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Chapter 19

Violet

Callum’s eyes are locked on mine, searching for something, and I hope to God he finds it. The intensity of his gaze has my heart racing, my pulse thundering in my ears. Every nerve in my body is on high alert, waiting, anticipating. The tension between us is thick, almost unbearable, and I feel like I’m going to combust if something doesn’t happen soon.

The cold water from the waterfall is supposed to be refreshing, but it does nothing to cool the heat rising inside me. It’s like a fire is spreading through my veins, and Callum is the match that lit it. His gaze is scorching, searing into me, making my skin tingle as if he’s touching me without even laying a finger on me.

The way he’s looking at me, like he wants to devour me, sends shivers down my spine. It’s primal, raw, and so incredibly hot that I can barely breathe. There’s an unspoken hunger in his eyes, a desire that matches my own, and it makes my knees weak.

God, I want him to kiss me.

No, I need him to kiss me.

The thought is overwhelming. My lips part slightly, my breath hitching as I inch closer to him. The tension is thick enough to cut with a knife, and I swear, if he doesn’t kiss me soon, I might just go crazy.

His eyes flick to my mouth, and my heart nearly stops. Every beat feels like it's dragging, slow and heavy, as I wait for him to close the distance, to make the move I’m too afraid to make.

“I—” I begin, but the words die on my lips as Callum’s hand moves, almost in slow motion, lifting toward my face.

It’s as if time itself slows down, and for a moment, the world around us disappears. I hold my breath, my body vibrating with anticipation, and then his fingers graze my cheek, and it’s like an electric shock. My skin ignites under his touch, and my breath catches in my throat.

“Kiss me,” I whisper, the words barely audible, but they hang between us, heavy and loaded with the weight of everything unsaid.

Callum’s eyes darken, and for a split second, I see the battle raging in him. There’s this struggle to keep control, to hold back. But then, without another word, he closes the distance, his lips crashing down onto mine.

The kiss is everything I remember and more. It’s hot, fierce, and filled with a hunger that’s been building for far too long. His hand slides to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, as if he can’t get enough of me, and I’m right there with him, kissing him back with just as much intensity.

Every touch, every stroke of his lips against mine, sends sparks flying through my body. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before, and I don’t want it to end. All the tension, the uncertainty, the push and pull between us—this kiss is the culmination of it all, and it’s utterly explosive.

I melt into him, my hands finding their way to his chest, feeling the hard planes of his muscles beneath my fingertips. His body is solid, strong, and I want to be closer, to feel more of him.

When he finally pulls back, we’re both breathless, our foreheads resting against each other’s, chests heaving as we try to catch our breath.

“I’ve wanted to do that since we climbed into the tent last night,” Callum murmurs, his voice rough and full of desire.

I nod, my heart still racing. “Me too.”

His thumb brushes across my bottom lip, swollen from the kiss, and I shiver at the sensation. There’s a look in his eyes now, softer but no less intense, and it makes my heart skip a beat.

“We should probably…” I trail off, glancing toward the waterfall, though I have no idea what I’m trying to say. All I can think about is how much I want him to kiss me again.

“Yeah,” he agrees, though he doesn’t move, his gaze still lingering on my lips.

But instead of pulling away, he leans in again, capturing my lips in another kiss. It’s slower this time, but just as powerful. It feels like we’ve crossed a line, one that neither of us wants to go back from.

And for the first time in a long while, I’m perfectly okay with that.

After what feels like a lifetime, a beautiful, soul-stirring lifetime, Callum finally pulls back, his breath mingling with mine. He searches my face like he’s trying to memorize every detail, his eyes filled with a tenderness I’m still not used to seeing from him. With a slow, almost shy grin, he tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

“This is going to sound ridiculous,” he says softly, “but when we get home, would you like to go on a date?”

The sincerity in his eyes makes my heart thud harder in my chest, and for a split second, I’m stunned. He’s wrong though. It doesn’t sound ridiculous at all. In fact, it sounds perfect. Exciting. Like the beginning of something real between us.

“I’d love that,” I say, my voice soft as I smile up at him, the words coming out with a sense of certainty I didn’t know I had.

Our kiss, so intense and all-consuming, had kept me distracted from how freezing the water actually is. But now that we’re standing still, the cold seeps into my skin, causing me to shiver against him. Instantly, Callum’s hands rub gently up and down my arms, his brow furrowed with concern.

“Let’s get you out of this cold water,” he murmurs, his voice soft but commanding. “I don’t want you catching a cold.”

He steps out first and then helps me out of the lake, and I’m grateful for the strong, steady grip of his hands. Without missing a beat, Callum rushes over to his backpack, pulling out two towels. I hadn’t thought to pack one, but of course, Callum did. Practical and thoughtful.

