“Doesn’t matter,” I say. “Like, if youneedto make yourself useful or whatever, you can make me coffee if you wake up before I do.”
There’s a mix of confusion and surprise swirling behind his eyes, and I’m readying up another round of rebuttals before he purses his lips and nods. “Thank you so much. I can do that.”
Thank fuck. I’ve never met anyone who’s so reluctant to accept something that’s being offered.
“Sounds like a deal. The machine is over there, and it’s pretty easy to use,” I say, pointing. “But if I wake up before you, how do you take yours?”
“Just black.”
“Ooh, tough manly man over here,” I tease, lowering my voice.
Callum doesn’t laugh. “Yeah, my parents said that’s a guy thing, so that's what I had to do.”
The words “that's some fucking bullshit” jump to the tip of my tongue, and I purse my lips to hold them back. For all I know, he couldlikehis parents despite the fact that they think some weird things.
It’s best not to prod. He might even agree with them.
“Anyway, I won’t keep you up any longer,” I say. “You’ve had a long-ass day.”
Callum lets out a tired breath. “Yeah. I’m gonna shower and sleep, if that’s okay.” He yawns, managing to appear even sleepier than before. “Oh man, I’m looking forward to having a blanket.”
Fuck, this man needs a hug. I’m not gonna force it on him, but I’ll extend an offer. Without saying a word, I open my arms, and he moves into them, stiff and a little shaky. He’s exuding reluctance, so I don’t close around him—there’s no way I’m gonna force anything.
Luckily, Callum decides for me. Still stiff as a board, he wraps his arms around my body, and the tension in his muscles is impossible to ignore. I return the hug, keeping my arms a respectable distance above his waist, even though he’s a head taller than me.
“Not a hugger, huh?” I ask, preparing to loosen my grip.
“Nah, not really.” Instead of pulling away like I expect, he pulls me closer.
Oh. Oh, this iscomfortable.
That stiffness he had? Gone, like it was never there. And my god, for someone who acted like he’s never hugged anyone before…
I mentally retract my initial assessment of Callum not being a hugger. He givesamazinghugs, even if this is lasting a little longer than I’d expected.
I don’t complain.
“Damn, you needed this, didn’t you?” I say.
“You’re a great friend, Ian,” he replies, not directly answering me. “Thank you so much. Again. I owe you big time.” He pulls away, and it might be my annoying brain playing tricks on me, but there's reluctance in his movements.
“Anytime,” I reply. “And no, you don’t. You don’t owe me anything.”
CHAPTER TEN
CALLUM
Mmm. Oh man, I’mwarm.This bed is comfy. It smells so nice here, like cinnamon and some kind of herb and?—
And a certain extremely hot man.
Who I now live with.
Who I have astupidcrush on.
Shoot. Living with Ian is supposed to save me from sharing a hotel room in Vermont with three other people, but less than a day in, it’s already clear that I jumped from the frying pan into the fire. With said fire being lit by Ian with the purest intention of keeping me warm, without him knowing that it’s burning me alive.
I let out a frustrated, resigned sigh into the spare pillow he gave me. It’s firm and plush and probably costs twice the GDP of my hometown.
