I watch him add cream. Not too much. One sugar. Stir it exactly three times.
When did he learn how she likes her coffee?
He brings it to her and she smiles up at him. “Thank you.”
“How’d you sleep?” he asks.
“Good. Really good.”
Callum reaches across the table and steals a piece of bacon off her plate before she can protest.
“Cal,” she scolds, but she’s smiling at him.
He smiles back. “What? You weren’t eating it fast enough.”
I clench my jaw, unable to take whatever the fuck’s going on.
Zephyr walks to the counter and comes back with her painkillers. He sets them next to her plate with a glass of water.
“You should take these with food,” he says.
She looks at the pills, then at him. “Thank you.”
I’m standing at the stove watching all of this unfold.
The easy way Callum teases her. The careful way Zephyr takes care of her. The way she smiles at both of them like they’re not completely upending her entire life.
It’s domestic. Comfortable. Natural.
And it makes my chest feel tight in a way I don’t understand. She’s not mine, even though I know what she tastes like. Even though I came in my pants when she orgasmed. Even though I jack off to the thought of her. And I desire her in every way fucking possible. This wasn’t the plan. It was never the plan.
We eat breakfast together. Callum talks about practice. Zephyr mentions some assignment he has due. Tiger mostly listens and smiles and steals glances at all three of us when she thinks we’re not looking.
By six-forty, we need to head out.
“We’re going to practice,” I say, standing up and grabbing my keys.
Tiger says, “Okay.”
“Are you going to be okay?” Zephyr asks. There’s real concern in his voice.
“Yes. I’ll be okay. I heard back from my Professors, they’re allowing me to do Zoom until I can physically attend classes again.”
That’s good.
“You have our numbers,” Callum adds.
She nods.
“And you’ll call if you need anything?” I ask.
She smiles shyly. “I promise.”
We’re all standing there. Nobody moving. Like we don’t know how to leave her.
Finally, I step forward and cup her face with my hand. I look into her eyes and then I look at her lips. I lean down and kiss her.
It’s brief. Gentle. A simple goodbye kiss.
