Chapter 22 Callum #2
“Finally.” Laura procures a bottle of prosecco from her bag. “I thought you guys would keep dancing around each other, but when you both went to Ian’s lake house?” She pops the cork and thrusts the cold bottle into Ian’s hands. “That’s when I knew something good was going on.”
Sabrina smiles. “This is too cute. I’m so happy for you two.”
Ian hands me a glass, and I take a sip.
“Yeah, I think Ian’s happy to have his living room back, too,” I joke. “Hopefully I won’t roast him alive once the weather warms up.”
“You aren’t going back once your dorm’s fixed?” Nick asks, crossing his arms and flopping onto the couch.
“I hope not,” Ian mumbles after he sees me tentatively shaking my head.
Wait, is that… Okay, we just agreed to move in with each other permanently. That’s so fast, and also amazing for my budget. I’m gonna have to start paying rent. I’ll have to insist.
Sabrina narrows her eyes, cutting her sip of wine short. “Wait, so you guys are all moved in with each other, like, for real.”
Ian and I both nod.
“And you did that before getting together. You beat me and Laura,” she continues.
Laura snickers. “Yeah, you guys stole our stereotype.”
Staying silent, Ian simply smirks back as he takes a sip of prosecco.
Hoo boy, I’m sloshed. As is Ian. And Nick. And Laura and Sabrina. The room is spinning a little—I’m okay, and I still have my wits about me. This is fun.
“Guys,” Ian says, “let’s head out. I just have to take a leak first, and then we can go.”
“We called dibs first!” Sabrina yells, dragging Laura to the bathroom.
Ian shrugs and sits cross-legged at the dining table, waiting for the two of them to finish up.
“Yo, Callum,” Nick says to me, and I turn to him. “Wanna wait outside?”
I’m not sure why he’d want to do that when it’s cold, but I don’t question him.
Nick lets out a large breath once the front door shuts behind us. “At risk of being the toxic best friend, I need to give a little speech or whatever, guy to guy.”
“Uh, sure?” I don’t know what to expect.
“Okay. To preface everything, I like you. I think you’re good for Ian, so if you’re worried about what I’m gonna say, don’t be.”
Man, I love it when people make themselves clear. Such a relief.
“Still, I’ve been friends with Ian for as long as he’s been in college, and I’ve seen some of the shit he’s been through. I have to do my due diligence and whatnot.”
I nod.
Nick purses his lips. “I’m not gonna reveal the full extent of what went down since it isn’t my place, but he’s…” He runs a hand along his face. “He’s a great guy. He feels a lot, and it shows. Some assholes, mostly guys, have given him so much grief for that.”
“Yeah, he mentioned it to me. They said he was too affectionate or whatever.”
“They all did a number on him.” Nick shoves his hands in his pockets and looks up at the ceiling.
“It was so bad that he swore off everyone, at least until he met you. Basically, not that you aren’t already, I’m asking you to keep that in mind with Ian.
Show him that he’s not too much, because my god, he really, really isn’t. ”
“I know, and that affection? That’s what I like about him. It’s what gave me the courage to ask him if we could be official.” Even if I got tongue-tied and Ian had to finish the question for me, I still started the conversation. That would have been unimaginable only two months ago.
“You asked him.” Nick’s eyes widen, and he smiles. “I had a good feeling about you. Ian has so much love to give, and other guys have been overwhelmed by that in the past.” Nick lets out a sigh. “I’m so happy for him. He found someone good.”
I chuckle as my heart clenches. “This isn’t a toxic bestie conversation.”
“Oh, right, I forgot,” Nick says, laughing. His face firms up, and he frowns at me. “Don’t hurt him. Or else.” He jabs a finger into my chest before his smile breaks through again. “Just a formality. I’m sure you won’t.”
“I won’t,” I confirm, and Ian chooses that moment to come outside.
“Callummmmmm.” He slides up to me and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me toward him and making my heart flip. “I kind of had a lot to drink.”
I snort. “Huh. I couldn’t tell.”
“I’m handsy and affectionate when I’m drunk.”
“Good. Then I won’t have to tell everyone at the bar that you’re mine.”
That makes Ian tighten his grip on me, and Nick snorts.
“God, you’re so fucking cute. Have I ever told you that?” Ian asks.
“A few times, I’m sure.”
“A few? Not enough. I’ve gotta step up my game.”
“Hey, let’s take a picture together. You look hot in that… You look hot.” Before I can ask what Ian tried to say, he pulls his phone out and snaps a couple of selfies. I have no idea how to pose, so I make a smile that I hope isn’t too weird.
“Damn, Cal, way to outshine me, holy fuck.” Ian grins at me, leaning on my chest and zooming into the pictures. “You’ll level up my feed, that’s for sure.”
I tense out of instinct before pausing—he might post a picture of us.
Who would even see? Ian’s friends. Nobody else I know.
It…wouldn’t matter if he did.
“I won’t post you, don’t worry,” he adds quickly.
I swallow the lump in my throat. Ian shouldn’t have to hide me, even from his short list of people on social media. Nobody here knows my family, I’m sure, and there’s no way a random post from someone they don’t know would get back to them.
“You can post me,” I tell him. “I don’t mind, and my account is private anyway. Nobody can find me.”
“Oh.” he smiles, raising his eyebrows. “Want me to tag you, too? Heads up, everyone I know would follow you because you’re hot.”
I slide an arm around Ian’s waist, pulling his solid, warm frame into me. “We can work up to that. Let’s just hang out tonight.”