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I walk in and sigh in relief It’s slow in The Odyssey, with just a few tables occupied, and a couple of guys at the bar The roof is closed, which tells me it’s been mellow all day

Perfect

As I walk toward the bar, I see Callie at the far end talking to a tall suit-type who’s handing her flowers

"Oh, Pete, you didn’t have to do that" She’s s as she buries her nose in the blooms

"Well, dinner out just hasn’t worked out, so I decided to come to you"

Who the fuck is this?

"We’ve both been busy," Callie says as she shifts her gaze and findsnot far behind Flower Boy Her eyes widen and her cheeks pinken I stand firetically

Mine

"I know things ended between us a long tiotten you, Cal Let me take you out, like old times"

Fuck that

"Callie," I say, my voice calet you a drink We’re having a conversation," Pete says, obviously pissed at being interrupted

I bet he’s been practicing his speech for a week

"Now," I say simply

"I’ll be back," she says to Pete, then walks around the bar and motions for me to follow her As soon as we’re in her office, I close the door andher in

"Is he who you want, Callie?" I’ over Callie’s blue eyes are wide and pinned toon tightly "Say he is, and I’ll leave right now"

She blinks once, then again

"That’s what I thought" I plunge one hand into her soft hair, fist my hand in it and tilt her head back, and kiss her Hard Sheues explore each other, and then I nibble the corner of herto keep ainst hers She’s hitched oneup around ainst her "I know you just want the friend thing, but damn it, Calliope, I don’t"

Her eyes widen, and when she would speak, I cut her off "No, this is my turn to talk If you want to waste your time with the douche with the flowers, fine, it’s none of my business, but I can’t watch it I’ back and be your friend when I want you so badly I can’t breathe Yesterday was the best day and the worst, all at the same time because I had you with me, but I couldn’t touch you"