Some Kind of Perfect (Calloway Sisters #5)

by Krista Ritchie

These girls are my life, and all I want is good health and fucking happiness for each one of them. I’d trade places with Sulli in a second like I would’ve traded places with Daisy back then, but I couldn’t. All I can do is be here. Be caring. Be loving. Hold them when they’re fucking sad. I’d do it every day.

“I love you.” In ten years, our love has never fucking waned.

No words need to pass. No radio needs to be flipped on. Our music exists right here. We’re alive. We’re alive. God, we’re all fucking alive. In this present moment. In this place together.

“These years have been epic, and not because it was easy—because it wasn’t always—but because you and me, we flew.”

“You made that possible, you have to know that,” Lo says, his voice lowering. “Without you, I just don’t know, Lil.” When his dad died, it’d been his lowest point in years.

“You’ve made it just as possible, Lo. I wouldn’t know what I’d do if you weren’t here,”

I always turn to him like he turns to me, and we’re not enablers. No one says that we shouldn’t be together. No one tells us to split apart. Our souls are still wound together, still wound tight.

A red heart-shaped ruby encircled with diamonds dangles at the end. The shape, the style—it’s an exact replica of my engagement ring.

“I gave you my heart a long time ago, and I’m not sure I remind you enough that you still have it. All of it.”

Luna, Xander, and Kinney—they wave out to us and lift up a sign together that reads: we love you!

“I think we finally deserve this.” Tears spill out of his eyes, and he says, “I believe it, too.”

I’m responsible for four kids. Four lives. Not four shackles. Not four burdens. I want to do right by them like I wanted to do right by Lily. Like I wanted to do right by my brother.

In a way, my four kids helped free me from self-constraints. Reminding me why I need to get up. Wake up. Just stand up.

So I bite my tongue about the early time. I can’t promise I’ll bite it tomorrow or the day after, but Ryke won’t care. My brother is amazing like that.

I feel nothing but love and gratitude for Ryke Meadows.

Ryke has bent down to tie Sulli’s shoe. “Dad,” she says like he’s babying her—which he is. He’s Ryke. He’ll baby her all the way through high school and college. “I can do it.” Sulli squats to tie her shoe, both exchanging smiles, and Ryke messes her already messy hair.

Hair perfect. Body perfect. The guy is a god—I call it as fact.

They’re friends beyond their relationships with me—I’m glad for it; they both deserve more friendships. They deserve every goddamn thing.

“Fact,” I say with the cock of my head. “You’re a conceited prick.” “Fact.” He grins. “You’re a good looking asshole.”

He has seven children. Seven goddamn children. A billion-dollar company and more reasons to have headaches than all of us combined—and still, he has none. In this world there might be another me, another angst-ridden guy who just needs someone to care. I know in this world there will never be another Connor Cobalt.

He loved me at my lowest—when I thought no one else but Lily could love someone spiteful like me.

You have a soul. I think it instantly. Without question. Without doubt. Rose has possibly one of the best hearts in this house.

“You’re fraternizing with the enemy,” Rose whispers, her eyes softening on their daughter. Connor says smoothly, “Your enemy is my best friend.”

Look how far we’ve come. Look at us now. Lily’s eyes flood, sharing my emotion. Ache for ache. Smile for smile. I only ever wanted to live this life with her.

My brother sits on the grass by the red chairs, knees bent. He stares out, the sky morphing from dark to light blue. And I know. He’s waiting for the sun to rise.

And then we end—we end where we started. Just us. All six of us.