“Morning,” the man replied, nodding his head in greeting. He wore a black hat, a CAA jacket with the nameJeffinscribed on it. He had a thick, scruffy red beard and warm eyes that appraised me with polite comity. He gestured toward my car. “My name’s Jeff, I’ll have that unlocked in under two minutes for ya, ma’am.” He added, immediately setting to work.
“Great, thank you.“ I sighed with relief. My phone rang, Calum’s name flashing on the screen when I lifted it from my purse. “Excuse me,” I turned, hitting answer as I paced away. “Hello?”
“Good morning, beautiful. How’s it going?” he asked with a note of amusement to his voice that instantly made me smile.
“Oh, you know, wonderful, really. We overslept and my keys got locked in the car. I’m extremely late for work.”
“I know.” He chuckled, the sound washing me in warmth. “I just stopped by the bookstore, and to my surprise, you weren’t there. Ellery filled me in. I’m three seconds away from your house.”
“Oh, Cal, no that’s fine, you don’t have to—“
“Already here,” he replied, his Jeep pulling up beside the CAA truck, about six feet away from where I was standing. I hung up as our eyes connected. Swallowing, I gave him a timid smile.
He was wearing a pair of dark denim jeans, ripped at the knees, and a black Calvin Klein hoodie. If he was cold, he didn’t show it. His dark hair was combed and gelled back, sunglasses hanging off the collar of his hoodie.
“All finished, ma’am,” Jeff the CAA guy said, drawing my attention to my car. He was standing behind the open door. “But, you’re completely out of fuel, though.”
I winced, peering inside at the gas gage. “Crap.”
“Looks like my white knight services are required after all.” Calum chuckled from behind. He moved beside me and pressed a chaste kiss to my temple before addressing the CAA guy. “Thanks, man.”
“No problem. Hey…you’re that dude from that band! The Flopping Fish!”
I snorted, quickly covering my mouth with my hands, eyes swiveling to Calum for his reaction.
“The Forgotten Flounders,” he corrected with a genuine laugh, eyes full of amusement sliding to me before returning to the CAA guy.
“I know, I’m just fucking with ya.” Jeff laughed. “I’m a big fan of your music. You guys are incredible! My buddy and I caught a concert in Halifax a few years ago when you opened for Slitherhead. You put on a great show. Name’s Jeff.”
He held out his hand, and Calum didn’t hesitate to grab it in a firm shake, grinning. “It’s nice to meet you, Jeff. Thanks for unlocking my girl’s car.”
I frowned at my boots, not extremely comfortable with the public declaration to a stranger and fan, although it was hardly a shock.
I started thinking back to when we first started dating, to the first social thing he brought me to. Prior to that year, I never did the whole high school party scene. I was too busy with my books, busy keeping to myself because I knew each town, each school had an expiry date. I survived by telling myself that my life would begin in college. I would finally get to choose where I’d be, where I’d go, where I’d stay.
Then I met Cal—handsome, charismatic—seemingly untouchable until I captured his attention. Calum’s undivided focus was a clairvoyant experience. I couldn’t say no if it meant spending time with him—receiving his smiles, his touches, and his laughter. I’d been bereft of it for so long.
It was my first time attending a party in Nova Scotia, and my first-time meeting a lot of the people I’d later attend high school with in September. I was really nervous—but Cal proudly walked into the party with my hand in his and a confident smile, introducing me as his girlfriend to every person who approached us.
“It’s been great chatting with ya, but I’ve got another call,” Jeff said, jarring me from the brief jaunt down memory lane. He grabbed his tools, saluted us, and merrily made his way back to his truck, whistling as he walked.
“How about that lift?” Cal asked as he turned to me, his lips tilting upward, those blue eyes drinking me in.
“Yeah, thanks...” I tucked my hair behind my ear and followed him to the Jeep. He held the door open for me, watching me with a smile while he waited for me to climb in.
I buckled up while he walked around the front of the vehicle, my eyes following him as he slid in with elegance and ease. He even moved like music.
It was quiet in the car, silence stretching between us until I gave in and faced him. “Why were you at the bookstore?”
“I mostly came to pick up coffee and danishes for the guys. We’re checking out a local recording studio this morning.” He admitted with a teasing smile and a sidelong look. “Seeing you was going to bemytreat.”
“Oh,” I said, surprise making my lips twitch. I relaxed a little, noticing the paper bag and tray of cups in the console. “Are you checking out Harmony Waves?”
“Yes,” Calum grinned, turning his attention to the road. “It’s a temporary solution. I still want that home studio, but that project will take time. While that’s happening, we still have to submit a single. We’ll need a space to record it in.”
I couldn’t help but watch him in wonderment. He was deadly serious about staying, and I know—that shouldn’t have come as a surprise, he told me as much. The thought of him staying for good made my belly flip with a mixture of trepidation and hope.
It probably cost him a lot of time, money, and resources to uproot the band and relocate from their primary location, but he didn’t seem to have a hint of frustration about having to do that.
