The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

why she did it alone. I think Seth’s always been right. She’s a lot stronger than she looks.
    “How do you feel?” I ask her, wrapping my arms firmly around her waist while she presses her cheek against my chest. I get a whiff of her hair, strawberries and something else that’s only Callie.
    She considers my question in silence. “Weightless.”
    I smile. “Me too.” I had my Monday appointment with Doug yesterday and I feel even lighter than after our meeting at the café. I wonder how much lighter I’ll feel down the road after more therapy.
    “There’s still so much stuff to deal with, though,” she adds, turning her head so she can look up at me. “And I worry what Caleb will do when he finds out I told.”
    My muscles vine into blistering knots. “He’ll never hurt you. I won’t let him.”
    “I know you won’t,” she says, surprising me by how much she trusts me. She nuzzles her face against my shoulder and her warm breath seeps through my coat. “I think… I think we should try and find your brother.”
    “Dylan?” I tilt my chin down to look at her. “Why?”
    She angles her face up and her lips are close enough for me to kiss and the feel of her breath is comforting. “Because, I think it’ll help you with your father… when you decide to press charges.”
    I try to contain my breathing as I think about actually going through with it. What if he gets mad? What if nothing happens and he hunts me down and hurts me? What if he kills me? The idea of death isn’t very settling anymore, which confounds me. “I’m not sure if I can.”
    She inhales and a sigh escapes her lips as she releases a breath. “Yes, you can… I know you can.”
    I’m uncertain if she should be so confident about my confidence. “And what if I don’t? Will you…” I trail off, clenching my hands and then flexing my fingers, and then I shake out my hand. “Will you still love me?”
    She lowers her head back onto my chest and rotates onto her back. “I’ll always love you.”
    I breathe in the sound of the words and her voice and I have to stop the tears that appear from the overpowering feeling it sends through my body. I wish I could say it back to her. I even get my lips to part, but no sound will come out. “I want to say it,” I say quietly.
    She shakes her head. “Don’t. Only say it when you really mean it.” She slides her hand down my chest and interlaces our fingers on top of my stomach.
    We breathe through the chilled air, underneath the stars, listening to the sounds of laughter and music from the party. Minutes later, the sky lights up with an explosion of colors. Every year, this town puts on a huge firework show over the lake. When I was a kid, I used to watch it, wondering what the hell the big deal was. Fire in the sky.
Okay
. I didn’t get it. But now, lying here with her in my arms, it’s starting to make sense.
Freedom.
Things are starting to make sense.
    “Happy New Year,” I whisper to the air as sparks rain down on the lake.
Callie
    I’m having a moment. I’ve been having a lot of them lately. The kind where everything connects: pieces puzzling together, stars shining in sync, hearts beating rhythmically. Everything is perfect and although I in no way believe that it will last, I’m going to cherish the moment forever.
    “Happy New Year,” Kayden whispers underneath his breath as fireworks boom and drift to the water in front of us.
    “Happy New Year,” I reply, even though I am pretty sure he’s just thinking aloud. I prop my chin up on his chest as fireworks boom. “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”
    He makes an outline around my lips as he contemplates my question. One of his lean arms is tucked behind his head and his hand is in mine. “To not think about the past.”
    “That’s a great one,” I say with a smile. “Can I make it mine too?”
    A grin forms on his lips and he shifts his arm, moving his hand out from behind his head. He holds out a fist in front of him. “Pound on it.”
    I contain a giggle as I remove my hand from his and move to bump fists, but he pulls his hand back at the very last second and I frown. “What’s wrong?”
    He bites on his lip as he sits up and my head slides to his lap. His eyes mirror the colorful fireworks as he lifts me up off his chest and then pushes on my shoulder until I’m lying on my back, against the windshield. The frost nips against a spot of my skin on my lower back where my shirt has ridden