He wraps the towel snugly around my shoulders, the fabric soft and warm, and rubs my arms again to help chase away the cold. The gesture is so tender, so caring, that my heart does a little flip. Unable to resist, I rise up on my toes and press a quick kiss to his cheek. Butterflies swarm in my stomach, and I know I’m enjoying this new connection between us more than I’d like to admit.

I think I’m starting to fall for my husband.

But that’s crazy, right?

As we dry off, we each step behind separate bushes to change into dry clothes. The process is quick, but the weight of what’s happening between us makes it feel like so much more. It’s not just our wet clothes we’re changing out of—it feels like something in our relationship is shifting, evolving, and I’m ready to see where it takes us.

“Holy shit,” Callum mutters as I emerge from behind the bush, pulling my hair into a messy bun.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping next to him, concerned by the sudden change in his tone.

“This was a setup,” he says, shaking his head in disbelief, a small smirk forming on his lips.

“A setup? What do you mean?” I blink, genuinely confused by what he’s talking about.

“They didn’t show up because they wanted it to just be us.” He’s still shaking his head, though now there’s a mix of amusement in his voice.

I can’t help but giggle. “You think they’re trying to play matchmaker or something?”

“Think about it,” he says, turning toward me, his smirk growing. “Last night, when we agreed to come here, Anya was way too excited. She kept giving Willow and Hartford these looks, like they were in on some secret plan. And now, poof… they’re nowhere to be found.”

“Like Parent Trap ,” I say, laughing at the absurdity of it.

“Exactly like that.” He chuckles too, shaking his head in amusement. “I bet they’re off somewhere, waiting for us to ‘accidentally’ fall in love by the waterfall.”

“Well, I think their plan might be working,” I tease, bumping my shoulder against his playfully, and Callum’s grin widens.

He reaches out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear once again, his fingers lingering against my skin just a little too long. “Yeah,” he says, his voice low and thoughtful. “It just might be.”

We stand there, laughter fading into something quieter, softer. Maybe they were trying to set us up, but I can’t help thinking that we don’t need anyone’s help anymore.

After a long, scenic hike back, we finally reach the campsite. Callum might have been onto something because everyone is lounging around, talking and laughing like they’ve been waiting for us. It’s kind of sweet, in a way, that they’re trying to get us together. I remember talking with Millie about how close-knit the Atwoods are, always deeply involved in each other's lives. And now, this whole setup makes me feel like they want me to be part of that, in their own peculiar way.

“Oh, was there a change in plans?” Callum calls out, breaking into their conversation. Suddenly, a hush falls over the group, and all eyes shift toward us.

“Callum, we tried to call you,” Anya says, darting her eyes around, almost as if she’s looking for someone to back her up.

“Weird,” Callum replies, his tone dry but sharp, “because I had my phone on me the entire time. No call. No text. I had signal the whole time too. So, try again.”

Before Anya can respond, Griffin jumps in, obviously hoping to change the subject. “You guys hungry?”

But Callum’s not letting it go. He turns to Griffin with a raised brow. “Remember when you used to be my best friend? You know, the guy who’d let me know when people were plotting behind my back? I guess that doesn’t apply when it’s my sister coming up with wild ideas, huh?”

Griffin opens his mouth, but Callum doesn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, he pivots toward Brock and Paxton, eyes narrowing. “And my own brothers, too? I thought you two always had my back.”

I can’t help but feel a bit confused by Callum’s frustration. We had an amazing day—magical even. Shouldn’t we be thanking them for giving us that time together, not making them feel guilty?

“Cal, come on, brother,” Paxton says, a grin tugging at his lips. “It was all in good fun. I know you’re not exactly known for your sense of humor, but you’ve gotta admit, this was a good one.”

“Yeah,” Brock chimes in, his arms crossing over his chest. “Are you really saying you had a shitty day?”

For a moment, Callum glances down at me, and his lips curl into a small grin, softening his expression. “No,” he finally admits. “It was definitely not a shitty day.”

“There you go!” Anya says, throwing her hands up. “So stop bitching, sit down, and let’s enjoy the rest of the night.”

I squeeze Callum’s hand, gently pulling him toward the two empty chairs by the fire. “Come on,” I say, urging him to sit down with me. He follows, still shaking his head but clearly amused by the whole thing now.

“So,” I ask, looking at the group, “what exactly did you guys end up doing while we were gone?”

Laughter erupts around the fire, and Callum chuckles, though that mischievous smirk remains on his face.

“We hid just outta sight until you guys left,” Willow says, grinning. “And then, we sat around here and waited.”

I glance over at Callum, my eyes sparkling with humor. “Well,” I say, my voice playful, “we definitely had the better day.”

And it’s true. I can’t help but feel grateful for how things are unfolding between Callum and me, and the thought of our upcoming date makes my heart flutter with excitement.

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