Chapter 8 - Callie

Justin's lips move against mine, and I'm lost in the sensation. As our kiss deepens, I'm swept up in the rush of feelings I've long denied myself. Each touch is a spark that ignites something wild within me. The world falls away, and for a fleeting second, I allow myself the luxury of forgetting everything but the feel of his lips on mine.

But just as quickly as the moment began, reality crashes back in. What am I doing? I can't get involved with him. Especially not now, after what Guy and Shawna just pulled. If anything, I should be packing my bags, plotting my next move, and getting the hell out of Stardust Hollow before they come back. The last thing I should be doing is getting wrapped up with a man, especially one I barely know.

But he's sweet. And gentle. And he's so goddamn attractive that I can't resist him.

No. I can't do this.

I push against Justin's chest, abruptly breaking the kiss. "Justin, I... I can't," I stammer, trying to catch my breath.

He steps back, and his eyes are filled with disappointment. "Callie, what's wrong?" he asks, running his hands up and down my arms.

I shake my head, taking a step away from him. "I can't do this," I repeat, the words sounding hollow even to my own ears. "I don't have time for... for relationships, Justin. Not now."

His hands fall to his sides, and his face falls. "What are you talking about? What does that mean?"

"Look, I can't do this right now," I say. "I'm sorry."

He furrows his brow. "Can't do what?"

"This!" I exclaim, gesturing between the two of us. "I wish I could explain, but I just can't. Not right now. Not with everything else going on."

"Callie, I don't understand."

"I just can't, okay?" I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. The words leave a bad taste in my mouth. What am I doing? Why am I pushing him away? "Look, it's not you, Justin. It's just... not a good time. I can't."

When he stuffs his fists into his pockets, I see the moment he gives up. He looks hurt, and my heart aches at the sight of his defeated expression. "I understand," he says quietly, his tone tinged with resignation.

There's a heaviness in the air between us as we stand there in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging over us like a dark cloud. I want to reach out to him, to explain why I can't let myself get too close, but the words stick in my throat.

Instead, I offer him a weak smile, hoping it's enough to convey my gratitude for his understanding. "I should get back inside," I say, gesturing toward the diner behind me.

Justin nods, but his expression is unreadable. "Yeah, of course," he replies before he turns around. But he doesn't go back inside the diner. Instead, he walks a few doors down to the rear entrance of his pet shop and disappears inside.

As soon as the door swings shut, I have to reach out to grab the wall to keep from falling over. The urge to run, to flee from Stardust Hollow and never look back, is overwhelming. Guy and Shawna's unexpected appearance has shaken me to the core, dredging up memories I'd buried deep within my heart. I could just go home right now, pack my things, and disappear into the night with Champ, leaving Stardust Hollow and all its ghosts behind. But the thought of abandoning everything I've worked so hard for makes my stomach churn with guilt. Besides, where would I go? What would I do?

But as tempting as the idea of escape is, I know I can't outrun my past forever.

With a heavy sigh, I push myself away from the wall and straighten my posture. Running away won't solve anything, I remind myself. It's time to face the truth head-on and come up with a plan. A real plan, not just a knee-jerk reaction fueled by fear.

Instead, I resolve to stay and fight. I need a plan—a solid plan that will keep me safe and secure. And that means earning some money, enough to support myself and maybe even start over somewhere new when the time comes.

Pushing open the back door of the diner and stepping inside, a sense of determination settles over me. I may not have all the answers yet, but I won't let fear dictate my actions. Not anymore.

As I return to work, I force a smile onto my face, burying my disappointment and heartache beneath a mask of professionalism. I may be hurting inside, but I refuse to let it show.

The diner's interior feels oddly quiet after the whirlwind of drama that unfolded earlier. I slide back into the routine, wiping down tables and refilling salt shakers, but my mind is still reeling from the encounter with Justin. Despite my best efforts, I can't get the feel of his lips on mine out of my mind.

I can't shake the feeling of disappointment in myself for pushing him away. Justin's kindness deserved more than my cryptic excuses, but I couldn't bring myself to explain the mess I'm tangled up in. Not now.

The rest of the day passes in a blur, and I struggle to focus on work. All the while, my mind keeps wandering back to the man who's captured my thoughts. I replay the kiss in my head, savoring the warmth of his lips on mine. I can't believe I actually kissed him, but now that it's done, there's a part of me that's wishing for more.

