“Sure, but then you and I left and got fast food and ate it on top of my car? Then we watched stars in the cornfield? Yeah, that was one of my favorite nights. Not embarrassing.” He waved his hand in the air like it was nothing.
He’d abandoned his date to help me out. I still remembered the girl’s crushed face that the Callum O’Toole was leaving homecoming to help his best friend. I had never heard him say that was one of his favorite nights. That was… wow. My throat tightened a little.
“Okay, yeah, it ended up great, sure. What about the time I tripped in the cafeteria and spilled food everywhere?”
“Because your ankle was hurting you and you skipped physical therapy? I threatened anyone who laughed at you thatI’d punch them in the face. You shouldn’t have felt embarrassed at all. Who laughed at you?”
“Oh shit.” Mack sat up straighter. “Callum, you had it bad.”
“My god, this explains so much.”
“He’s been like this forever.”
Callum stared at me, his blue eyes intense as he tilted his head to the side. “I never want you feeling embarrassed for any reason. If you do, I’ll argue against it.”
My stomach swooped. “You know you can’t argue feelings I have, right?”
“I’ll still try.”
“He is downbad.” Vee clapped. “Ivy, did you have any clue in high school?”
“Any idea about what?”
“That Callum was so into you?”
“Oh.” My face heated. “I don’t think he did… or that’s my answer. It never crossed my mind. He was my best friend, and I knew he cared about me. But not like… yeah. Safe to say it still seems surreal that he could’ve been into me then.”
“I’ve had boyfriends in high school who did not do or say things like that. I’m just saying. Pretty sure our boy was in love with you then.” Vee held her hands in the air. “It’s romantic if you think about it.”
“Shall we turn the tables and ask you about your love life, Vee?” Callum’s eyes got that mischievous glint. “How is your celibacy going?”
“Touché. Let’s get some drinks.”
The girls went to the bar, offering to grab Callum and I a drink. That gave us a moment alone, one I desperately needed. I wanted to make sure we were good. That he really felt that way about me all those years ago.
“Hi.”
He bent forward and kissed me. It was way too quick, and I wanted more. “You look incredible. I love your shirts that show your stomach like this.”
He dragged a finger down the side, making me shiver. A line appeared on his forehead, a clear sign of worry. “Are you okay? They aren’t too much, right?”
Callum cared about these girls. They mattered to him.
“No. They aren’t too much at all. I like them a lot. They give you shit, which I always appreciate.”
‘Yeah, they are fun. This sounds… they were the closest thing I could find to getting you back. I know that sounds weird, but I’m home when I’m with you. It’s hard to explain, but I’ve searched for that same contented feeling the last three years, and the closest I got to it was with them.”
I squeezed his hand, noting the tension around his eyes. “They are clearly such good friends, and I’m glad you found them. That’s how I feel about Esme and her brother.”
“But I’m selfish, Ivy. I don’t want you needing them. I want you needing just me. I know I sound crazy, but when I’m around you, I feel like I can fucking fly, and I want you near me all the time. Even today. I thought about just following you class to class just to hang out. See what you thought about a lecture or ask you your opinions on crocs. Or to show you this TikTok where they are showing alligators frozen in a lake! It’s so cool. I figured you could add that fun fact to your running monologue.”
“You are…” I laughed. “I love how you are, my crazy man.”
“I am yours.” He cupped my chin and gently ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “This isn’t the most romantic setting, so I’m gonna regret this when we tell our kids this story one day, but?—”
“Kids? Callum! What the hell.” I blinked a lot, absolutely unsure why or where he was going with this. That was so fast! Kids! What! Gah!
“Yeah. Kids.” He frowned, but he didn’t get a chance to speak again. Lo returned with two beers for us, along with the rest of the gang. Callum’s frown line remained for an extra beat before he masked his face and put on the party-guy persona. I didn’t like seeing his shield go up from my reaction.
