At the corner of her eye, Callista watched as Castor dozed off on the couch. He had asked to watch a movie as they drank the rest of the whiskey. The movie continued playing in a low volume before Caly decided to shut the television off. She grabbed her phone and listened to her unfinished podcast while sipping her alcohol.

She leaned against the arm of the leather couch. Her eyes settled on her best friend. Castor supported his head with his right arm. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow. His sleeping face was so serene that she decided not to disturb him even as the clock struck twelve.

The speaker's voice filled the massive house as Callista stretched her toes. Minutes ticked by before she let out a yawn. She sat up straight when Castor spoke in a coarse voice. "Please tell me someone is not talking about cannibals and I'm only hearing things?"

The speaker resumed his explanation of the kuru disease and human brain consumption.

"Caly, shit. I thought you stopped this hobby." Castor rubbed a hand over his face, leaning forward on his elbows.

She chuckled and pressed the pause button. "It's knowledge. Besides, don't you wanna know how humans have this compulsion to—"

"Okay! That's enough." Castor shot her a glare that made her smirk. He rolled his eyes, fingers combing through his messy hair. Caly trailed her eyes at the sexy lines on his forearm. He turned to her. "Can I sleep here?"

Callista blinked, chasing away the daze she was in. "Uhm...what?

"Can I sleep here?"

"What? Why?" she exclaimed that even Castor flinched at her piercing voice. Caly cleared her throat. "I mean that—you're busy and—"

"If I go home then I have to explain the... situation." A tortured expression crossed his face. "I can't do it. Not yet."

Callista tugged at her sweater, biting her lip in contemplation. Her feelings for Castor had always been there but she had forced it down for years. Feelings would only lead to getting hurt and consequently, destroy their friendship.

Not to mention, all the lies she had weaved.

But after that kidnapping fiasco and the thought that he would hate her forever, she couldn't deny it any longer. Castor Luciano was the most important person in her life. He was her rock, her constant, her north star.

No matter what happened, she would go back to him. Without fail.

But Caly knew it wasn't the time for this. He hadn't even forgiven her. Love and relationship wasn't her priority right now.

"Alright. You know where the guest rooms are." She stood up, grabbing her phone. "Feel free to choose."

Callista headed to her bathroom, stripping her sweater and shorts. She took a cold shower that flushed her unnecessary thoughts away. What Castor needed was a friend. That's what she's going to be.

She yanked a towel and rubbed it over her wet hair. Callista stepped out of the bathroom and her eyes widened as she saw Castor leaning on her door.

"Cas! What the hell," she yelled, hastily covering her nakedness with the skimpy towel. "Ever heard of knocking?"

Castor laughed as he turned his back. A hand pressed at his nape. "I did knock. Three times in fact before I decided that you were drowning and I came in to rescue you."

"Ha! Who drowns in a bathtub?" she growled before wrapping the towel around her body.

"Don't be shy. It's nothing I haven't seen before," he said as he swiveled to face her. His gaze ran over her whole form before he grinned at her.

She squinted her eyes at his smug face. "That was one time and it was a dare." Caly released a loud sigh as she crossed her arms. "Well, why did come in here aside from "rescuing" me?"

"Your guest room has no pillows or even bedsheets." He shrugged, inserting his hands on his pockets. "Where is it?"

Callista let out a curse. She fired her servants so she didn't know where they kept it. Damn, why was her house so big?

"You know what, you can just use my pillows." Caly marched to her bed and seized the pillows and blankets in both arms. "Here."

Castor frowned as he accepted the handful of cloth and pillows. "How about you?"

Caly smiled at him. "It's fine," she replied and propelled him to the door. Her hair was dripping and she felt damp all over that she couldn't wait to get dry.

"No, wait." Castor fast reflexes left her huffing as he dodged her efforts. "You can't even sleep without your pillows."

She grunted in frustration, flicking her wet hair over her shoulder. "Yeah. But I don't mind."

"I'll just sleep here," he mumbled, emerald eyes sparkling in mischief.

Callista's felt her heartbeat doubled. Fucking hell. Why did this have to happen to her? She swallowed. "Cas, I'm not sure that—"

"What?" He brought his face closer that their noses touched. He smelled of smoke and whiskey that Caly's fingers itched to touch him. "What's wrong?"

"Not now," she answered, meeting his keen gaze. She didn't want to lie to him anymore. Caly reached up to touch his cheek. "How about you?"

Castor's surprise was palpable before he shook his head. "Not now."

She nodded. "Okay. Sleep here. As if I could say no to you." Callista shot her a reflection of his smirk before she entered her walk-in closet. She wiped her body and wrapped her hair in the towel before slipping into her underwear and a large tee. She did her skincare routine before she brought out another huge shirt and loose pajamas.

She walked out and tossed it to Castor who was on his phone. Caly sat on the edge of her bed, drying her long hair as Castor crawled beside her. He stood up and displayed the shirt. "Too small."

"That's the only one I have." She jerked her head to him only to look away as he undressed. She heard the clink of his belt and the rustle of fabric, making her ears hot. "Geez. Where's your decency?"

