Page 136 of Of Heartbreak and Harmony
“It’s not like that, Savvy.” I take a step forward and hold her gaze. “This is different. When I said she’s not you, I didn’t mean it as an insult. I didn’t mean to imply that you were the only one to blame for our relationship imploding. Fuck, we were so toxic. Both of us. I know that. You and I were completely wrong for each other, and I was an idiot for not believing you the first time you realized it. For not listening when you said it a hundred more times after that. But Callie...Callie’s notyoubecause she’s perfect forme.”
Sav’s eyes flash with surprise before she scans my face. It’s as if she’s looking for any sign that I’m being delusional—that I’m imagining connections that aren’t there—and I want to laugh. I give her a self-deprecating smile instead.
“Thank you for wanting to protect me—for wanting to protect our family—but I need you to trust me, here. I’m fucking in love with her, Savannah, and I know it’s real this time. You know how I know?”
“How?”
“Because it’snothinglike us.”
She holds my gaze as we fall into silence, and I watch as the frown on her face slowly smooths out. From raging defensiveness to placid relief. Then she huffs out a laugh and tilts her head to the ceiling. “Thank fucking god.”
A smile spreads across my lips, and this time I let myself laugh, too. In an instant, the hazy gloom that had surrounded us lifts, and we’re no longer dueling ex-lovers. We’re friends. We’re family. We’re adults whohave learned from our mistakes and come out stronger. In this instance, the ground under my feet solidifies a little more, and so does my faith in myself.
“God, we were such a fucking mess,” Sav groans after a moment, swiping a hand through her hair. “How the fuck did we not see it sooner?”
I snort. “Drugs and desperation?”
“Probably.” Sav sighs, her face softening as she makes eye contact with me once more. “I’m rooting for us, you know? Me. You. Mabes and Jo. I’m rooting for us.”
“I know. Me too.”
“I really hope it works out with Callie.”
I smile. “I have a good feeling about it.”
I gesture to the door and Sav nods, turning to leave. I follow her back into the hallway and we walk side by side to the dressing rooms.
“I’m glad you’re still going to talk to her,” I say just before we part ways.
“Don’t think it was your idea. It wasmyidea. You just cosigned.”
“Whatever, Savvy,” I tease.
“Whatever, Tor.”
She smirks and flips me her middle finger, then backs into the dressing room and shuts the door in my face. Everything about the exchange makes me smile. The playfulness. The ease. The honesty.
We’re going to be okay. I know it.
36
CALLIE
“You are radiant.”
I smile at the compliment and do a little twirl for him, enjoying every second of having Torren’s eyes on me.
“Did you pick this one out, too?” I ask, smoothing my palms down the cream-colored designer dress.
“I picked them all out.”
“You have good taste.”
He smirks, then closes the distance between us slowly. When he’s close enough, he grabs my waist and pulls me against him. He runs his hands up and down my back, mesmerizing me with his emerald eyes before lowering his face to mine.
“I know.”
Then he captures my lips in a sensual kiss, one that turns my legs to rubber and threatens to make us late for our reservation. Maybe we can sneak back into the bedroom for just a while longer...
