Age 25:
From: [email protected]
Can you tell me something really grotesque about you so I’m not so nervous tonight? Or maybe something a little too political so I can think slightly less of you? Just to level my heart rate out…
Feeling sick,
Shiny
***
I woke up to Calla not so quietly shuffling around in the kitchen. My curiosity piqued, I poked my head out my bedroom door, then shuffled down the hallway in search of her. She was perched up on the island counter, her legs swinging in sync as they dangled down the white cabinets.
She was holding a cluster of grapes above her head, mouth open, but when I stepped into the room, she forgot her mission and watched me as I moved closer. Her hair was a mess and her eyes were wild. She looked like an untamed animal.
How hard would it be to convince her to just stay home with me and roll around all day? I was pretty confident I could do it.
“Any plans today?” She read my mind. Her voice was almost scratchy and full of mischievous intent. She leaned back and spread her legs just a little in invitation.
As if I’d pass that up.
My eyes snagged on where her light green skirt rose above her thighs each time her legs swished. I licked my bottom lip and took a step toward her, taking my spot between her legs.
I dipped down and snagged a grape from the vine she was holding with my teeth, then brought my lips close to her ear.
“Nothing too crazy. What’s up?”
She popped a grape in her mouth and sat straight again, bringing herself closer to me. “Was wondering if you’d be up for doing something different today.”
“Different?” My ears perked up at that. As much as I wished we could stay here all day, I liked the idea of different with her.
“Yeah, like people watching outside a sex store. Or going over to Liam’s and taking all of his left shoes and hiding them in different spots around his house.”
I couldn’t hold back my grin. “That’s definitely different. As much as I’d love to be a shoe thief, people watching sounds pretty good. It’ll have to be this afternoon, though. I have a final suit fitting in a little while.”
Making plans with her and Luke on the same day felt like betrayal with a side of guilt. But maybe also a little desire and excitement. The strange cocktail sloshed around, mixing together in my chest.
“I, uh, I was thinking about maybe talking to him while we’re out today. Talking to him about…us.”
Saying us felt premature, considering I’d only confessed my feelings for the woman yesterday, but there was no chance there wouldn’t be an us at this point. Luke deserved to know, and if I did it this way, then when he lashed out, at least it wouldn’t be directed at Calla. I wanted to take that initial blow for her. Then we’d figure things out from there.
Calla loved me, and that was what mattered. That was all that mattered.
She lifted her chin, eyebrows raised. “Are you sure? I could go with you. Or we could wait till tonight. Maybe we could meet him at Romfuzzled. Or maybe we should wait till after the wedding.”
Tonight? Crap. I had plans with Lily tonight. In all the chaos of confessing my feelings to Calla and wrapping my brain around our relationship, I’d forgotten that Lily and I planned to meet up for our tenth anniversary.
I’d finally gotten over the idea that I Was being a terrible friend to Luke, but here I was doing the same thing to Lily. Brushing her aside. Forgetting entirely about one of my closest friends because I was so consumed with the woman who was currently running her hands along my biceps. I couldn’t win.
According to the clock on the stove, it was only ten. I wasn’t meeting Lily till seven, so I could make this work. Probably. I’d get things sorted out with Call and with Luke, and if I played everything right, I’d have plenty of time to meet Lily.
She deserved my complete focus for one dinner, and I couldn’t do that as long as Calla was still floating in the forefront of my mind.
“I think I should tell him first. Let him get angry, and then while he’s figuring it all out, we’ll talk, yeah? As soon as we’re done with the suits. You and me, Love Shack parking lot.”
Her eyes were swimming with fear, but she nodded her agreement anyway. I angled closer and kissed her forehead, just below her wild hair. Then I turned to my room to get ready for what was bound to be an incredibly stressful day.
Behind me, she snickered.
When I spun around again, she was biting her lip, holding back a smile.
“Is Love Shack your preferred retailer?” Calla laughed.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I winked and headed to my bathroom to get ready.
By the time I’m out of the shower, there’s a text from Luke waiting for me.
Luke: Fifteen minutes out. I’ve got everyone else with me so we can get it all done at once
Me: You know we could’ve driven separately, right?
Luke: And miss out on Crew’s singing?
Me: Fair enough.
Calla had made her way to the sectional and was cuddled up with a book. She’d settled in her regular spot. The corner she’d named the Abyss. She said it’ll suck a person in and never let them leave. I think it’s just an excuse for her to be there all day.
“Cowboys or aliens today?” I asked, nodding at the book in her hands.
She looked up and smiled, a lightning shot to my chest. “Cowboys. Finished the blue aliens last night after you fell asleep.” Calla turned the book so I could see the cover. A shirtless man had a curvy blonde pressed up against the side of a red barn, gripping her hips passionately.
“Nice. You’ll have to tell me about it when we’re people watching later.” I wasn’t really into romance, but if Calla was talking, then I wanted to hear all about it.
“You know I will.” Her soft grin was sweet and fresh, like cherry Italian ice on a hot day. I wanted to sink into that smile, hold it tight, and keep it all to myself.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, signaling that Luke was probably here and calling me from the parking lot. But I ignored it. I wasn’t ready to end this little staring contest.
Calla cocked a brow. “You gonna answer?”
I nodded, giving her a smile in return. “Yeah…I will.”
