Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

C allie climbed out of the car, the fresh air brushing over her skin as she faced the mountains.

Man, they were beautiful. The kind of beautiful that sucked up all your worries. Or at least tabled them for later.

Aspen climbed out from behind the wheel. “Beautiful, aren’t they?”

This was why they were best friends, because they read each other’s freaking minds. “Gorgeous.”

Her best friend had picked her up from work to take her to the Misty Peak Visitors Center so they could do a quick trek in the mountains. It was mostly for Aspen, who claimed she needed inspiration for her book, but Callie was pretty sure the breakup with Dylan was weighing on her more than she was sharing.

When Callie had told Lock about her plans, he’d reminded her that two of his brothers, Kayden and Jace, both worked here, in case they ran into trouble. They wouldn’t. Or at least, she hoped they wouldn’t.

Aspen rounded the car and linked her arm through Callie’s as they headed toward the café. “So…he’s really leaving?”

“Why do you say that like you can’t believe it?”

“Because he’s been sleeping on our couch for over a week. Playing protector super well. Plus, he’s been making us breakfast and coffee every morning, so if I got a vote, it would be for him to stay. Why don’t I get a vote?”

“Because he’s not your ex.”

“Pfft. Small detail.”

Callie sighed. “I know it’s been good having him there…for safety.”

Aspen scoffed.

“I haven’t received any more notes, and no one’s shown up in our yard since. He can’t stay there forever.”

“What about that guy in the alley?”

Callie tried not to tense. Lock had told her about that a day later. She understood why he hadn’t shared right away, and there might be a tiny part of her that wished he hadn’t told her at all. But that was silly. If someone was in a freaking alley watching her, she needed to know.

“We don’t know that he was watching me. If you saw someone who looked like Lock heading toward you, you’d run too.”

“Uh, but I can’t scale a fence like he did.”

“We have great security on the house now.” A new alarm. New locks. Their house was like Fort Knox…well, kind of.

Aspen cocked her head. “You think some random was just hanging out in the shadows of an alley near your studio and when they saw Lock, they thought they’d run even though they had nothing to hide?”

Okay. It was a far-fetched theory. “I just need a little bit of space from him.”

“Now we’re getting to the truth. And now you can tell me why. Neither of you have any secrets anymore. He’s been there for you a hundred percent since he found out about the pregnancy loss. And he loves you.”

Callie’s breath caught as they stopped in front of the café door, not stepping inside yet. Love…God, it felt so big. “Honestly, I’m not sure why I’m still hesitant. Maybe because I’ve spent so long thinking he broke my heart for no good reason, and it’s hard to believe my heart’s now safe with him.” She needed more time. How much time, she wasn’t sure.

Understanding crossed Aspen’s features. And something else. Something Callie couldn’t quite place.

“I understand being hurt and struggling to trust,” Aspen finally said. “Hopefully you can learn to trust again.” There was almost a sadness to her tone.

Callie opened her mouth, but before she could ask about it, her friend entered the café.

Elle smiled at them from behind the counter as they approached. “Callie. Aspen. Hey.”

“Hi,” Aspen greeted her.

Callie smiled. “Hi, Elle.”

“What can I get you ladies?”

“I would love a double shot mocha latte in a to-go cup,” Aspen said.

“I’m not that fancy.” Callie laughed. “I’ll just have a regular latte.”

“You got it.” Elle turned to the espresso machine.

“How’re things with Jace?” Callie asked. Elle was dating Lock’s youngest brother. Apparently, they’d been best friends in high school but hadn’t dated until recently.

Elle turned her head, a smile on her face. “We’re great. You’d probably assume we bicker less since dating, but I’ve found out that’s not the case. The bickering has possibly increased actually. Luckily, he makes me laugh.”

Callie chuckled.

“I need to get to another yoga class,” Elle added.

“Anytime.”

“I did Pilates this morning.” Aspen shook her head. “I don’t know how I’m still walking.”

“That’s why I like yoga,” Elle said. “On another note, Dylan was here the other day. Ordered a few coffees and sandwiches.”

Aspen tensed.

Eastern had questioned Dylan about the night they’d seen someone in their yard. He had an alibi. The fact Aspen thought it might be him was a red flag though. Because you’d only suspect someone was stalking you if they’d shown some warning signs already, right?

“We’re not together anymore,” Aspen said quickly.

Elle’s brows shot up. “Oh. I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s fine.”

Once the coffees were ready, they paid and thanked Elle before stepping outside.

Callie waited until they were on a path before bringing it up. “Is there anything you haven’t told me about your breakup with Dylan? I know you said you just realized he wasn’t the right guy for you, but was there something that tipped you off?”

Aspen sipped her coffee, gaze on the path in front of them.

Stalling. Aspen was stalling. She never did that.

“He just turned into kind of an asshole,” Aspen finally said vaguely.

