“Taker?”

“Yeah, the kind of person that’s always taking and never gives anything in return. You’re always giving, giving, giving, and I’m taking, taking, taking.”

“I like giving stuff to you.” My eyes trail over the shelves and front desk of the quiet library before I shut my textbook and fold my arms on top of it. “But if you really want to know what’s bothering me… It’s Greyson.”

She drops her pen on the table and tucks a strand of her shoulder-length brown hair behind her ear. “Are you mad at him or something?”

“No, it’s nothing like that.” I fiddle with the thin leather bracelet around my wrist. “It’s… what happened with Braiden. It’s affecting how I react to Greyson. I know I can trust him, but I can’t seem to let go and be comfortable with who I am when we’re around people.”

She shoves her books aside and rests her elbows on the table. “Have you talked to him about this?”

I trace the thin scars crisscrossing my arm and hand. “No… I haven’t even told him about Braiden.”

“Seth, I know it’s hard to really open up to someone, but,” she slides her arm across the table, grabs my hand, and gives it a squeeze, “It’s like you’re always telling me. You can’t let the past own you. If you want to move forward, especially with Greyson, you’re going to have to start by telling him what happened to you.”

“I know I do.” I free a trapped breath. “But I’m afraid.”

“Of what?”

“Of… opening myself up like that again and getting broken. Besides, Greyson’s so good, you know. He has these really amazing parents who have always been there for him and he’s had a pretty good life. I don’t want to taint that for him by bringing my shitty life into the mix.”

“Seth, look at me.” She tugs on my arm until I finally meet her gaze. What I see startles me. My tiny, shy Callie has turned into an intense firecracker. “You don’t have a shitty life anymore. Yes, shitty stuff happened to you and yes, your mother is a… bitch.” She looks guilty for saying the curse word, which makes me smile. “But you have me, Greyson, Luke, and even Kayden, and we all care about you because you’re a good person worth caring for.” By the time she’s finished, she’s so worked up she’s gasping for air.

I raise my free hand in front of me. “Easy there, my little sparkler, before you explode.”

“I just want you to be happy,” she says, gripping onto my hand. “And I hate Braiden and all those stupid guys that did this to you. You don’t deserve to be afraid all the time. You deserve to be the Seth I get to see and love.”

“I love you too, baby girl.” I smile at her and she returns my smile wholly. “How did you get to be so wise?”

“Hmmm…” She taps her finger against her lips. “I must have had a really great teacher, I guess.”

“Must have.”

“He’s actually the best there is.”

“Sounds like a great guy,” I reply with a hint of amusement. “What’s his number? Maybe I’ll give him a call.”

We giggle then sit back in our chairs. Outside the window, the setting sun paints the sky with pinks and golds.

“What time is it?” I check the clock on my phone then scoot back from the table. “Shit, I was supposed to meet Greyson like fifteen minutes ago.”

Callie stands up and gathers her books in her arms. “You better talk to him tonight; otherwise, I’m going to add it to the list and make you.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” But just thinking about it sends my stomach dancing, and not the good kind of dancing, either. The flailing arms, bobbing head, offbeat kind of dancing. “What about you? Have any plans for tonight?” I waggle my eyebrows suggestively as we exit the library and step outside into the cool fall air.

She casually shrugs, tucking her books under her arm. “I might meet up with Kayden later.”

I playfully bump my shoulder into hers. “You two have been spending a lot of time together.”

She fights back a silly grin. “We’re just friends.”

“Friends with benefits.”

Her cheeks flush as she avoids my gaze. “We haven’t had… sex yet.”

I slam to a halt in the middle of the grass. “Yet? That means you’ve been thinking about it.”

Her blush spreads across her face as she stops in front of me and stares out at the street. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“But you’ve thought about it?” I try to hide my excitement, but the fact that she’s thought about it means she’s making progress.

“Sometimes… but it seems so… I don’t know. I just never planned on ever feeling this way about a guy.”

“Kayden’s a good guy.” And I mean it.

Not too long ago, Callie told Kayden about how she was raped, and he’s been nothing but kind, considerate and understanding with her. That makes the guy cool in my book, which is a pretty damn fabulous book and kind of hard to earn a place in.

She plucks strands of her hair out of her mouth before looking at me again. “I don’t even know what I’m doing… I mean, he’s so experienced and I’m…” She gestures at herself and shrugs.

“What? Gorgeous? Kind? Smart? Funny?” I slip my arm around her and start toward the parking lot. “Any guy would be lucky to have you.”