"Ugh," Bailey throws her hands up, fondly exasperated with the group laughing at her antics. "You guys are such cynics!"
Bailey tries to look put out with the group, but she's grinning, hugging her book tighter.
Parker is dodging another of Tonya's coffee stirrer attacks and yelling, "I yield, Ton, I yield!Ow!That one actually hurt!"
Jane wraps her hands around her mug and partially hides behind it, a shy grin appearing on her face. Atticus watches her with intent, as though she's just done something extraordinary. His gaze is full of gentle admiration, absorbing her happiness with quiet reverence.
It's warm. Not temperature-wise, but in the feelings in this room of personalities that don’t match so much as theycomplement.
I look over to Callum, but his eyes are already on me. He looks a little unsure, as if I'm going to suddenly sprint out of here, put off by the passionate chaos between the group.
He couldn't be more wrong.
"I've actually read it," I say, my voice trembling slightly, as nerves set my heart racing and my hands fidget in my lap.
Ihatepublic speaking. Back in school, when I was called on to answer a question at random, my mind would just go blank. It always felt like someone snatched my thoughts right out of my skull and replaced them with static.
But Callum's looking at me now, his gaze full ofencouragement. He nods once as if he's saying:go on, you got this.
"I, uh... I really liked the character arc for Riley," I say, voice still shaking at the edges. "I really liked it when she and Matthew were on the rollercoaster, and she pointed out his issues, and she set her firm boundaries. She told him all the ways he hurt her and how he was going to have to prove to her that he was serious. She wasn't mean about it, just... clear. Strong. She told him she wasn't going to let herself be treated like just an option for him; she was going to be his only choice."
Chancing a glance at the room, I realize no one's interrupting me or laughing at me. Rather, the group is paying attention, and all look like they're actually hearing what I'm saying. This gives me some more courage to continue with my thoughts.
"I think that was the big moment for Matthew," My voice is a little stronger, the words coming a little easier now. "He knew he loved Riley, wanted to be with her, and he finally had to sit with what he was about to lose. What healmostlost completely from his actions, and he made the choice to actually show up for Riley, instead of just disappearing like he wanted to do, like his ego demanded him to."
"Agreed," Callum says, smiling at me and my words.
Everyone else is smiling too, nodding, and Bailey looks like she's practically vibrating in her seat, that smile almost splitting her face.
I return her smile until Callum’s voice catches my attention again, "I think sometimes, when we lose something important, it puts things into perspective for us. So, we stand at the crossroads, and we have to decide—are we going to take the path of least resistance, or are we actually going to fight for the one we love and choose happiness?"
Parker and Bailey gesture to Callum like they're saying'exactly'and Parker grins smugly at Tonya, who sticks herpierced tongue out at him.
Callum grins at them before he continues, "Matthew had been burnt before. He developed these patterns in his past. He could have just fallen into running—because that was familiar—but he chose happiness. HechoseRiley, even though it was something new and scary. I think I can understand and empathize. I think he'll show up for her every day from now on."
My eyes mist over as I listen to Callum’s thoughtful words. I watch as red creeps from his ears to his cheeks, his expression turning sheepish from the vulnerability of what he just shared.
"I hope he does, at least," he shrugs.
"That was... really lovely," I whisper, meeting his eyes as the reddish color lingers on his ears and cheeks. His lips curve into a grin. "... and I agree. I think the best things happen to us out of our comfort zone."
This moment, and my words, feel charged.
Our eyes connect and hold, for a moment, it feels like we're the only two people in this room. I feel safe and happy and warm, and every genuinely good feeling that I've been missing. His brown eyes crinkle at the corners, his smile widening just a bit more.
Until we're reminded by Tonya that we're not the only people in the room.
"Rhodes, you're a hopeless romantic," Tonya's smoky voice teases, snapping us both out of our moment.
I glance down at my lap, cheeks burning, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Callum's broad shoulders rise in an unbothered shrug.
"I think if you really love someone, you'll do anything for them. You'll show them that you're not going anywhere, not just with words, but through action.”
"Romantic," Bailey singsongs, breaking the seriousness with a much-needed burst of levity. It feels like an exhale as thetension breaks and the group laughs, placing their books on the table or back in their bags.
"And Matthew and Riley live happily ever after," Parker says, grinning at Tonya, who rolls her eyes at the younger man. "I liked that one."
Atticus reaches for Jane's mug, and they walk over to the coffee machine in the corner, chatting softly with each other. Parker stands and leers over April's shoulder to watch her crochet at the speed of light, and Bailey turns to me.
