CALUMI wake up to an ear-curdling scream and jump out of bed, eyes on the lookout for the danger. Cathy stands at the door, eyes wide open in horror. I reach her in five strides and grab her shoulders. She looks okay. I’m almost out the door to check on our son when she yanks me back into the room.“Is Mace okay?” I whisper.“What?” she sputters out. Her glossy lips purse as she tries to understand my question. “Yes, he’s fine. Why won’t he?” “I don’t know,” I reply, a bit disoriented. I place my hands on my hips, more confused than she is.First, she scared the shit out of me. Second, she dragged me out of a beautiful dream, an alternate reality where we both have a happy ending. Three, she looks so pretty. Four, she smells nice. Five, I love her.The blue eyes that narrow at me show she doesn’t appreciate my ogling. I back out of her space and drop down to t

A kiss to my cheek, another to my lip, and my eyes fly open. Calum stares down at me, his emotions on display. I manage a smile. My thoughts centre on him, my heart does a flip, and a colony of ants erupts in my belly.“We will need to go to the pharmacist,” I say, ducking his lips before he claims mine. “Oh.” Worry dips into his eyes, and he slides his fingers into my hair. “Are you okay?” I nod. My cheeks heat up. “You came inside me,” I whisper. “I don’t want another Macey.” Not anytime soon.Calum laughs. “Okay.” I try to sneak out of the bed but he hugs me from behind. “We didn’t get a chance to talk yet, superstar.” “Talk about what?” Throwing my head back, I look out the window. Calum’s arm settles on my belly. “What are we talking about?” “Us?” Calum says. He sits straighter, folding his legs under him. He must have changed into a pair of shorts while I slept. I pull the cover with me to hide my nakedness. My back hits the headboard and shivers race down my spine. Calum ad

Ebun thinks I should sort out my emotions, heal right before getting into any romantic entanglement. She didn’t mention Calum, she doesn’t know him but she knows I have a baby daddy who wants to be involved in my life. It was a suggestion, an opinion, not a fact. That’s one of her favourite lines. I think she says that so she can’t get in trouble with her clients. I like her until she starts with the deep, thought-provoking questions.I place a gown on the bed and step back to picture myself in it. I have another session with her later in the day. Calum volunteered to drive me. He lives here now. Jason stops by more often for Calum to practise with his guitar. That vision of the two men bonding over music is one Amelia would have loved to see. But it’s okay. She’s in her world, she is watching all of us. And it’s not my fault. It’s not her fault she’s not here. It’s just life. A tear rolls down the corner of my eyes and I wipe it off. Ebun thinks crying is good. I think sex is better

CALUMA ringtone jerks me awake. I blink slowly, the weight crushing my body stopping me from rolling over to the other side freely. Peering down at the figure curled against my body, everything rolls into my mind. Cathy is here. I kiss her cheek but she only stirs, tilting her head in the process as if to give more of herself to me for a proper kiss. My hand slides under her boob and I trace a circle around her taut, pink nipple. Her body has changed. If I thought she was sexy two years ago, then I was ignorant. She’s sexier now. More feminine. I detangle myself from Cathy before my dick takes over. Speaking of dicks, the fine man stands at attention, the tip leaking with precum. My eyes drop to Cathy’s pert butt, and blood flows to my cock. She never has to make an effort to seduce me, her existence is a drug. I put on the first item of clothing I find, which thankfully, is my shorts.Cathy’s phone’s screen lights up but before it rings, I hit the volume button. Pete is calling. S

Calum’s friends are unbelievable. They are too much, but in a good way. I wince as Sam tosses Mace up. Unlike Calum, he doesn’t toss him so high but my hand goes over my chest, and my heart beats normally when he drops Mace to the floor. Calum returns to my side and throws his arm around my shoulders. I lean into him and smile. It has grown so easy to settle into this undefined role. I know he wants more but is being patient with me.“How are you?” he whispers into my ear. His lips meet my temple, and I cock my head to the side. Calum catches himself from kissing me. My nose wrinkles, and he laughs. “What’s that face for, superstar?” “Nothing.” “Are you having fun?” “Kind of.” He frowns. I fix it by saying, “Yes. They are nice. I’m glad you have such friends.” Calum nods. “Me too. Want to check out the home studio? Caleb has