My mind flashes back to the first time I saw him, when he screamed and yelled at me because he mistook me for the other waitress who kicked at his dog. He looked so intimidating that my knees had nearly buckled beneath me. He was yelling and cursing, and never in a million years did I think I'd be attracted to him. But it's undeniable, and it's hard not to wonder what he'd be like as a lover.

I shake the thought out of my head. There are customers waiting and tips to earn.

As the last customer leaves and I lock up the diner, the sky is a deep, dark shade of blue, and the light is fading. Nightfall has descended, and I need to get home. I walked here earlier, thinking the exercise could do me some good, but now that I know Guy and Shawna could be somewhere near, I'm a bundle of nerves. I can't help but feel like they're watching me from afar, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

Oh, well. I can't stay here forever. With a deep breath, I shove my hands into my coat pockets and set off. As I step out of the diner, a gust of cool night air greets me, stirring the strands of hair around my face. I pause, scanning the empty street for any sign of trouble. There's no sign of Guy and Shawna, but I do spot someone else leaning against the wall of his pet shop with his hands tucked casually into his pockets.

When I realize it's Justin, my heart leaps in my chest. I can't help the smile that spreads across my lips, and I walk toward him. "Justin?" I say, surprised to see him waiting for me.

He straightens up when he sees me, and a sheepish grin spreads across his face. "Hey, Callie. I was just... uh... passing by," he stammers. A hint of color rises on his cheeks.

I raise an eyebrow, amused by his awkwardness. "Sure you were," I tease.

He chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, fine, you caught me. I was hoping to catch you on your way home."

I can't help but laugh at his honesty. "Well, you got me. What can I do for you, Justin?"

He falls into step beside me as we start walking, his hands still buried in his pockets. "I noticed your car wasn't in the parking lot and thought I'd offer you a ride home."

I consider it for a moment but ultimately decide that shoving us both into such confined quarters probably isn't the best idea. "Um, I think I'd rather walk. I could use the wind-down time. Thanks, though."

"Oh, okay," he says, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I could join you, if you'd like? Make sure nobody messes with you."

"You think I can't handle myself?"

He holds up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I never said that. But a little company never hurt anyone, right?"

I roll my eyes playfully. "Fine, you win. It would be nice to have some company."

"Good," he replies.

As we walk, I steal a glance at Justin, noticing the tension easing from his features. Wanting to distract myself from the earlier awkwardness, I decide to strike up a conversation. "So, Justin," I begin, "what was it like growing up in the Stardust Hollow Pack? I've done a little research. You guys are a pretty big deal in the area."

"Oh, it's... interesting, to say the least," he replies with a chuckle. "You learn pretty quickly to navigate the dynamics and the politics. But it's not all serious business. There were plenty of adventures, too."

Intrigued, I nudge him playfully with my elbow. "Adventures, huh? Do tell."

Justin grins, clearly enjoying the opportunity to share. "I spent a lot of time outdoors. Our pack has a lot of land, and my parents were always letting us explore it. There was this one time when me, my sister, and a couple of our cousins climbed into a cave, thinking there was treasure in there. There wasn't, of course. But we did find some bat poop that was a lot messier than we anticipated."

"Ugh, gross," I reply, scrunching up my nose.

Justin laughs. "It was definitely memorable, for sure."

"What else?"

He runs a hand through his hair, pondering the question. "There's a lake on pack land that we'd swim in whenever we had the chance. We'd camp out there sometimes, and when we were younger, my sister would get so freaked out by the bugs that would crawl into her bed."

"Awww, she's scared of bugs?"

"She's not scared; she just doesn't like them. And she's not the only one. There was this one time when my cousin dared me to touch a tarantula."

My jaw drops. "What? Oh my god, I would die."

"Yeah, it was pretty disgusting."

"Did you do it?"

"Yep. I wanted to prove to him that I could. Of course, I couldn't stand the way it felt, so I was shaking the whole time. But I did it."

"I can't imagine you shaking about anything," I comment. This rough and tough military guy is far too serious and in control for that.

"Oh, it was definitely a special occasion, trust me."

"How did you end up leaving here to join the military?"

He tilts his head at me. "How did you know I was in the military?"

"Well, the veteran dogs, for one. You seemed pretty proud about the fact that they served our country. And the dog tags around your neck. Plus, it just makes sense. You're... let’s say commanding."

