Page 59 of The Wicked Love

At first, that kiss felt like fate. Like no matter what had happened to us in life and what was to come, we were destined to share that kiss in that moment.

But then everything changed in my mind.

I swear I caught a hint of lemon—maybe in someone’s drink. And I lost it. I couldn’t get away from Callum fast enough because he wasn’t Callum anymore. He was Brady, and I was trapped under his weight, suffocating.

Another one of the reasons I can’t let Callum in again. I’m never going to be able to kiss him again, to have sex again. And why would he want to be with anyone who can’t even kiss him without wanting to puke?

Stripping out of my clothes, I wish I had asked Sophie to stay. I did want to be alone, but only because I felt like I gave her a piece of my soul tonight, and I was scared to see how she would look at me now.

I finish putting on my cheetah silk shorts and tank set when a loud knock smacks against the door in the living room.

Then, the doorbell rings, and it rings again, and again, and again. Then, the knocks follow and repeat.

What the fuck?

I race into the living room and tiptoe up to the peephole on the door. The knocks continue to echo through the room.

Someone shouts, “Freeze!”

Keanu.

I rise onto the balls of my feet and look out through the dime-sized hole.

Shit.

“I need to see her. She needs to know what’s going on!” Callum shouts at Keanu. “Dude! Put your gun away.” Callum’s hands remain in the air by his head.

My fingers find my doorknob, and I twist it, trying to build up any courage I can grasp. And I slowly open the door.

Keanu’s eyes stay locked on Callum with his gun still aimed at his face. I can’t look at Callum yet. I just can’t.

“Keanu, it’s fine. I can take it from here. Thank you.”

Placing my hand on his arm, I push it down, and he lowers the gun.

Keanu straightens up. “Remember, I am right next door. And if she cries again tonight because of you, I might reintroduce you to my friend here. I really don’t like seeing her cry.” He admires his Glock 19.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I open my door and walk in. “Let’s go, Callum.”

“Thank you,” he says in a mocking tone that I know is being shoved in Keanu’s face right now.

I hear the door click behind me as Callum shuts it.

“Becca.” Callum says my name, and he takes large gasps of air as he tries to regain his breath.

I keep my back to him. “Why are you here?”

I hear him take a step toward me.

“Becca, I have to tell you something, something you are not going to want to hear or probably believe. But I promise you—I promise you—that it’s true. As much as I wish it weren’t.”

His phone dings, and I hear the tapping as he types a quick response.

“What could you possibly have to say?” I ask him as I cross my arms over my chest, feeling suddenly naked in this tank top.

Another step.

“Can you look at me? Please.”