“For real, let me get this out.”
He doesn’t move; he only looks down at me as I direct my gaze to Aviva and Nico. “I’ve wanted so badly to have a family, parents, that I put you two in a position that is unfair,” I say, and Aviva is visibly confused, while Nico’s face is sullen. “You’re not my mom, Veev. And honestly, I don’t want you to be. I want you as my sister, my best friend, and I want you to love me because you want to, not because you feel obligated to.”
“Callie, I’ve always loved you as mine, not because of any obligation.”
“But guilt kept you working your ass off at the gym and worrying more about me than yourself when cancer came for you. You never truly enjoyed life until Nico came along,” I remind her, and she presses her lips together. “Then I threw myself into that, asking him to be my dad when he isn’t mine to take. He is my brother-in-law, not my dad,” I say, meeting his gaze. “I don’t want to come between you and my sister because we disagree. I don’t want to be your obligation because you love my sister or because you want to be what my dad wasn’t. I’m grown. Aviva did her job. And it took all this for me to realize I was messing everything up.”
“But I don’t think you are,” Nico says, but Aviva puts her hand on his arm. He looks at her, confused. “Do you think she is?”
Aviva shakes her head. “I think she’s onto something. I think we’ve all blurred some lines and forgotten our roles. While I am well aware of her as an adult, one who is able to make her own choices, you still see her as a little girl who needs guidance. She doesn’t need that, Nico. All she needs is our support and our love for who she is. My sister and your sister-in-law.”
I nod slowly. “I want boundaries, and I don’t think we can have them if I keep blurring our roles. I want to be Aunt Callie to the kids, and I want you guys to be Aunt Aviva and Uncle Nico to mine one day. I am so thankful for the fact that you give me a home and you pay for my college, but I understand if we need to cut that off in order to keep the roles in line—”
“Callie, you’ll always have a home, and your college will be paid for,” Aviva says, holding my gaze. “But I agree and understand your concerns.”
“I don’t,” Nico says, meeting my gaze. “Is this because I don’t like him?”
I shake my head. “No. Not at all. I swear,” I urge. “Yes, this whole situation has sparked this discussion because I sat on the beach last night, terrified that my sister would stop talking to me because of you, and I don’t want that.”
“That would never happen,” Nico promises.
“I love you so much for trying to save me from the shitty childhood I had, but I am who I am because of that childhood. Because I was raised by Aviva and no one else. You have children to guide and mold. It’s selfish of me to take you away from them.”
He looks away, and it’s as if I can see the gears moving in his head. Aviva looks at me and smiles as Evan tightens his arms around me.
His lips come to my ear. “I feel like this is my fault. Are you sure?”
I shake my head, our skin rubbing together. “This isn’t about you. This is about us as a family.”
When Nico looks up, I meet his gaze. “I think I wanted to be your dad to repay you for all the help you’ve given me.”
I smile. “Nico, I helped you because of how much you love my sister—not to mention how much you love me. I don’t need repayment for that. She gave me years of her life she shouldn’t have had to.”
“And I’d do it again,” Aviva says, holding out her hand. I take it, holding it tightly as I gaze into my sister’s eyes. “I love you, Callie. Yes, it was my obligation to Mom, but I’d do it all over again just to see this incredible woman standing before me.”
“I am who I am because of you,” I remind her, and she smiles.
“Same for me, sis. We grew together.”
I let go of Evan to hug her tightly, kissing her cheek as she embraces me. She cups my cheeks and kisses my nose before smiling broadly at me. I return the smile, thankful for this woman, for her love. I look at another pillar in my life, and I hope he understands what I am doing. His eyes are dark but no longer sad like they were when this started.
“I just want what’s best for you,” Nico says softly. “I want you to be as happy as you’ve made us.”
I take Evan’s hand in mine again. “And I am, not only because of Evan, but because of how loved and supported I am by you guys and Vance.”
He nods and then looks at Evan. “I’m sorry for taking digs at you. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Thank you,” Evan says, but he’s wary. So am I.
“But I still don’t like you, and I still don’t want you with Callie.”
“Jesus Christ, Nico,” Aviva groans, and Evan nods.
“That’s okay. We don’t have to like each other. We just have to respect each other for Callie.”
Nico swallows hard. “I can do that.”
Evan reaches out his hand, and Nico takes it, shaking it. And I know that doesn’t solve everything, but at least it’s a start. At least we’re all on the same page and have the chance to move forward. I feel good about my decision. I know it was hard for everyone to hear, but it needed to be said before it was too late. My heart hurts a bit because I wanted to be able to say I had a mom and a dad again, but that isn’t in my cards.
What is in my cards is Evan.
He looks at me before he grins. “I guess we’ll just have awkward holidays, then?”
I agree as I wrap my arms around his neck. “Really awkward and tense until he comes around, but there will be French toast.”
“I do like French toast,” he says, pressing his nose to mine. “But none of it matters because I’m here for you and only you.”
I grin, moving my nose with his. “I love you, Evan.”
His eyes fall shut as he pulls me in closer, “Callie, my love, I love you too.”
When our lips meet, my heart swells in my chest. This wasn’t how I thought this trip home would play out. I fully expected to go back to school with parents, but maybe that was where I’ve gone wrong all these years. I wanted a “real” family, when the one I had was more than enough. I always thought I was missing someone, but I already had it all. I am who I am because of my past, and it took hearing Evan’s words about me to make me realize it.
Oh, Evan.
I knew the moment I found out he was coming to Bellevue that I wanted to get to know him and take my shot. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was taking my shot for a chance with a man who needed me as much as I wanted him. A man to inspire, to remind who he is, and to support at every turn as he does for me. A man who has taught me what love truly is and has made me laugh more than I could ever have imagined.
A man I’ll truly love for the rest of my life.