58.
November 20th, 2020
Iturned on the bedside lamp, tucked my blanket under my chin, and then received the incoming Instagram video call.
“Hey, ba–” Dylan stopped mid-greeting, and the smile on his face quickly turned into a deep frown when he looked at me.
“What happened, Z?” he asked hurriedly.
I wiped my nose with the hem of my blanket. “Gallan called.”
Christ, why did his name taste so good on my tongue when his final words to me had almost ended me?
Dylan looked utterly surprised. “He did?”
I nodded, and then told him about Gallan and I’s conversation from an hour ago.
After I’d cried myself to the point where I could barely stay awake, I’d DMed Dylan on Instagram and asked him to call me when he could. I knew that his voice was the only thing that’d help ground me, and even if he was busy, he would drop everything just so he could sit down and talk to me.
“I’m not going to ask how you’re holding up, because I can see the answer on your face quite clearly,” he said, and then sighed. “Gall didn’t know that you’d been asked to make a choice. Shane told him about it today – right after we got off our flight.”
I hadn’t known that. No wonder he’d sounded so angry and hurt and…sad during our call earlier.
“Also, he asked Shane not to make any sort of announcement,” Dylan added next.
I sucked in a breath as I stared at my phone.
I don’t know why I was shocked. This was a very ‘Gallanthing’for Gallan to do. He was stubborn and determined; he didn’t like giving up. And when it came to us, I knew that the level of his headstrongness would multiply itself by a hundred.
Maybe even a thousand.
“Why would he do that?” I asked Dylan despite already knowing the answer to my question.
He clicked his tongue. “Do you really have to ask that?”
I sighed. “Not really, no.” I scratched my left cheek and shifted to my side. “So, how’s Manchester?”
He grinned and shook his head at the sudden change of topic. “It’s as beautiful as the last time I was here. I wish it was snowing, though, but I can’t exactly hope for that in this city.” He rolled his eyes.
I smiled. His presence, albeit a virtual one, was really helping me relax in my skin.
“Where are you? It’s a beautiful view behind you,” I said.
He moved his phone around to show me a lavish room, a busy street below, and then a gorgeous stone building opposite to where he was. “I’m in my hotel suite. Ross booked the best one this time because Gallan’s with us. That old ass has a soft spot for your guy.” He cursed immediately after saying the last two words. “I’m sorry. I–”
“It’s okay,” I cut him off, but itwasn’tokay, not by a long shot.
“So…” Dylan started. “I’m planning on visiting Heaton Park today ‘cause I have a day off.”
“You a fan of the Holland family and their diverse history?” I asked.
He tilted his head a little. “Who the heck is Holland?”
I couldn’t help the chuckle that left me at the confusion on his face. “The Holland family is who the Heaton Park originally belonged to,” I told him. “I thought you must’ve planned a visit because you’re a history enthusiast.” I smirked a little. “Clearly, you’renot.”
His mouth formed an O. “Rude,” he sassed.
I grinned. “Nope.Honest.” I sighed. “So, what are you getting for me from Manchester?”
