The Promotion

Chapter Forty-One

"Welcome back, guys."

The words echoed through the room, bouncing off the walls and settling heavily in my chest. For a second, my mind outright rejected what my ears had just heard. I stood frozen, staring ahead as if my eyes might be playing some elaborate trick on me.

But they weren't.

Calum stood there—inside Alexander's house—holding a champagne flute like he belonged. Relaxed. Comfortable. Familiar in a way that made my stomach twist.

I blinked once. Then again.

Still there.

My throat tightened. "Calum?" The word slipped out before I could stop it. "What are you doing here?"

Behind me, Sarah's voice dropped into a whisper. "I'm sorry. I invited him."

My head snapped toward her so fast it almost hurt. Her brows were drawn together, lips pressed tight, already bracing herself like a child about to be told off.

"Kitchen," I muttered, the word sharp with restraint. "Now."

I didn't wait for her response. I took her arm and steered her firmly away from the living room, my pulse thudding hard in my ears. The moment the kitchen door shut behind us, I spun to face her, folding my arms tightly across my chest.

"Well?" I asked. My foot began tapping against the floor without my permission. "Do you want to explain why my ex is standing here holding champagne like it's a bloody garden party?"

Sarah sighed, long and slow, rubbing a hand over her face. "I ran into him at Jo's café the other day. We started talking and I mentioned the welcome-back thing, and before I knew it—"

"You invited him," I finished flatly.

She winced. "I didn't think it through. I honestly thought you two were... okay."

I let out a breath through my nose, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "We are. Sort of. But this—" I gestured vaguely toward the door, toward the living room and the collision of past and present waiting on the other side. "This is weird, Sarah. This is my old life and my new life smashing into each other."

My mind flashed back to the last time Alexander and Calum had been in the same space—Alexander's jaw tight, fists clenched, barely holding himself back.

"I didn't mean to make things awkward," Sarah said softly. "I really didn't."

I studied her face, the guilt written all over it, and felt my frustration deflate just a little. "It's done now," I said quietly. "As long as there's no drama, we'll survive."

She nodded, relief flickering across her features. "Thank you."

I squeezed her arm. "Come on. Let's not make it any stranger than it already is."

As we stepped back into the hallway, the kitchen door suddenly swung open from the other side, nearly colliding with us. Lily froze mid-step, eyes widening.

"Oh! I'm so sorry—I was looking for Louisa," she rushed out.

Sarah smiled at us both. "I'll leave you two," she said gently, disappearing back into the living room.

I turned to Lily. "What's up?"

She hesitated, clutching the folder in her hands. "There was a phone call at the office the other day—"

I raised my hand immediately. "Nope. Work talk is officially banned until tomorrow."

Her mouth opened, then closed again. "It didn't seem work-related."