A Surprise ⇢ Callum Ilott

THREE

The next morning wasn't as comfortable how Catherine wanted it to be. She woke up because some annoying kid was screaming outside. And not forgot to mention she was in a hangover. Her head was aching, it even got worse at every heartbeat. A groan rolled over Catherine's lips, and she pressed her face in a pillow; she needed to get up eventually because the headache wasn't feeling controllable anymore.

Catherine threw the covers from her body and sat up. She grabbed a hair tie from the nightstand and made a bun in her hair. There were so many reasons to stay in bed, but she needed painkillers. She stepped out of bed and made her way to the kitchen. The kitchen happened to be a part of the living room, so Catherine's eyes fell on the mess in the living room. Another reason to stay in bed, she thought. The box with painkillers happened to be on the counter already. She grabbed two pills and took them in with a glass of water.

"Good morning."

Catherine's eyes shot to the person who greeted her; it was a young man who was only wearing his trousers. "Hey," she said, surprised. "Sorry, I forgot you were staying over."

Callum replied with giving her a smile. "I searched for some painkillers, so I hope you don't mind I went through your stuff..."

"No, not at all," she said. If he didn't find the painkillers, Catherine still had to find them. "How did you sleep?"

"The couch was pretty comfortable, I slept like a rose," Callum said and nodded. "Until a child started to scream."

"God, yes," she chuckled. "It came out of nowhere, it never happened before." Catherine opened some cabinets, just to find out there wasn't much to eat. "I would love to offer you breakfast, but there isn't much to eat. I can go to the bakery and get some bread?"

"It's fine, I will get something on my way back home." He showed a warm smile. "Or we can have breakfast somewhere at a restaurant or bakery. If there isn't much to eat, you won't have breakfast for yourself as well."

Catherine nodded, that was true. "Yeah, sure."

"Yes?" Callum honestly thought Catherine wouldn't agree with it, but he could always try.

"Yeah, you are right and why not? A way to finish...the wedding?" A questionable look spread over Catherine's face, but the corners of her mouth curled up. Callum chuckled and ran his hand through his hair. "Give me a moment," Catherine said.

"Yeah, yeah, of course." A wide smile was playing on his lips while his eyes locked with Catherine's. Even though Catherine looked tired and hungover, there was still resting something beautiful on her.

"I..." Catherine broke the eye contact and softly giggled; the eye contact was longer than she wanted. And then her eyes landed on the exposed upper body of Callum. "I'm gonna change," she spoke and walked to her bedroom. Her cheeks started to heat up. "Oh, my God," she muttered embarrassed when she let herself fall on her bed.

Callum couldn't help it, but chuckle. Catherine looked adorable. Callum put on his shirt and closed it. For the first time, his eyes fell on the house's interior; it had a bit of Scandinavian and modern style, but Catherine made it her own with small personal details. Callum liked it was personal, it wasn't a house from a showroom, just Catherine's own home.

It would be rude if Callum would leave Catherine's house like a mess. He folded the blanket and put the cushions back on the couch, he made sure it looked decently.

"Catherine?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe a silly question, but do you have deodorant?" Callum tightened his jaw when he realised it sounded stupid.