Chapter 26 Sloane #2
“Oh? Did you guys meet in school, then?” I press on.
“Uh, yeah. Something like that,” he says, sticking something to the top of the door and pressing it into the glass for a few seconds before letting go. He’s not one for small talk. Thanks to my nervous energy, I couldn’t care less.
“In college or grade school?” I ask, lying down sideways and propping my head on my hand. He turns to look over his shoulder at me.
“What?”
“Did you meet him in college or grade school?” I repeat. He turns back to the project at hand.
“Elementary.” We’re down to one-word answers. Great.
“Cool. So, you guys are like best friends, then?” I think I might hear a faint chuckle from him.
“Sure,” he responds.
“That reminds me of me and my best friend. We also met when we were kids. Her name’s Lydia.” His shoulders tense, and the reaction was so fleeting that I almost think I imagined it. Next thing I know, he’s messing with the wires that are now attached to the thing he stuck to the door.
“Oh, yeah?” he says. I’m almost positive he meant it as a rhetorical question, but I answer it anyway.
“Yup,” I say, popping the “p.” “She’s the best. I think you’d like her.” I sit up, suddenly realizing that this guy would be perfect for Lydia. He’s her opposite in every way possible, and since opposites attract and all …
He completely stills, standing while holding a tool out in midair. He doesn’t turn, doesn’t move an inch. Damnit, I went too far.
“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” I sigh.
“I didn’t mean to get all up in your business and then practically suggest that you meet my best friend, who also happens to be a smoking hot bombshell.
That’s besides the point. Anyways, I’m rambling, and now I’m going to shut up and let you finish,” I say, effectively shoving my foot directly into my mouth and then down my throat.
I am such an idiot. I stand to do anything other than sit here in awkward silence when he …
laughs. Not just another lousy chuckle, either.
He full-on laughs, turning toward me. There appears to be a genuine smile on his face.
I must be staring, because he tilts his head to the side like he’s studying me.
“What?” I ask, fiddling with my hands.
“Oh, nothing. I can see why he likes you, is all,” he says, a smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. He starts packing up the loose wires and tools on the floor. Likes me?! I’m wondering what Callum has heard about me. He hasn’t heard the latest, if he thinks that Riven likes me.
“Anyways, I’m all done. Good to go.” He shoulders the backpack like it weighs absolutely nothing and walks toward the door.
Instead of moving out of his way like a normal human, I decide to forget how to move my legs.
He stops in front of me, stepping to the left.
I regain the function of my legs and move. Except, I move right into his path.
“My bad,” I say at the same time as his, “Sorry.” We both awkwardly laugh and then manage to move out of each other’s path. He walks to the door and then stops, turning back to look at me.
“He’s not a bad guy, you know. He’s just …” Callum looks down at his feet, readjusting the bag on his shoulder before meeting my eyes. “He’s… a bit broken. And for what it’s worth, I think you’d be good for him.”
I don’t know what I expected him to say, but it certainly wasn’t that.
It does make sense, though. Broken people break people, I guess.
I nod, unable to find the words. He turns and starts walking down the stairs.
He makes it down them in absolutely no time, and I choose this moment to insert my other foot into my mouth.
“Wait!” I yell, running after him. He stops, turning. He’s inside the doorway with one foot already out of it.
“Wait, Callum, I just wanted to thank you. Thanks for doing this. I’m sure you had better things to do today.
Sorry that Riven dragged you into my drama.
And about Lydia, I am … again … very sorry for that.
I just thought maybe you two would hit it off, and you know, she’s a catch.
Any guy would be lucky enough to have her.
” I look up, noting his smirk. I can tell that he’s holding back a laugh.
“Sorry. I’m rambling again, aren’t I?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Yep, sure are.” He fiddles with the hanging strap on the backpack. “Look, I’m not really in the market right now.”
“In the market? What are you, a head of lettuce?!” I throw a hand over my mouth to stifle the inevitable laugh bubbling up inside my throat.
I’m sure my face is a nice bright red right about now.
I start to reel back in the regret for the comment when he begins laughing again.
The sound of his bellowing laugh is enough to release my own.
I remove the hand that’s covering my mouth and laugh with him.
We go on like that for what seems like forever before he suddenly stops, clearing his throat.
All evidence of the playful Callum is replaced by that wonderful blank expression yet again.
“Anyway,” he starts, “I’m not dating anyone right now. Thanks for looking out, though. Maybe I’ll see you around, Sloane. Take care.” He turns and walks out of my doorway and toward his car. He climbs in and drives away.