The Redemption of Callie & Kayden

think of anything to say. “I don’t care about my mother.”
    He shakes his head and ducks over to climb into the car. “Callie, I can’t stay at your house, not after everything that’s happened.”
    Why does it feel like he’s not referring to my mother anymore but to our relationship? “Please don’t run away,” I sputter. I’m no longer thinking rationally. I run around the front of the car and open the door to the passenger side, prepared to make him feel better.
Somehow
. I just need to find out how. The inside of the car smells like him and I breathe in the scent as I move the food bag out of the way, climb in, and close the door. “I don’t want you going back there.”
    Shaking his head, he slams the door and adjusts the seat back, giving himself more room. He meets my eyes and there’s a hollowness in them. “Callie, I never really left there. Just escaped for a little while.” He turns the key in the ignition and the engine roars to life. “My father isn’t there anymore.”
    I shake my head. “Where is he?”
    He shrugs, biting his lip, staring out the window at the surplus warehouse next door. “On a business trip I guess.”
    I want to ask him—want to know if he had any part of it. “Kayden, did he—”
    “Look, Callie,” he cuts me off and his gaze slices into me. “I have to go. I got shit to do.”
    I swallow hard and my insides tremble. “Please talk to me,” I whisper, sucking back the tears.
    He inhales through his nose and his solid chest puffs out and then descends as he releases the breath. His hand is turning pallid as he clutches onto the steering wheel and I swear I can hear his heart beating. “I…” His breathing quickens as he struggles to speak.
    I prop my elbow on the console and place my hand on his cheek. He flinches but stays motionless, looking at me. My heart is racing passionately and pumping adrenaline through my body. I don’t know what I’m doing or if it’s wrong or right. All I can do is hope I’ll get to him. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I’ll understand.” He swallows hard as I brush a shaky finger under his cheek. He still looks like he hasn’t shaved. His skin is rough under my touch.
“Please.”
    He shakes his head. “I-I can’t.”
    “Yes, yes, you can.” I lean over the console, needing to get close to him. “I’ll help you.”
Like you helped me.
    His warm breath feathers against my cheeks and his breathing quickens as his gaze flicks to my lips. “Callie, I…” He drifts toward me and then his mouth crushes urgently against mine. I instantly part my lips and allow his tongue to slip inside as I release a pent-up breath. I’ve missed this—him—more than I let myself admit. I need him. So much.
    I grip the front of his shirt as he cups the back of my neck, pulling me closer, kissing me and exploring my mouth with his tongue in rough, almost desperate movements. His other hand moves around and frantically grabs at my hip. The console is jabbing into my stomach but I don’t care. I just want to keep kissing him forever. I never want to let him go or have him let me go. I need him.
    But then he’s pulling away, breathing profusely, with his jaw clenched shut. When he looks at me, his eyes are cold. “You need to go… I’m sorry, Callie.” He looks like he might cry. “I can’t be with you.”
    I try to tell myself that it’s because he’s hurting but suddenly I’m back in high school, back to being no one, back to being the invisible girl filled with shame.
    “Freak,” Daisy said as I walk down the hall with my head hung low. “Nobody wants you around.”
    I hurried down the hall, clutching my books as I ran outside. I kept running and running until I was safely underneath the bleachers near the football field where no one could see me. I shoved my finger down my throat and forced my lunch out of my stomach. Then I sat down in the dirt and through the cracks in the seats watched the football team practice, wishing I could stay there forever.
    My breath falters as I climb out of the car, into the snow and the wintry air. As soon as I slam the door, the tires spin in the slush as he peels away without looking back. Even though I feel like chasing after him, I turn around and walk back inside with my head hung low.
Kayden
    I’m officially the world’s biggest asshole as I pull out of that parking lot. I’ve snubbed the world’s saddest girl not once but twice, and on top of that, I kissed