"Okay, fair enough," he replies with a grin. "It was a hard decision, but it's something I knew I needed to do. Growing up in the pack, we were taught from an early age to be loyal and strong, to follow orders, and to support our leaders. It's just ingrained in us, you know? A lot of our pack members served in the military at some point. I trained the dogs for the military, and I loved it. When I got out, I was offered a position with the shelter, and I thought that was where I belonged. But after a while, I knew that it wasn't enough. That's when I opened my store."

"That's awesome, Justin. What about your family? Do they still live in town?"

"Most of them, yeah. My mom's in town, but she's getting up there in years, and my dad passed a few years back. My sister lives in town, and I see her often enough. You two would probably get along. She's a ball-buster, too. You'd love her."

"That's a compliment, right?"

He nods. "Very."

"I'll take that."

"What about you?" he questions, and I wince. I hadn't realized the conversation would turn toward me.

"Me? Uh, my family moved around a lot when I was younger, so it was just me and my mom most of the time. We didn't have a pack until I was a teenager, and I'm not sure I ever really fit the mold, if you know what I mean."

He stops walking mid-step, and I realize my mistake. I wish I could take the words back, but now they're out there, begging for an explanation.

"I thought you said you don't have a pack?" he asks, narrowing his eyes.

"I don't. I mean, I did. It's... a long story."

"Which you don't want to talk about," he surmises, and he starts walking again. "You're quite the mystery, Callie."

"And you're not quite the jerk I thought you were," I reply with a smirk.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment, too," he says, matching my smirk with his own.

As we continue our stroll, the tension from earlier seems to melt away, replaced by a comfortable ease. Justin shares more stories about his childhood escapades, and I realize that despite his intimidating presence, it's evident that beneath the tough exterior lies a playful and adventurous spirit.

"You've learned an awful lot about me tonight," he comments. "I think it's fair that you share something with me about yourself. Something juicy."

I raise an eyebrow, amused by his playful tone. "Juicy, huh? Well, I'm not sure I have anything that exciting to share."

He nudges me with his shoulder. "Come on, I won't tell anyone."

I laugh, shaking my head. "All right, fine. But you asked for it. I used to have a secret crush on my high school math teacher."

Justin's eyes widen in mock surprise. "Scandalous! Did you ever tell him?"

I play along, feigning embarrassment. "God, no! Can you imagine? 'Hey, Mr. Johnson, just thought you should know I have a huge crush on you.' Yeah, that would've gone over well."

"Inappropriate!" I chastise, swatting his arm. "Besides, I highly doubt that."

We walk in comfortable silence for a few moments, enjoying each other's company. But as we approach my cabin, I can feel the weight of reality settling back in. Guy and Shawna could still be out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Just as the cabin comes into view, Justin stops walking, turning to face me. There's an anxious energy in the air between us, and I can't help but wonder what's going through his mind.

"Why, Justin, I do believe you look nervous," I tease, trying to lighten the mood.

He smiles, but his eyes are filled with a mixture of confusion and hesitation. "Yeah, well, you know, walking a beautiful woman home can be nerve-wracking."

I suck in an exaggerated gasp. "Oh, really? And why should said beautiful woman make you so nervous?"

He hesitates for a moment before meeting my gaze. "Because I can't stop thinking about the kiss we shared earlier."

My breath hitches in my throat. The way he's looking at me makes me dizzy with desire. His green eyes run up and down my body, and his tongue darts out to wet his lips. If I don't stop this right now...

"Yeah, me neither," I admit, though I have no idea who gave my mouth permission to speak.

"Really?" he asks, taking a step closer. "So, you don't regret what happened?"

His gaze is intense, and I can feel it burning into me. But I hold his eyes, even as my heart pounds in my chest.

"No," I breathe. "I don't regret it."

He moves closer, and I don't pull away when he reaches out to cup my chin in his hands. His breath is warm against my face, and my skin tingles beneath his touch. The moment is so sensual, and the desire radiating from his body is intoxicating. I lean into his touch, my lips parting, and his mouth slants over mine.

This kiss is nothing like the last one. The first was tender, a gentle exploration of desire. This is hot, heavy, and full of unbridled lust. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging him closer, and I moan against his lips. He slips his tongue into my mouth, and his fingers caress my skin. My body is on fire, and a wave of arousal surges through me.

"Fuck, Callie," he groans against my lips.

His words send a shock wave of pleasure straight to my core, making me shudder. I can't remember the last time I felt like this, like a woman possessed, completely overwhelmed by instinct and primal need.

Before I can stop myself, I'm walking backward, practically dragging him up to my front porch.