nerves underneath it. Which just meant I had to do all the more to soothe her and make this perfect.