I flipped my phone back and forth in my hand delaying making the call. Lissa and I had spent an amazing few weeks together, but it was time .

I’d heard Cal had thrown a poker party a week ago. The guys asked why I wasn’t there, but Cal hadn’t told them. The only reason I even knew about it was because Peter had called to ask if I was OK. He said, the party hadn’t been fun without me, but I was pretty sure he was just saying that so I didn’t feel bad about not being invited .

Instead of explaining about Lissa, I told him I hadn’t felt well. Surely, he’d find out soon enough about it .

“Are you actually going to do it?” Lissa said, grabbing her purse off of the back of the dining room chair .

She’d been staying with me most nights. I’d even told her to start bringing over some of her stuff… if she wanted .

“I am.” I swallowed hard .

“Then I’m definitely going out. He called me once in the last three weeks. Once.” Lissa held up her finger and shook it. I could tell she wasn’t happy about it either .

“What did he want ?”

Lissa frowned. “Just to make sure I was alive and OK .”

“Christ.” I ran my hands through my hair .

“Well, good luck, babe,” Lissa said, waving her keys in the air .

“Thanks,” I said, watching her hips sway as she left my condo .

If my mind hadn’t been focused on patching things up with Cal, I would have stopped her so I could put my hands all over that round ass. Later. There would be time for that later .

I sucked in a deep breath and found Cal’s name on my phone. I tapped the little icon that would ring him before I thought of a reason not to .

The phone rang several times. He probably wasn’t going to answer since he’d likely seen my name. My heart skipped when he answered .

“What? Is it Lissa? Is something wrong .”

“I want to talk to you.” I breathed .

Cal didn’t say anything, but he didn’t hang up either .

“Are you there?” I asked even though I knew he was .

“I’m here .”

“Cal, I’m sorry, what can I do to make this right? We’ve been friends forever fucking ever .”

Cal cleared his throat and exhaled loudly. “Go back in time .”

“I love her, Cal. And, I’m pretty sure she loves me too. This isn’t just a fling.” I swallowed hard. “She doesn’t know, but I’m going to ask her to marry me .”

“After a fucking month? Are you kidding me ?”

I shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. “I’m not. And I’d much rather ask her knowing things were or at least we're going to be OK with you .”

“She loves you. I do too, man. I want things to go back to how they were .”

“Things can never go back .”

“Maybe not exactly, but things can be good again, can’t they .”

Cal sighed .

“Please, Cal. I don’t want anything to happen to her. I want to take care of her for the rest of my fucking life. I want to make her happy and I really, really believe I can .”

There was a long pause. A really fucking pause .

“Promise me this is different from Samantha, Tara… Julie .”

“It is one hundred percent different. I didn’t love them .”

Cal laughed. “You said you did .”

“Maybe I thought I did, but now that I know what love is, I know that I didn’t. I love Lissa .”

“You know if you do anything to hurt her in any way whatsoever, I kill you .”

My palms stopped sweating. Was he coming around? “What you’d do to me would be far worse than killing. I won’t hurt her. Never. I swear to God .”

I heard Cal take several long breaths .

“I promise. I love her. Jesus Christ, I fucking love her.” I laughed. Even I knew just how badly I had it. I knew there wasn’t any way I could ever hurt her .

“Ugh, Jesus .”

“You forgive me?” I asked wincing .

Cal hesitated. “I guess so .”

I breathed an audible sigh of relief. My entire body warmed as a sense of completeness filled me .

“So, when is the wedding?” Cal asked, even though I couldn’t see him, I knew he was smirking .

“Soon, I hope, but she hasn’t said yes yet .”

“When are you going to ask ?”

“Soon.” I smiled as I flipped open the white box I had tucked into my suit coat. The large diamond sparkled and shined in the light. “Really, soon .”