"Welcome home," I said softly as I turned the door knob.
My dad and mom both looked up and smiled the moment the door opened.
"Calliah…" Dad said, his voice shaking as he coughed. Then he opened his arms wide. "I knew you'd make me proud. You always do."
He pulled me into a tight hug.
"Dad… don't tell me you're crying?" I asked as he sniffed loudly against my shoulder.
"I'm not," he insisted right as warm tears soaked through my dress.
"I can see you're definitely not," I teased. He laughed into my shoulder.
Mom stood a little apart, looking guilty.
"Calliah…" she began softly.
"Mom," I whispered, stopping her words as I pulled her into a hug too.
We all sat in the living room.
"So… Calliah," Mom said, smile creeping onto her face, "who is he?"
"Who?"
"The guy you slept with," she added, grinning like she already knew the answer.
"Axel. He's the one who helped me."
"Invite him for dinner," Dad said immediately.
I blinked.I honestly expected shouting, warnings, lectures.
But instead… they wanted him?
"He's busy," I said. "And… allergic to people."
Mom raised a brow. "You like him."
"Ewww," I said instantly.
Axel? Like him? Eww.
I felt like choking on air.
"That's the same face I made when my mother asked if I loved your dad," Mom said.
"Mom, that's different. Axel is… a whole different species from Dad."
"He has a girlfriend?" Mom asked.
"I don't know. And I don't care about his personal life," I said though Axel's last words to me echoed in my head.
"Peeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee—"
The doorbell rang.
I opened it.Josh stood there, smiling, holding a basket of food.
"My boss brought it for you," he whispered.
"Where is he?" I checked past the door like a madwoman.
"With someone. Joking he's home. You know how he is," Josh whispered again.
"Thanks." I took the basket and shut the door.
"Axel?" Mom asked.
"No, it's not," I lied quickly. "Mom, I'll be back."
I ran to the door again.
"You have a letter!" she called.
"What?!" I rushed back
"I was joking," she said as she and Dad burst into laughter.
"MOM!"
Outside, Josh waited as if he knew I'd come running.
"Let's go," he said.
************************************
We drove.
"Have you made up with your girlfriend?" I asked.
"I haven't called her yet. It's her choice now, not mine."
He sighed. "Besides… plenty of girls still want me."
"Give her time," I said. "Or I can talk to her. And… has Axel treated his wound?"
"No. He refused."
"Turn around. We're going to the clinic."
We bought drugs and drove to Axel's house.
He was sitting in his room, dead-serious, staring at his laptop.
He didn't even notice me enter.
I tiptoed behind him and leaned close to his ear.
"What are you watching?"
"Wrestling…" I whispered, staring at the paused screen.
He instantly shut the laptop.
I spun his chair around so he faced me.
Then I grabbed his injured hand.
"Wow… the nurse did a nice job," I said sarcastically. His wrist was swollen.
"I'm fine. I treated it."
"Josh said you didn't."
"i....."
"Shh." I cut him off. "Remember your rules."
I laid his wrist gently on my lap.
"If it hurts, you tell me."
I cleaned his wound with iodine, blowing softly to ease the sting.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
Silence.
"Speak," I ordered, pressing the wound slightly harder.
Not a flinch. Not a blink. His face stayed cold, unreadable.
"Why did you come back?" he asked quietly.
"For you, obviously. Can't you see what I'm doing?"
"It's late," he said.
"I know. I have something to say."
He waited.
" ???"
Blank
"I'm sorry for putting your face on the internet."
"It's already out," he replied.
"Thank you… for saving my life. For consoling me."
He only nodded.
Not what I wanted.
So… I did something stupid.
I jumped into his arms.
He froze. His eyes widened, staring at me like I'd just caught him off guard.
I leaned in and pressed a kiss to his neck, fingers already tugging slightly at his shirt
He held my waist once.
Just once.
"Calliah… don't." His voice was low. Serious.
"Don't use your body to repay me. Not for gratitude. Not for anything."
That was the longest sentence he had ever spoken to me.
I stopped… barely.
"Don't stop me. This might be the last time we see each other. I'll be busy."
"You should save your body for someone else," he whispered.
"Your husband. Your boyfriend. Or a mafia guy."
What was he even saying right now?
"I asked you to sleep with me that night as a bride. The second time for revenge. But now I'm asking as "
"CALLIAH."
His voice cracked.
"I don't want regret. Stop, or I won't be able to hold myself back. Especially if it's you."
"Then don't hold back," I said breathlessly.
"Just… do it. As a last favor."
I didn't even finish the sentence before he kissed me.