25. Callan

25

Callan

A ll I could smell and feel was Sage wrapped around me in the early morning light that peeked through the crack in the curtain. I’d stripped down to my boxers after we talked for a bit, crawling under the covers with her. She’d worn my shirt to bed, but from the waist down, she was bare. We cuddled all night, and even now, her leg was in between mine, pulling my thigh closer to her as the rest of her was draped over my chest. Her breathing was still deep with sleep, so I took the time while I waited for her to wake up to recite last night’s memory in my head.

Her moans were my new favorite sound, along with her laugh. Her smile, how fucking bright it was, was the only image I wanted to see from this point forward. I was falling too damn quickly for Sage, but I guess life didn’t have a timeline, so why would I pump the brakes?

I could waste precious time by holding back with her, but where would that get us other than delaying right where we both wanted to be?

An inkling of doubt crept in, reminding me of how I’d had the same thoughts before, and it left me heartbroken and alone for years. Trust wasn’t easy to hand out, but something about Sage made me want to open my walls again, tear down the fortress that I’d built in my mind to protect myself, and let her in.

She was already in.

I didn’t consciously realize it, but every lesson she came to with Avery, every interaction we shared from the moment we met at the coffee shop, it all piled together and I was tumbling down in an avalanche of feelings that I couldn’t hide any longer.

I liked her.

And she liked me, too.

Sage shifted, letting out a small sigh as she buried her head deeper against my bare chest. Her hand moved, dragging across my stomach to awaken the butterflies that hid inside.

“Good morning,” I said, stroking a hand down her hair.

“Good morning,” she mumbled, her voice laden with sleep.

“Sleep well?” I asked.

She lifted her head, and I instantly missed the weight of her on my chest.

“I slept better than I have in a long time,” she admitted, blinking the haze out of her vision as she looked at me.

Brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, I admired her like this. Just woken up and beautiful. Raw, untouched, and wholly herself.

“I’m glad. Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” I wished I had everything she needed to make her special coffees she liked at Triple B, but black would have to do today.

With her off of me, I sat up, swinging a leg over the edge of the bed.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked as she sat with the blanket still up to her hips.

“Amazing,” I replied, not bothering to put on pants or a shirt. I wanted some time with her in bed before we had to go pick up Avery. “I’ll be right back. Stay here.”

Heading to the kitchen, I brewed two cups of coffee. I grabbed two bagels from the pantry and put them in the toaster to warm up while I whipped up a couple eggs and a few slices of bacon. With the coffees at the perfect drinking temperature now that they’d had a moment to cool down, I assembled the breakfast sandwiches and headed back to the room, balancing the two mugs and a plate with both bagels.

She’d opened the curtains while I was gone and was staring out the window at the open field, the morning sun shining a pinkish haze over the yellow grass. She was still wearing my shirt, which fell to about mid thigh. If I had to guess, she wasn’t wearing her underwear still either.

“I wish I had a view like this at my place. Avery would love it,” she said.

I set the mugs and plate on the dresser, then came up behind her. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I rested my chin on her shoulder and gazed out the window. I wasn’t really seeing anything, though, because Sage didn’t just cloud my thoughts. She was my only vision.

“Are you hungry?” After last night, she had to be.

“Starving.” She turned her head to look at me and I took the opportunity to press a light kiss to her mouth.

She returned it, kissing me slow and soft. When she pulled back, she made an emphasis on sniffing the air. “Did you make food?” She turned, eyes landing on the bagels. “Oh my God.”

“What?” Did she hate bagels? Maybe she ate them too much at the cafe.

“You made me breakfast.”

Was that too far? I mean, I had her for dinner last night, so I assumed breakfast was the least I could do. “Is there something wrong?”

Her eyes found mine again. “It’s just— It feels nice to have food made for me.”

It dawned on me then, with her being a mom and working at Bell Buckle Brews, how food would become a chore to her. Someone had to take care of Sage, and if it wasn’t her, it’d be me. I’d gladly take on the task .

I folded my hand in hers and led her to the bed. “Sit. I’ll bring it to you.”

She did, getting under the covers and leaning her back against the headboard. I smiled at how cute she looked in that moment, like being served in bed was the biggest turn on for her.

Grabbing the plate and her coffee, I walked back over to her and handed her the mug as I set the plate on her lap. I grabbed my bagel off the top, then rounded the bed, grabbing my mug on the way, to sit beside her.

I’d never felt the importance of breakfast in bed, but this felt so damn nice.

Sitting beside Sage on a weekday morning with our first meal of the day felt more intimate than what we did last night.

We were quiet while we ate and sipped our coffee. The morning rays of light streaked across the room, and when I glanced at Sage after I’d finished my bagel, I noticed a rainbow reflected on her cheekbone.

Unable to help myself, I reached over to brush my thumb along the array of colors. She looked at me, leaning slightly into my touch.

She was the beauty after the storm I’d been through the past few years. My sign of hope.

Leaning forward, I captured her mouth with mine, kissing her deeply and with meaning. I hope she felt the capacity of my feelings flowing through my lips, because I sure felt hers .

