Never Standing Still (The Never Duet #1)(55)

The last time I’d seen him he’d told me he loved me for the first time, and although he’d said it a thousand times since, I wanted to watch his lips say it in person. I wanted to feel his breath against my skin as he told me he loved me. I wanted to hold his hand and I wanted to sleep in his arms.

“I miss you,” I said, still looking out into the rain.

“I miss you too, babe.” We were both quiet for a moment because there didn’t seem to be much else to add. We were apart and it came with the territory of being together. “I don’t have to be on set next weekend. I’ve got two whole days off from filming, and just a small meeting Saturday morning,” he finally said. I could hear the question in his voice. He was letting me know I could come see him if I wanted to, and I did. Of course I did. But we’d had this conversation before—many times, in fact.

“I’m just getting back to Seattle on Thursday evening. I can’t come home for twelve hours and then turn around and leave Marcus again.” I shook my head even though there was no one to see me do it. I let out a large sigh, irritated with the situation. “This sucks.”

“Why don’t you just bring Marcus with you? I think he’d love to come to LA. I haven’t had a chance to see all the touristy things yet, Marcus would love some of the stuff they’ve got down here. It would be awesome.”

This wasn’t the first time Riot had suggested Marcus come with me for a visit and although it sometimes sounded like a great idea, my conscience never allowed it. I never wanted to be a burden on Riot, and Marcus wasn’t exactly a normal seventeen-year-old houseguest. But God, I really wanted to see him.

“I don’t know….”

“Come on, Kalli. I miss you like crazy, you miss me, and I’d love to see Marcus. We could go to Legoland. He’d love that. It’s been almost two months since I’ve seen you, and I’m trying to be patient and understanding, but, Jesus, I just want to hold you.”

“You’re sure it wouldn’t be too much of an imposition?”

“Kalli, you’re never going to be an imposition. You’re in my life and I want to be in yours. That includes Marcus and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

His words pushed me over the proverbial cliff I’d been hanging on to by my fingertips. “All right, we’ll fly down next Friday morning.”

“Wait, really?” He sounded completely surprised by me relenting.

“Yeah,” I laughed. “I can’t wait.”

“Me either. I love you.”

“I love you too. But I think I’m going to go take a hot bath and read a book.”

“Damn woman, you just told me you loved me. Why would you give me that mental image and then leave me hanging?”

I laughed some more. “Sorry,” I said, even though I wasn’t. Not really. “I’ll call you tomorrow, all right?”

He groaned, making me smile. “You’re going to be in so much trouble when I finally get my hands on you,” he growled.

“Mmmm,” I hummed. “Promise?” I heard him groan in the background, sounding like he’d dropped his phone. When he finally came back to the phone he was whiny.

“Well, looks like we’re both going to bathe. Although, I’ll be taking a cold shower instead of a hot bath.”

Now I had the visual of water cascading down his muscular body and I was the one groaning.

“Okay, we both have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Love you, babe.”

“I love you too, Ri.”



The next day when I told Marcus we’d be flying to LA soon, he was so excited he nearly broke my eardrum with all his screaming. Days later Nancy sounded a little worn down on the phone.

“Next time, dear, don’t tell Marcus news this exciting until it’s closer to the actual flight. He hasn’t been able to stop talking about the trip and asks every day, multiple times if today is the day.” Her voice was loving, but I could tell she was tired.

“I’m sorry this is such a long job, Nance. I’ll be home in a few days.”

“You know it doesn’t matter how long you’re gone, dear. Everything is fine, like always.”

“All right. Well, I’ll be back Thursday evening and then you can take off and do whatever you want. We’ll be gone all weekend, and I have the entire next week off, so you go do something. Get away for a bit.”

“I might do that, or I might stick around. I’d like to see you for a bit too.”

I smiled at her words. Her affection for me was never taken for granted. Sure, she was technically an employee, and I paid her to take care of Marcus around the clock when I wasn’t around, but she’d become so much more over the years.

“Well, that would definitely be nice.”



“Kalli, let’s go! Hurry up!”

I heard Marcus yelling through the house, trying to get me to move even faster than I already was. It wouldn’t be his first plane ride, but from the way he was acting one would think he was about to fly in a space shuttle or something.

“I’m coming, give me one minute!” I yelled back. He was my responsibility, but he was still my little brother, so sometimes I reserved the right to squabble with him. When I made it to the front door with my suitcase, Marcus was waiting impatiently. “Can we go now?”