Was he telling that other girl the same things he had told her?
Was he causing a trail of goosebumps to snake across her skin?
Micah wouldn’t stop talking.
He was completely unaware as to what was going on just feet away, but Kristin had figured it out. When Sam’s breathing continued to increase, Kristin looped her arm around Sam and abruptly announced the need for a bathroom trip. They made it through the kitchen and then downstairs to Micah’s bedroom before she asked if Sam was okay.
“I’m fine,” Sam lied. “It’s really not a big deal. We only kissed that once, and I’d rather spend the night forgetting about it then rehashing it.”
Kristin waited a moment before she spoke. Sam could tell that pause was because Kristin didn’t believe a damn word that came out of her mouth. Thankfully, Kristin didn’t call her out this time. Maybe they could rehash this later. Later meaning after she indulged in some much needed alcohol, that way she could blame the tears on the haze that was surging through her body and not on her true feelings.
“Good. Just wanted to make sure. But I think we can both agree that Callum is just doing that because he is jealous of the fact that you and Christian are seeing each other tomorrow.”
“Christian is just my friend.”
“Callum doesn’t know that. From his point of view, I bet it looks like you are fraternizing with the enemy, and maybe even doing it on purpose.”
“I honestly don’t care either way. How about we just go upstairs and have a good night? I want to forget about all the drama for a while.”
Thankfully, there was no more discussion, and after a much needed hug, they both silently walked back upstairs. Sam tried not to look at the half-opened door that she knew led to Callum’s room.
She tried not to note the table with the paint set and the half-completed artwork strewn around the room. And she sure as hell
tried not to acknowledge the pang of sadness that had slowly crept in.
The party was relatively entertaining. There were a few more girls there than there had been the last time, and at some point they all ended up in chairs on the back lawn. She hadn’t seen Callum since that first encounter and, for all she knew, he could have already taken that girl to his room. She let the image consume her thoughts while tossing back drink after drink and, before she knew it, the ground wasn't as stable as she had thought. The one beer had somehow turned into three…or maybe four?
She got close enough to Micah’s door to grasp the handle, hoping for a quick bathroom break to empty her now full bladder, before she heard Kristin’s moans and promptly turned herself around. She was already in the other downstairs bathroom and buttoning up her pants before she fully clued in to where exactly she was.
There was a moment of sobering hesitation, and then everything came back into focus. She was in Callum’s room. Callum’s bathroom, to be exact. Callum’s bed was just on the other side of that door. She would have to walk back through it to get out. For all she knew, he was currently in that bed with that girl and she hadn’t been any the wiser when she’d walked in. If she was caught, he would think she was certifiably insane.
She tentatively opened the bathroom door, praying that no one was around, and by some miracle, the room was empty. She quickly made it to his bedroom door when she noticed the paints again and, despite her better judgment, walked back in to get a better look. Her heart was beating so fast she couldn’t process exactly how wrong this decision would be.
Her breath caught at the beauty before her. Various scenes and random people she didn’t know. A man in a three-piece suit sitting on a bus seat. A woman pushing a small child on a swing. The sunset. The lake. A seagull soaring high above.
Her.
The black and white drawing placed directly under the last was stunning, and for a moment, she wasn't exactly sure if she fully breathed. As if the exhale would shatter the moment. The girl in the picture was her. But it didn’t completely look like Sam. This girl with her untamed curls, face full of freckles and wide smile was much too beautiful. She was laughing at something far off and there was an immense happiness in her eyes.
“What are you doing?” Callum’s voice cut through her thoughts.
“You drew me.” Her answer was immediate as she stayed frozen in place, the drawing of the far too beautiful girl shaking in her hands.
Sam couldn’t tell if it came out as more of a question or statement. She waited for a response, but nothing came. And now she was afraid to turn around.
He hadn’t said a word.
Or, maybe he had.
Maybe her ears were ringing so loud she didn’t hear him.
“Yeah, I did,” he responded, voice so low she almost didn't catch it.
“Why?” This time, and without full control of her limbs, she somehow twisted her body to face him and found a pink glow covering his cheeks. Callum shuffled on his feet before he finally made eye contact.
“I can’t get you out of my head.” He sighed, then turned to shut the door before making his way toward her, stopping just short of where she stood.
“Is that what you told that girl upstairs too?”