Not So Delicate ||18+|| ✔️

Brooklyn ~72~

Being back home was one of the best feelings ever. The noisy streets, the sound of people talking, construction, and the smell of the chilling air.. it all felt so welcoming. Atticus was driving us home, Callan sitting in the passenger seat, and Zachary and I jamming out to old country songs in the back.

"Okay, rapid-fire game. How well do you know me?" I say to everyone, making a series of sighs ricochet off the walls of the car. "Well damn, don't get too excited."

"Go on, baby." Atticus chuckled. I debated not telling them but my curiosity was too persistent.

"Okay, what's my favorite color?" I ask, starting simple and guessing who would say it first.

"Pale yellow and light purple." Callan said easily. I nod and make a 'ding ding ding' sound. "This is going to be so easy."

"Favorite hobby?" I ask next.

"Reading or listening to music." Zachary answered, making me make the same noise. He grins and high fives me.

After a series of questions, all answered correctly, I think hard on one that no one would get. They waited patiently for the next question, each had a determined look in their eyes. Finally, thinking of the best question yet, I clear my throat.

I doubt they'll be able to guess this one.

"What's my favorite thing about my body?" I ask, smiling widely. They all stayed quiet, thinking hard. It wasn't like I was very insecure about my body, I just never told them this stuff. They stayed quiet for a few beats, the gears in their head turning. Finally, Atticus started smiling.

"The little heart-shaped freckle on your right rib, under your breast." He said confidently, the other two looked at him and then at me for confirmation. I sat there, silent and dumbfounded.

How..?

"Yeah.." I whisper, hearing him chuckle. He muttered something about that question being easy to answer. The way they knew so much about me made me feel seen. It was odd. But the good kind of odd.

After a few more minutes of talking about random things, we finally pulled up to the gates of the house. I saw new guards, big, burly, and terrifying. They looked inside the car and nodded before opening the gates, letting us drive up to the house. Once Atticus parked the car, we all got out and stretched our legs.

We backed in our bags and left them on the floor, too lazy to unpack right now. I stride in, seeing a few things were different than before. The giant windows in the living room had blinds installed that automatically shut when you pressed the button, the previously installed cameras were upgraded, a new security system, and the door to the pool deck was changed to something more durable and secure.

"Baby," Callan called out, I turned and walked to him, quirking my eyebrow. "Let me give you a quick rundown. There are cameras in the kitchen, in the pool deck, in the living room, outside the front doors, and all around the backyard property along with the front yard. There are cameras in our offices, the gym, and the hallway of the bedrooms upstairs."

"Jeez, why so much?" I ask curiously. He smiles softly and kisses my forehead, guiding me to the kitchen.

"Because we want to make sure you're safe. All the windows have privacy blinds and a blackout mode. Easier for naps. The security system has you in the system, so in case of an emergency, you press your hand on it like this-" He walks to the small tablet installed into the wall and presses his hand on it. A light scanned his hand quickly and a red square popped up saying 'shutdown'. He clicked on it and suddenly, the doors locked, the blinds shut, the lights dimmed, and the faint sound of a siren rang out by the guard post.

He quickly put in a code that set everything to normal. I stare at him, shifting on my feet. I jump up and sit on the counter, scratching the back of my neck. This whole thing was about to give me a headache.

"Any questions?" He asked, standing between my legs. I shake my head softly and lean into him. "Great. I have one."

"Cal.." I say cautiously. He smirks and shakes his head, gently grabbing my face and looking at me.

"You said you'd tell me once we were in LA. We're here now." He mutters, narrowing his eyes at me playfully. I sigh and shake my head softly.

"I promise you I will tell you. But just give me a few more days, yeah?" I ask softly, hoping he won't get too upset. He sighs and kisses my nose. I hadn't realized how sore the piercings would get until I tried putting on a bra this morning. Ouch.

"As long as you tell me. Just don't take over a week, please and thank you." He groaned. I smile and chuckle, kissing him softly before hopping off of the counter and sauntering into the living room where Atticus was already clocked out on the couch. I smile and walk over to him. He's been more tired lately... I wonder if it's because of Alek.

I sit on the floor by him, resting my head against the cushion that was under him. He peered his eye open and looked at me. I smile at him and stretch my hand out to gently caress his cheek.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" He grumbled, looking at me properly. I laugh and pull my hand back, shaking my head.

"Can't show affection without you thinking I'm seducing you?" I giggle, standing up and laying my body on top of his, making him groan like an old floorboard. He smiled and adjusted us so that I was between his body and the back of the couch.

"Just you looking at me turns me on so, yeah." He admits, making me scrunch my nose. He smirks and nips the tip of my nose with his teeth, making me glare at him.

"You're so weird it's unbelievable." I scoff, snuggling into him. He chuckles and pokes my side, making me jerk. "Question. How come you went from 'No touchy touchy' and mister mute to wanting to be on my shoulders all the time and can't stop talking?" I say teasingly, grinning at him. He puts on a disgusted face and sticks out his tongue.

"Just for that, I won't talk again." He huffs, rolling his eyes and looking away. I gasp in mock offense and poke him.

"Big baby." I huff, leaning up and kissing him multiple times. "I like it when you talk, your voice makes me sleepy."

He smiles, his cheeks tinting a little. My eyes widen and I stare at him in shock. Was he blushing...? I made him blush?!

"Holy shit! Oh my gosh, you're so freaking adorable!" I say happily, straddling him and grabbing his cheeks, squishing them. He stares at me with a look of horror before sucking his teeth and nearly throwing me off of him. He sits up and stands, waving his hand at me and tilting his head away so I don't see his face.

"Shut the hell up." He grumbled, his voice holding no malice. I jump up and hug him from behind, making him grumble other things.

"Let's take a selfie so I can remember this day forever!" I grin, squeezing him. He continued to grumble, trying to unlatch my arms from around him. I keep my arms around him, following him up the stairs.

"What is happening?" Zachary asked, staring at us. I smile at him, deciding to keep this little thing a secret, knowing Atticus would be bullied forever if they found out.

"He told me he wasn't gonna talk to me anymore so I'm trying to convince him to." I say easily. Zachary chuckles and walks away whilst shaking his head. "Your secret is safe with me, handsome."

"Yeah yeah." He huffed walking us to his room. Once we were there, I plopped down on his bed, sinking into the soft mattress. Grabbing his pillow and curling into it, already feeling the tiredness hit me. His bed was sinfully soft. I watch him strip off his shirt and walk into the bathroom. He left the door open, washed his face, and looked at me through the mirror.

He smiles softly and turns around, walking to his closet and grabbing a shirt, putting it on. He walks over and grabs a blanket, throwing it on me.

"Question.." I whisper, getting comfy under the blanket he tossed on me. "How come you don't take naps with me? Or sleep with me at night?" I whisper, my eyes closing on their own. I feel the bed dip and a gentle, calloused hand pet my hair.

"Some nights aren't easy." He said simply, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my temple. "Go to sleep, baby girl. I'll be here when you wake up."

And then I was off.