The Promotion

Chapter Seven

I woke up on Sunday morning alone—again.

I didn't need to look around to know Calum was gone. I could feel it in my gut, the hollow quiet that settled into the apartment whenever he wasn't there. Even though it was only ever the two of us, the space felt too large, too empty. The silence pressed down on me, heavy and uncomfortable, carrying a loneliness I couldn't ignore.

Calum's words from yesterday replayed in my head on a constant loop. We'd been together for so long, and not once had I truly doubted him. I'd always believed there was an unspoken trust between us. But one simple question—Where do you go?—had cracked something open.

His reaction hadn't just surprised me; it had unsettled me. Trust wasn't supposed to feel fragile. And yet, somehow, it was.

I knew I didn't want to spend the day alone with my thoughts, so I reached for my phone and messaged Sarah.

L: Hey, what are your plans today? x

The reply came almost instantly.

S: Hey! Nothing really. Lazy Sunday.

L: Breakfast at mine?

S: Say no more! On my way!

L: Perfect. See you soon!!

Relief washed over me. I swung my legs out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. As I splashed water onto my face and closed my eyes, an image flashed uninvited into my mind.

The mystery guy.
The club.
His face so close to mine.

I gasped, my eyes flying open just as face wash seeped straight into them.

"Shit," I muttered, wincing as my eyes burned.

I quickly rinsed my face, blinking rapidly until the sting eased. When I looked at my reflection, my eyes were bloodshot red—not just from the soap.

Why is he still in my head?

It made no sense. I barely knew him. And yet, the little time I'd spent with him had sparked something unfamiliar—something I couldn't quite name. He had an effect on me that felt almost ominous, like a presence lingering long after he was gone.

I changed into black joggers and a grey cropped hoodie and headed into the kitchen. Breakfast felt like the right distraction. I decided on poached eggs on toast, filling the pan with water just as a knock sounded at the door.

I skipped over and opened it to find Sarah standing there, bright and cheerful as ever.

"Hey," she chirped, stepping inside.

"I'm so glad you're here," I said, pulling her into a hug.

"Why?" she asked, laughing.

"One word," I replied dryly. "Calum."

She rolled her eyes in sync with me. "Right. Let's eat, and you can tell me everything."

We made breakfast together and sat at the breakfast bar, plates balanced in front of us.

"So," Sarah said through a mouthful of toast, "what's the deal with Calum?"

"I asked him where he goes," I said. "Why he's always out."

She nodded, encouraging me to continue.

"And he completely overreacted. Accused me of not trusting him. That never even crossed my mind—until he said it. Now I can't stop thinking about it."

Sarah chewed thoughtfully. "That is strange. If he had nothing to hide, he wouldn't have snapped like that."

My stomach tightened. Hearing it out loud made it worse.