I have no idea how I’m supposed to walk away from her.
Chapter 23
Callum
I barely slept, my mind playing yesterday’s events on a loop. Our walk around the lake, that stupid paparazzo, and that kiss… I miss everything about her, even though it’s only been a few hours. Is she okay? I wish I could see her now, but I’m the one who announced we should stop this fake dating thing—and for good reason—so I have no excuse to see her today.
It’s late morning, and I’m slouched on the couch with Fergie perched beside me. We’re watching the music channel, some synth-heavy dance track bouncing through the speakers. He’s tiptoeing along the back cushion in time with the beat, head bobbing like he’s the DJ, when my brother rings me.
“Looks like someone had a good Valentine’s Day.” Alec grins into the camera as soon as I answer.
“Hello to you too,” I mutter, dragging a hand down my face.
“Seriously. It even made the news here.”
“Right.” I sink further into the couch, resting my head against the top. I steal a quick glance at Fergie, who’s now spinning in a lazy circle, still dancing like he’s on stage at Glastonbury.
“Wait. No way,” Alec exclaims suddenly, and my eyes snap back to the screen.
“What?”
His expression is brimming with disbelief. “You really like this girl, don’t you?”
My heart quickens. “Millie? No—”
He levels me with a pointed look borrowed from our mother.
“Millie pretty,” Fergie chimes in, tilting his head to look at me.
“It’s not her,” I tell Fergie, then focus back on Alec again, who’s still staring at me with that accusatory look, expecting an answer.
“Fine,” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m doomed, mate. I should have never accepted this fake dating thing. Millie will be the death of me.”
“Admit it. You’re in love, bro,” he says, leaning back with the dramatic satisfaction of someone who’s been waiting to say it out loud.
“Callum in love,” Fergie repeats, right on cue, tapping his beak against the couch.
“Stop havering. I’m not,” I grumble to both of them before standing up to fetch myself some water.
“Oh, yeah. You’re in deep. I don’t know whether to be excited or terrified.”
I glare at the phone. “Thanks.”
“Hasn’t happened to you since Eleanor, right?”
I stop, thinking. If I’m being honest, it wasn’t even like this with Eleanor. Millie is different. I have this pull to be near her, to get to know her, to see her smile. I’m addicted to her laugh and the way her cheeks flush when she’s embarrassed.
“Earth to Callum,” Alec says, flashing his hands in front of the screen.
I groan, leaning my elbows on the kitchen island. “Is that why you called? To torment me? Or do you actually have something useful to say?”
“Door numberone, mostly.” He grins. “But I’ve got to run anyway. This was fun.”
“Bye,” I mutter as the screen goes black.
Fergie flutters toward me, landing on the counter. I scratch his head absently, and he clicks his beak in bliss, then says, “Callum in love.”
“No, stop. I’m not.”
