It sounded like a soul mate love story.
We were seated at a table near the front window that held a reserved sign. I could’ve ‘awwed’ at that but I didn’t want to embarrass Callum. Or myself.
“Thank you,” I responded as the waiter placed down our menus and went off to fetch us some water.
“I bet I already know what you’re going to order.” Callum teased as I hid behind my menu looking over my options. And… I couldn’t stop my eyes from wandering over to the egg foo young. Yes, that was my standard order and I don’t even think six years could’ve erased that from Callum’s mind.
“No bet.” I joked as I placed my menu back on the table. “What are you getting?”
“I think I’m in the mood for General Tso’s Chicken tonight.”
“You haven’t changed one bit, have you?” I smiled nostalgically at the man sitting across from me. I’d thought it would feel different. Over time it was only natural for people to change and evolve. And I was sure that he had changed but it didn’t feel any different than it did six years ago.
“My hair’s shorter now.” He laughed, “but I get what you mean”.
“So, what have you been up to?” I asked to steer the conversation away from the heavy.
We launched into a long conversation about everything that we’d missed, just generally catching each other up. He told me about his coach, I gave him the bad news about my cat - we’d had to have her put down after a string of illnesses, he updated me about Mack’s new bachelor lifestyle, I told him all about my sister's wedding and uncle Leonards drunken wedding toast.
Our food arrived as I began to run out of new topics - except the obvious. There was a stable shift in the air between us while we ate. We’d finished with the light and fluffy, now it was time to get down to the conversation. The dreaded conversation that was inevitable in every relationship.
“So, you haven’t had sex in over a year you said?” Callum teased with a giant grin.
I was not as amused. My cheeks flamed as I looked around us at all the people eating, all sitting within earshot. “Yeah, but I’m pretty sure the woman on the top floor of the old folks home, across the street didn’t quite hear you. Once more with volume.”
I pinned him with a deadly glare that said don’t you dare. His only response to that was to give a light-hearted chuckle. I rolled my eyes before going back to my food.
“Well, we can’t avoid it forever.” He wiped his mouth with a napkin before sighing. “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head at his words, “I’m sorry.” After all, I was the one that lied to him for months.
“I shouldn’t have walked away.” I went to rebut him but he cut me off, “Just let me finish. I knew that you didn’t mean any harm by it but I just couldn’t see past my own pride. I should have stayed, and I regret that I didn’t. So much time could have been saved.”
I let his words sink in, and I agreed we could have saved so much time if we both hadn't acted like idiots.
Now was the perfect time to tell him. My perfect opportunity to come clean…
“I should have been upfront from the beginning. I liked you, I was scared you’d turn into a douche. Guys like strippers in theory but the ones that take them home are usually creeps. They either love it or absolutely despise it.” I reached my hand across the table to take his, “I should have trusted you.”
Like I should have trusted him now, but my selfish thoughts kept my mouth sealed shut. He’d walked away once before without a second thought, I didn’t want that to happen again. It would be even worse than last time. I wouldn’t be strong enough to handle him turning his back on Ava and Hallie, and me. It would’ve broken me, that I knew for sure, and for the twins’ sake I couldn’t afford to chance that happening.
“Cormack!”
There were resounding laughs and catcalls as Ronnie, our manager, stormed into the locker room after weights training. I already knew what was about to happen, I had called it weeks ago at the poker game.
“My office. Now!” Ronnie bellowed.
Daniel was properly in the shit now. I smirked at that but kept my head down.
“So, Daniel is out. Callum, you sure you don’t wanna join the game tonight?” Steve asked from across the room.
“Sorry, I can’t tonight, I’ve got plans. Maybe some other time.”
“Oh really? Plans?” He smirked coyly. He was an ass.
“Yeah. I’ve actually got a date with Melody.”
Mack cheers obnoxiously. “Look at you, going from one relationship to the next. My boy has game.”
