Callum gave him a rather annoyed look. “Just send it to me.”
“You like her,” Drew cut in. “Just admit it. You fucking like her.”
Callum looked between the two busybodies he called friends and then threw his head back against the chair in exasperation as he spoke.
“Fine. I like her. I fucking like her, and I want her number. I admitted it. Now, can I have her number?” He lifted his head and eyed Micah. He didn’t even acknowledge Drew and the laugh he was very obviously trying to keep from bubbling to the surface.
“Why do you think I have it?” Micah countered, and for a split second Callum’s shoulders sagged. “I’m kidding. I’ve got it. Damn, man, you looked like a sad fucking puppy when I said that,” Micah added as he joined Drew in trying not to smile.
“Stop being a dick,” Callum stated as he downed the last of the beer.
“You see her tonight?” Micah questioned.
“Yeah.” Callum rolled his eyes. “Should I go get face masks, finger nail polish, and glasses of wine so we can all sit around and chat about my feelings?” Callum said with about as much sarcasm as he could muster.
Drew let out a huff. “Stop. We are happy for you. But, if you got a face mask that can take away this breakout shit on my chin,” he pointed to the deep brown skin of his face. “I wouldnotturn it down.”
They all three laughed.
“Do me a favor,” Micah stated just as Callum heard the ping on his phone and looked down to find Sam’s contact info.
A smile crept over his face. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know the history, but I think Sam has been through some shit, okay? I just know that Kristin is ridiculously protective over her and…I don't know, man. I don’t want my girlfriend going to prison for murdering my best friend.”
Callum laughed and then that smile turned down. He had a feeling he now knew exactly what that history had entailed.
“I’m not going to hurt her. At least…at least, I'm going to try not to.” He leaned forward as he clasped his hands together and stared at the carpet. “I don’t know. She’s different. Everything about her is just so…” He paused and took a breath as he continued to stare at the floor between his legs. “She’s so smart, and her laugh is the best sound I’ve ever heard. She just doesn’t give a fuck what other people think about her, you know? She is so damn strong and independent and brave. And she always makes sure to play with the kids at the tables, and whenever there is someone who has a disability or any special needs she is, like, hands down the best person, and makes sure everything works for them. She is just so kind and caring and…” He stopped when he looked up to find both guys giving him the biggest shit-eating grins of their lives.
“Go on,” Drew said with a laugh.
Callum’s face grew hot as he muttered a very disingenuous “Fuck you” to both and then threw a pillow at Drew’s head.
Micah was practically rolling on the ground with laughter. Drew was trying hard not to join him.
“Dude, you got it bad. Like bad bad,” Micah said in bouts while he caught his breath as Callum made his way toward the stairs.
“Shut up,” Callum called out as he tried to hide the embarrassment that currently flooded his features.
“Like head over heels, in love and wife her up kind of bad,” Drew added just as Callum made it to the bottom stair.
He closed the door and then promptly fell on top of his bed.
They were right.
Fuck.
He tried to envision what exactly that meant. He had really only ever dated one girl. He’d spent his highschool years with thementality ofget with as many girls as possible before you get to college,and then had spent the first two years of undergrad continuing the tradition by sleeping with every girl who let him. Then, when he’d finally given it a try and then his only relationship had ended in disaster, he’d decided to swear off relationships altogether.
There had been a good many who’d tried to get him to date them, but he didn’t think relationships were for him. He would ruin whoever he was with. They were better off if he just cut ties and let them go off and meet their Mr. Perfect.
He was the guy before Mr. Perfect came around. He was thegreatest lay of their lifewho they would discuss with their friends over a glass of wine ten years from now. But he wasn’t dating or marriage material.
Except, with Sam he felt different.
He realized then that he wanted those things now. Instead of envisioning his life as a cycle of running businesses and fucking around, he somehow had now moved on to eating dinner with Sam, watching a movie with Sam, cleaning the dishes with Sam, going on vacation with Sam, having a life with Sam...
Fuck.