First, though, I had the urge to memorize her just like this. This small voice in the back of my head whispered to take a mental picture of her on my couch, book in her lap. Her curly hair falling over her shoulders, and her tiny green skirt spread out around her. I bit my lip, capturing the moment and hoping it stuck. I hadn’t even left yet, and I was already dying to get home. Get back into her space. And this time know for sure nothing was holding us back.
My phone stopped buzzing and then started back up a moment later.
I finally broke the connection and dug the device out of my pocket. “Hey. Sorry, I was looking for something. I’m coming down now.”
Calla shifted back into the couch cushions, her book laid out on her lap.
Pulling my phone away from my ear, I watched her. A distant “hurry up” came from Crew, then the line went dead.
“I’ll see you later…at Love Shack,” I reassured her. And myself.
She smirked. “At Love Shack.”
It was all going to be all right. It would have to be. We would talk, and then we could move forward together. That’s where we belonged. She belonged with me. And avoiding the truth with Luke for any longer would only pull us apart.
Forcing my attention from her, I made my way to the front door. It was time to get the ball rolling. Then there would be nothing left standing between us.
***
“Do you guys think I look like James Bond in this?” Crew asked, checking himself out in one of the hundred mirrors in the bridal shop.
“No.”
“Not even a little bit.”
“Why would you even say that?”
Liam, Adam, and I all answered at the same time as Luke stepped out in his suit. He pulled at the collar and tugged the sleeves down as he moved to the center of the room.
I pointed at my best friend. “See, there’s James Bond.”
Crew turned around and looked Luke up and down. “You’re right. His suit has JB written all over it.” He sauntered up to his brother and got a little too close as he inspected the buttons and collar.
Luke jerked back. “What are you doing?”
Crew leaned in even closer. “Trying to figure out if we wear the same size. Could we swap?”
Liam and I both scoffed. “Why would he swap with you?”
Crew blinked at me like the answer was obvious. “He has a 100 percent chance of getting laid after the reception. He doesn’t need to look like James Bond with that kind of odds. Save some for the rest of us.”
I did the math in my head. “Uh, you know a majority of the women who are coming are your relatives, right?”
Crew stood up straight and tugged on his lapels. “Rachel isn’t.”
Adam grumbled something unintelligible from his chair in the corner.
My phone buzzed on the chair to my right, and on instinct, hoping it was a text from Calla, I reached for it.
From: [email protected]
Hey, Shiny,
I hate to do this, but something came up later tonight. Could you meet me earlier? It doesn’t have to be at the same place. How about FDR Park? Or wherever, really. I’ll explain what’s going on when I see you in person, but it’s something really important to me. And I want to be able to give you all of my attention. Please, please tell me you can meet me for lunch.
I’m a little terrified. Good terrified, but still terrified. Feels like I keep having to pee even though I just went. Is that bad?
Lily
I let out a deep breath as I read it. Thank God. It was for the best. I could focus on Lily first this way and then explain everything to Calla tonight. Typing out a quick reply, I confirmed our meeting place at FDR park and suggested we meet at two pm by the bridge. I just hoped I could pull all of this off.
Crew’s shouting had me looking up from my phone. Adam was pulling him back with one hand while he protested. “Let me just try it on!”
My phone buzzed again, but instead of another email from Lily, it was a text from Calla. Heart racing instantly, I clicked on the notification.
Calla: Soo could I borrow Bessie for like an hour?
I smiled down at my phone. At this point, she could ask for anything and I’d say yes. I was starting to see why Luke bought bulk packages of anything Layla seemed even remotely interested in.
Me: What do I get if I say yes?
Calla: What would you want?
I held back a groan. I wanted a lot from her. A long list that I would like to take my time going through. But first, I just wanted to hold her. To be with her unapologetically and know this wasn’t a shallow infatuation but the kind of connection that could last a lifetime.
I was turning into one of those cheesy guys from her romance novels, and I didn’t even mind.
Me: We’ll talk. Be careful. Can’t have my girl getting hurt.
Calla: Me or Bessie?
Me: Obviously Bessie. But you should probably watch out too. Just in case.
Calla: I’ll keep that in mind 😉
“What are you smiling at?” Liam’s voice cut into my thoughts of Calla. When I peered up from my phone, all four brothers were staring at me.
Luke wore a cocky grin. “He’s been talking to this girl for forever. Won’t do anything about it.”
“Seriously?” Crew asked.
I shrugged and grinned. This situation was way too uncomfortable, and I really didn’t have an answer. Telling Luke in front of all of his brothers, specifically Adam, wouldn’t bode well for me.
“It’s not like that. She’s just a friend.”
Luke laughed as he undid his tie. “Yeah, right,” he said, shucking off his jacket next. “I don’t know anyone who is friends with a girl like that without wanting more.”
“Didn’t you and Layla stay friends for, like, three years?” Liam cut in.
In my periphery, Crew was reaching for the jacket Luke had tossed onto a chair.
“Yeah,” Luke said, “And now I’m getting fitted for a tux. Just proves my point further.”
I shrugged. Couldn’t argue with that. Lily and I had stayed friends for so long simply because we hadn’t met in person. It was easiest that way.
“All right, all right. Enough about me. Let’s get these suits off. I got things to do.”
Things involving their sister, but I’d keep that to myself.