She shifted, and then a thump sounded on the ground. Pulling apart, she looked over the edge of the bed to find the plate on the floor.

“Oops,” she said with a smile.

I returned it, then stood to grab the plate off the ground.

“We should go get Avery,” I said, grabbing her now empty mug off the nightstand. “It’s almost seven, and I think she has school today, right?”

Sage looked at the clock, then shot out of bed. “Shit.”

She grabbed her pants, yanking them on while I picked her shirt up off the ground. She tore my shirt off of her, and I swear my entire being froze at the sight. My brain, my heart, most of all my dick.

She reached for the shirt in my hands and I released it, though part of me wished she had stayed in my clothing. Another part of me wished she’d keep the shirt off altogether.

Pulling it over her head, she moved to her shoes and socks while I worked on getting myself dressed. In less than a minute, we were heading for the door. I grabbed my cowboy hat and keys, locked the door behind us, then followed Sage to my truck. Opening the passenger door for her, I waited until she was all the way in before shutting it and coming around the front.

Double checking that she was buckled, I started the truck and headed for my parents’ house.

Within a few minutes, we were pulling up to the ranch. As I approached the house, I could see Avery on the swing out front with my mom. With the sight of her daughter, a smile lit up Sage’s face, and if I wasn’t driving, I would’ve photographed it. A mother should see those raw moments with her kid.

“She looks…happy,” Sage stated.

“She does,” I replied, shifting the truck into park. “Is that surprising?”

She unbuckled. “It’s her first sleepover like this, so I wasn’t sure how she’d be.”

“Like this?” I questioned.

Sage reached for the door, setting her hand on it. “She usually only has sleepovers with kids her age.”

She didn’t see her grandparents?

Now wasn’t the time to ask, but before I could even think of forming the question, Sage was out of the truck and meeting Avery halfway. Avery wrapped her arms around her mom as Sage peppered kisses to the top of her head.

I could watch them all day.

Getting out, I approached the two of them. “How was your night, Aves?” I asked.

Avery let go of her mom, the biggest grin on her face. “It was so much fun. And Mama, look!” Avery fished around in the pocket of her jeans, then pulled out something white and tiny in a clear plastic bag. “I lost a tooth!”

Sage kneeled to get a better look at it. “Wow, that’s very cool. Was it wiggly?”

Avery nodded. “All night. I kept playing with it, and then it just fell out. It didn’t hurt at all. ”

I wondered if Sage felt bad for missing a moment like that, but from the looks of it, she was more happy for her than anything. Regardless, she shouldn’t feel guilty for it. She needed a night out to herself, and this was good for her.

"Did Pudding come home last night?" Avery asked, looking up at her mother with hope shining bright in her eyes.

Guilt visibly slammed into Sage like a train, so I stepped in, ruffling Avery's hair. "She will soon. Don't worry."

Avery nodded, quickly moving onto explaining the other activities she did with my mother last night.

Leaving the two of them to talk about the tooth, I headed up the porch steps to my mom. “Good morning.”

“Have a good night?” she asked, a mischievous hint to her tone.

“It was fine, Mom,” I replied. “Where’s her booster seat?”

“Right inside the door,” she said, moving to grab it.

“I’ll get it,” I told her, motioning for her to sit back down on the swing.

Opening the front door, I found the seat propped right next to it. I grabbed it, coming back out.

“She’s a sweet girl,” my mom said, pausing me in my tracks.

“She is,” I agreed, watching them talk in the driveway.

“I was talking about Avery.”

“So was I.”

She made a humming noise and I rolled my eyes, continuing down the porch steps to the truck .

I looked up a quick video on my phone on how to install the booster and got to work. After I finished securing the seat, I walked back over to Sage and Avery. Avery was still talking her ear off, going on about the painting she made last night.

“Ready when you two are,” I said.

“Ready!” Avery exclaimed, then skipped over to the truck. I helped her in, then watched as she buckled herself to be sure she was set. Closing her door, I waved goodbye to my mom before hopping in the driver's seat. Sage was already buckled in on the passenger side with a small smile on her lips.

“What?” I asked as I started the truck.

“Nothing,” she said with a shake of her head.

I shifted into reverse, putting a hand on the back of Sage’s headrest to look behind me. These newer trucks had reverse cameras, but I liked it better this way. After making it down the drive, I looked both ways, then continued onto the road. I shot Avery a wink, and she returned it with a smile and a small kick of her feet.

Facing forward, I put the truck in drive and headed down the main road, but I didn’t miss the way Sage watched me.

“Okay, really, what?”

“You’re really cute, Callan,” she said.

I glanced over at her to find a slight blush staining her cheeks. Reaching over, I set a hand on her thigh, keeping my other gripped firmly on the wheel. “Right back at you. ”

We drove like that the rest of the way, with Avery in the back humming to the country song on the radio and my hand on Sage’s leg.

And after years of feeling like my mind was stuck in an isolated black hole, life was good.