He told Verity as much before they went inside.
Once through the doors, the whirlwind accelerated with an overly-excited Landon practically jumping into his arms. Landon hauled him toward the bar, introducing him to the infamous Gregory and a spattering of other friends, including Aaron, the physically impressive specimen of a man that had caught Verity’s eye.
After searching the space and not finding Callum anywhere, Jack settled for making small talk with a man named Justin, who he found out worked at Cedars Sinai. Jack, of course, disclosed he was a physical therapist and nearly doubled over in shock when Justin said the hospital was looking for one. He offered Jack an in with an interview the following week, which was enough to boost Jack’s optimism about the move to LA being the right decision.
Then…a voice behind him.
“Daddy?”
Jack would recognize that mid-range rasp anywhere and his fucking blood heated in his veins. To hear Callum’s beautiful voice echo in his ears for the first time without the interference of a phone or computer connection was jarring…in the most delicious way.
He’d known Callum would be here, his nerves abating slightly when he’d walked in and found him absent, but his appearance now had sent him right back to his pre-flight jitters. This had been his plan all along, to come to LA with Verity, but repeating that in his head wasn’t enough to balance the shock of finally seeing Callum in the flesh. In person, he was far more handsome than Jack could have dreamed, his green eyes nearly fluorescent they glowed so bright.
Jack opened his mouth to speak and found himself at a loss for words. His kitten, his precious Callum, was only feet away from him for the first time. Jack grinned, counting his good luck.
“Kitten.”
Callum grabbed the edge of the bar and stared at Jack, his mouth hanging open in shock. His knees wobbled, and Jack rushed to him, wrapping his arms around Callum and holding him up.
“Is there someplace private we can go?” Jack asked over Callum’s shoulder, completely uninterested in the gossip and confusion going on between the other people in the room.
“There’s a room upstairs in the loft.” Landon pointed, his face etched with confusion.
Jack walked Callum past his friends and up the stairs, opening the first door he came to then guided Callum inside. Callum’s body was trembling; his shoulders shook with restraint. Jack rubbed his hands reassuringly up and down Callum’s back, whispering sweet words and promises into his ear.
Callum sniffled and rubbed his forehead from side to side across Jack’s shirt before he pulled back and looked up.
God, his fucking eyes looked like gemstones.
“Why are you here?” Callum asked with a whimper.
“Because it’s where you are,” Jack admitted, using his thumbs to wipe the tears from Callum’s cheeks, but as fast as he wiped, more took their place.
“When do you go back home?” Callum asked.
“I am home, kitten.”
“What?” Callum choked on a full sob, burying his face back against Jack’s tear-soaked shirt.
“I’m moving.”
“Because of me?” Callum asked with the absolute slightest edge of hope in his voice.
“You were an attractive selling point, kitten, I won’t lie.”
“The past week was awful. I was trying to figure out how to break up with you.” Callum laughed bitterly.
Jack’s heart skipped a beat and he pushed Callum back so he could see his face. “You don’t want to be with me?”
“No!” Callum nearly shouted, his hands coming up, fingers fisting into Jack’s shirt and holding him in place. “I do! I do. I really do, but you know why.”
“The distance,” Jack assumed.
Callum nodded, his tears finally slowing then stopping.
“Do you still want to break up with me?” Jack asked hesitantly, but needing to know where they stood.
“God, no.” Callum refreshed his hold on Jack’s shirt and pulled their bodies closer together.
