“Yeah, that’s fine. Do you want a coffee or water?” I ask, motioning toward the fridge.
“No. Thank you.” He stands there staring at me for a moment of awkward silence before unboxing the equipment and getting to work. I decide to make a second cup of coffee to look like I’m doing something. I’m not about to leave my house with this random guy here.
I’m sitting at the kitchen island, drinking my coffee as he’s finishing up the camera and alarms for the living room. I’m sitting in the corner, pretending to do some work on my laptop. I can’t help my eyes from glancing up at him every so often. He might be big, but he moves with a grace that tells me he’s gentle and caring. He looks my way, and I immediately avert my gaze back to my laptop. I continue working, biting my lower lip. If he noticed me staring, he doesn’t let on.
“I’m finished up in here. Is it okay if I go up to your room for the next installation?” My eyes move up and down his lengthy frame. He’s sobig. He takes a step toward me and then pauses once he notices my expression.
“My room? What do you mean … myroom? You’re not going to put a camera in there, are you?” I ask, suddenly taken aback by the potential thought of Riven watching me. I feel my cheeks heat, and I hear the faint screeching of a pitchfork dragging on the ground through my mind. I push away the thoughts right along with the little demon before she can say a single word about it.Not now. Riven is not installing cameras inside my bedroom. Callum stares, assessing me with an expressionless look on his face.
“No, no cameras. Just a door alarm for the sliding door,” he says, pointing up to the ceiling. Oh, duh. The stupid door. Now I feel like an idiot.
“Oh. Of course. The door. Yeah, I’ll show you,” I say, closing my laptop and standing from the kitchen island stool to walk toward the stairs. He follows behind me, and although I’m expecting to feel a suffocating sensation at my back, all I feel is a calm sort of protection. I relax as I make my way to the top step and into my bedroom. Good thing I decided to clean up in here earlier. I motion toward the sliding doors against the left wall.
“Here it is,” I say.
“Thanks.” He gives me a half smile, walking toward the door. As he passes by my bookshelf, I notice he steals a quick sideways glance, and I instantly want to hide under the bed. Instead, I decide on awkward small talk. What could go wrong?
“So, how do you know Riven?” I ask, sitting on the corner of my bed. Callum starts pulling some things out of another box that he has opened.
“We’re close friends,” he says, back toward me.
“Oh? Did you guys meet in school, then?” I press on.
“Uh, yeah. Something like that,” he says, sticking something to the top of the door and pressing it into the glass for a few seconds before letting go. He’s not one for small talk. Thanks to my nervous energy, I couldn’t care less.
“In college or grade school?” I ask, lying down sideways and propping my head on my hand. He turns to look over his shoulder at me.
“What?”
“Did you meet him in college or grade school?” I repeat. He turns back to the project at hand.
“Elementary.” We’re down to one-word answers.Great.
“Cool. So, you guys are like best friends, then?” I think I might hear a faint chuckle from him.
“Sure,” he responds.
“That reminds me of me and my best friend. We also met when we were kids. Her name’s Lydia.” His shoulders tense, and the reaction was so fleeting that I almost think I imagined it. Next thing I know, he’s messing with the wires that are now attached to the thing he stuck to the door.
“Oh, yeah?” he says. I’m almost positive he meant it as a rhetorical question, but I answer it anyway.
“Yup,” I say, popping the “p.” “She’s the best. I think you’d like her.” I sit up, suddenly realizing that this guy would be perfect for Lydia. He’s her opposite in every way possible, and since opposites attract and all …
He completely stills, standing while holding a tool out in midair. He doesn’t turn, doesn’t move an inch.Damnit, I went too far.
“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” I sigh. “I didn’t mean to get all up in your business and then practically suggest that you meet my best friend, who also happens to be a smoking hot bombshell. That’s besides the point. Anyways, I’m rambling, and now I’m going to shut up and let you finish,” I say, effectively shoving my foot directly into my mouth and then down my throat. I amsuchan idiot. I stand to do anything other than sit here in awkward silence when he … laughs. Not just another lousy chuckle, either. He full-on laughs, turning toward me.There appears to be a genuine smile on his face. I must be staring, because he tilts his head to the side like he’s studying me.
“What?” I ask, fiddling with my hands.
“Oh, nothing. I can see why he likes you, is all,” he says, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. He starts packing up the loose wires and tools on the floor.Likesme?! I’m wondering what Callum has heard about me. He hasn’t heard the latest, if he thinks that Rivenlikesme.
“Anyways, I’m all done. Good to go.” He shoulders the backpack like it weighs absolutely nothing and walks toward the door. Instead of moving out of his way like a normal human, I decide to forget how to move my legs. He stops in front of me, stepping to the left. I regain the function of my legs and move. Except, I move right into his path.
“My bad,” I say at the same time as his, “Sorry.” We both awkwardly laugh and then manage to move out of each other’s path. He walks to the door and then stops, turning back to look at me.
“He’s not a bad guy, you know. He’s just …” Callum looks down at his feet, readjusting the bag on his shoulder before meeting my eyes. “He’s… a bit broken. And for what it’s worth, I think you’d be good for him.”
I don’t know what I expected him to say, but it certainly wasn’t that. It does make sense, though. Broken people break people, I guess. I nod, unable to find the words. He turns and starts walking down the stairs. He makes it down them in absolutely no time, and I choose this moment to insert my other foot into my mouth.
