Chapter 21

** Callen’s POV ** I try not to listen in on Ryder and Paige upstairs. I really do. They’re whispering, probably so as not to wake Jaxon, but my hearing is too damn good to ignore them completely. I tell myself to focus on the dishes, on the clattering of the cutlery in the sink. But clearly, I have zero self-control, because I’m focusing so hard on their conversation that I’m going to give myself a headache. When Ryder says he wants to kiss her, I wince, bracing for her rejection. Idiot. He’s going too fast, pushing her too soon. He’s going to ruin all the progress we’d made with her in the last few hours. It goes quiet, too quiet. Are they kissing? I freeze midway through washing a fork, the soap bubbles running down my arm. I strain to hear any sign of what is happening. When they breathlessly whisper each other’s names, it sounds like something out of a chick flick. A stupid grin spreads over my face. That smooth son of a gun pulled it off! I almost whoop and fist pump the air like