I finally manage to drag out the instructions and reach the blister pack inside but in doing so, I tear the box. Damn it! I glance sheepishly over at Callum who is now doing a terrible job at hiding a smirk.
‘Perfectly capable,’ he says.
In defiance, I chuck the packet back at him and watch with increasing annoyance as he catches it with one hand, without even needing to look where it was going. He hitches an eyebrow just the tiniest amount. He’s so pleased with himself. I would love to wipe that smile off his face, I think as he continues to eyeball me.
‘Stop looking at me like that,’ I say.
‘Like what?’
‘Likethat,’ I snap. ‘With your goddamn eyeballs.’
‘Stop looking at you with my eyeballs,’ he echoes, as if he’s mulling this prospect over. ‘You want me to stop looking at youwith my eyeballs. How on earth do you expect me to see you then, Moss?’
‘I don’t. I expect you to not look at me at all. It’s very annoying and you always look so pleased with yourself.’
Callum shakes his head.
‘Just trying to figure you out.’ His muscular shoulders inch up towards his neck.
‘Well, stop it.’
‘Okay,’ he rumbles. ‘Don’t look at you, understood. Are there any other things I’m not allowed to do? Breathe in your vicinity, maybe? Speak before spoken to? Address you in any other way than “ma’am”?’
‘Now you’re making me out to be a princess, which could not be further from the truth.’
‘You literally just asked me to stop making eye contact with you, Moss. If the cap fits …’
I am so incredibly annoyed by this, mostly because he’s right, I did ask him not to look at me and in hindsight, that was quite princessy. But it’s all Callum’s fault! His very existence makes me act like this!
When Callum’s around, every atom in my body starts vibrating. I can’t think straight. My brain becomes this very noisy place to be and I end up saying stupid shit, or losing my cool. What’s worse is, I feel like I can’t help. He’s just so under-my-skin irritating. Every time those stupidly mesmerising green eyes lock on mine I feel like he’s staring directly at my soul, which is wildly frustrating because I never gave him permission.
‘I am outraged,’ I announce once I’ve composed myself. ‘Out of the two of us, you are by far the more princessy.’
Callum chuckles in surprise at this. ‘How so? I can’t wait to hear this.’
‘All this … privilege.’ I wave my hand towards him in demonstration.
He leans back in his seat and folds his arms. ‘Please, do elaborate.’
‘Just look at you, in your expensive travel outfit, right at home in business class. I bet you fly like this all the time, right? With your smart trainers and upbringing that opened doors.’
‘How have we gone from my trainers to my upbringing in such a short space of time?’
I shrug. We’ve been over this before, not that Callum knows it, and I should be careful. He was genuinely upset last time I basically accused him of being a nepo baby. I should learn my lessons, right?
‘Have you ever considered that you don’t actually know me that well?’ he adds.
‘I know enough,’ I reply.
Callum nods, as if he understands where this is going.
‘You reckon I strolled into this job because Kat’s my aunt, don’t you? You think I’ve lived some ultra-privileged life and you just love to judge me on it.’
‘I didn’t say that.’ I press my lips together. I mean, he’s right, but I didn’t actually say it today because I am growing as a person.
‘You didn’t have to. Honestly, Moss, I’m getting a little tired of this now.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry, please don’t let me keep you from your slumber.’