He laughed that sent delicious waves over her body. "You can look. I don't mind."

Caly's grip on her towel tightened as she crossed her legs. Her bedroom was spacious. There was a sofa set near her balcony and a reading chair to her left which was surrounded by two small bookshelves. If she included her bathroom and walk-in closet, she would have occupied three rooms.

Along with her king-sized bed, there was a lot of space between her and Castor. Despite that, she felt nervous.

She took a deep breath before turning to him. Castor had foregone the shirt as he tied the laces on the pajamas. The hard planes on his body sent carnal images to her mind. Damn, maybe she should take a shower again.

Castor caught her blatant staring. He wiggled his eyebrows, lips stretching into a confident smile. "Do you like it?" he questioned, resting a hand over his defined abs.

Caly felt her confidence returned as he trod into their usual teasing category. She raised a perfect eyebrow. "You know I only have the best."

He locked his eyes on hers. "I'm the best."

She placed her palms flat on the bed. Callista tilted her head backward, letting her dark tresses flowed in silky midnight waves. "Easy to say when you know you don't have to prove it."

"Oh, your majesty," he mumbled. "If you let me, I can prove it." Castor brought two fingers to his lips, his tongue slipping between.

The suggestive gesture made her combust on the spot. Her brilliant mind turned to mush before she bit her lip, shaking off the lust induced magic. She coughed twice. "Let's go to sleep."

Caly ignored her pounding heartbeat as she went to the left side of the bed. He could feel his stare on her. "What?"

Castor trodded to his side of the bed. "You never walked away before."

"I'm sleepy," she replied nonchalantly and pulled up the light blue duvet. She tapped the space next to her. "Come on."

Cas remained skeptical but he did join her on the bed. He shut the ceiling lights off. LED lights on the wall remained, basking the room in soft yellow lights. Callista turned to the other side as she forced herself to sleep. Hours ticked by but she was still wide awake.

She grunted and sat straight.

"Can't sleep?" Castor asked beside her.

Caly yelped a little before she frowned at him. His position didn't change at all. "You okay?"

Cas brought up a knee, his head resting against the headboard. "I'm supposed to be asking that question."

She sighed. "Can't our situation be reversed from time to time?"

"Hmm." Castor was silent for a minute. "Do you remember your mother?"

Callista frowned at his question but she decided to answer. Castor talking about his mother was rare. "Not really. But I remember that she smelled of lavender. I can see fragments of her smile and the smell of baked cookies. It's a nice memory."

"That's great," he muttered. "Your mother may be gone but at least, you have fond memories of her." Castor looked at her. "Do you miss her?"

"Sometimes." Caly moved closer to him until their bare arms were touching. "But like I told you. I never felt like I missed anything."

"Why?"

"Because I have you and Amanda, Mallorie, Victoria. But mostly you." Callista could make out his bewildered expression even with the scarce light. "Shopping for prom, brushing my hair, and simply worrying about me. I have people who did what my mother was supposed to do. I can't ask for more."

"That's great," he said and tucked the strands of hair on her ear. "You're lucky."

"Cas..."

"It's okay. I know that feeling as well, Callista but I..." He breathed through his nose, pressing a thumb on his temple. He stared straight ahead. "I can't help but feel... cheated."

Caly grasped his hand on both her palms as he resumed talking. "I never had a fond memory with my mother. After my brother died, Dad tried everything to make her see that she didn't lose everything. But nothing happened so my father asked me to understand, to be patient, to believe that deep inside her, my mother loved me. That's why I learned gardening and flowers and read all those myths. Because I wanted to get closer to her." Castor clenched his jaw as he forced his words out. "But my efforts weren't rewarded. So Dad moved me to Manhattan before I go crazy."

Callista felt his hand go cold that she clutched him tighter. Words completely left her but she hoped her actions would at least ease his pain.

"I started to accept that my relationship with Celeste will always be broken and painful. I know I couldn't change it. So when you told me that..." He released a deep sigh. "If my mother finds out that her son is alive, what then? They'll be happy together? They will have the kind of relationship that I never had? And then what? They'll act as if nothing happened? Like I didn't go through all that shit?"

His voice cracked before he blinked his tears away. "I know this isn't Franco's fault but... it's fucking unfair. Once again, I feel like I am not enough. Like I'll never be enough."

Callista's heart broke once more. She couldn't find the right words to say but she listened and squeezed his hand.

"Why did he have to be alive? Why couldn't he stay dead?" The mixture of agony and fury mired his tone before he stared at her. "Am I being selfish?"

"No," she croaked out.

Castor was silent as he gazed at her with expectation. "That's all? Don't you wanna give me amazing advice?"

"Do you want me to?" she asked softly.

"No," he replied before he wrapped his arms around her waist. Castor moved until his head was settled on her lap. "Not now."

She hummed her approval and caressed his hair until the sun rose again.

✘✘

damn, now I realize how hard it is to comfort someone. ugh.

Did I do it right?

Comments and votes are always appreciated.

xx, lucci