Callie frowned. “An asshole how?”

“He just…” She shook her head. “He wasn’t the guy I thought he was, and he certainly wasn’t the guy for me. Sorry, can we talk about something else? I don’t like thinking about him.”

There was more her friend wasn’t telling her…and they usually told each other everything. What made this situation different?

“Okay, but you know you can tell me anything, don’t you?” Callie asked softly. “I’m always here to listen.”

Aspen gave a jerky nod. “I know.”

They were just coming up to a bend in the path when voices sounded up ahead. Men’s voices.

“He’s moving back into his place today.”

Was that Lock’s brother, Kayden?

“They’ll sort things out. He bought a damn house for her, for God’s sake. One that she apparently chose.”

And Jace. Who were they talking about?

“Yeah. I’ve never known Lock to be one for big romantic gestures, but obviously Callie changed him. To buy a house for her, keep it for two damn years when he didn’t even know if he’d ever see her again, then fix it up…that’s love.”

Callie’s steps faltered. Lock had bought her a house ?

The men rounded the bend—abruptly stopping right in front of her.

Jace’s eyes widened. “Callie.”

“He bought our house?” she whispered.

Lock hammered the last nail into the railing.

Finished. The deck was finally finished, and the inside of the house was almost there too. He was just waiting on the new oven, which was being delivered later this week, and then he’d have a fully renovated house.

He stepped back and looked up, the phone conversation from that day more than two years ago flicking back to him. Toying with him.

“This is it.”

Lock laughed, phone pressed to his ear as he looked over the online ad for the place. She couldn’t be serious. “It’s a dump, Callie.”

“Our dump. I went to look at it with Dad over the weekend, and he thinks it has potential.”

Yeah, potential to be knocked down. Because that was exactly what whatever unlucky bastard who bought it would do.

“I can hear you thinking, Lock.”

“You can’t hear thoughts over the phone.”

“I can hear yours. You’re thinking it needs to be knocked down. But what you forget is, you are amazing with your hands. All those summers spent with your uncle out of state. You learned how to make any old pile of wood into a home, and you can do that to this one.”

“It would be a huge venture.”

“But after the venture, it would become our home.” There was an almost whimsical note to her voice. Maybe because she knew what he knew. That their future was already locked in, even though they weren’t engaged. They had no kids. But they both knew they were it for each other.

“Lock…I felt something when I walked inside. It was like I knew this house was ours.”

Fuck…how was he supposed to say no to that? Hell, she hadn’t even needed to say it. He would buy this house for her simply because she wanted it. Simply because she asked. “I’ll contact the real estate agent.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” Didn’t she know he’d do anything for her?

She made an excited high-pitched sound. “Thank you.”

“I love you, Callie.”

“I love you more.”

“Not possible.”

Lock’s chest contracted as he forced the memory away. How often had he remembered that conversation? Sometimes it made him smile. Other times it dragged him so deep into his grief and loss that he had to push it down. Forget about it just for a little while.

Six weeks after that call, Hollie had been killed. Then Winnie and Remi. And just after that, he’d lost Callie. And with her, he’d lost a huge part of himself.

He was just taking his tool belt off his waist when a car engine sounded behind him. He turned to see Callie in her blue Kia, pulling into the driveway.

What the hell? How did she know he was here?

When she climbed out, she didn’t say anything. Not immediately. Hell, she barely looked at him at first. She scanned the front of the house, her chest rising and falling with fast breaths, eyes wide with disbelief before landing on Lock.

“It’s true,” she whispered. “You bought our house.”

He dropped the tool belt to the ground and stepped toward her. “How did you—”

“Kayden and Jace. I overheard them talking about it.” Tears filled her eyes. “When?”

“The same day you told me you wanted it. Called the agent the second we hung up.”

Her chest moved faster. “You didn’t sell it when I left. Why?”

“Because it was always supposed to be you and me. Even when I couldn’t find you, I had faith that we would work our way back to each other. That it was always going to be us in the end.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

He took another step forward. “I screwed up. I should have found a way to tell you the truth. I should have found a way to be there for you when you needed me.”

“I should have stayed,” she whispered. “But it hurt, Lock. Losing you hurt so much, then losing him… I didn’t know how to deal with the pain. And I guess, a part of me wanted to blame you and us and our love, because it was easier. And holding on to that blame…it felt safe. Safer than admitting that something really awful happened for no reason. Safer than saying out loud that such painful things can happen, and no one can tell you why.”

“Callie—”

“Hiding from you, from us, protected me for a while…but I can’t hide anymore, Lock. I love you.”

The house, the mountains, it all faded beneath her words repeating in his head, rolling around, pushing everything else aside. “You love me?”

“I’ve always loved you. I’m sorry I ran.”

He closed the distance between them and cupped her cheek. “It’s you and me, Callie. It’s always been you and me.”

Then his mouth crashed to hers.