Life Of The Party × CH

39

"Babe," I hear Calum say. "Babe, wake up." I feel him place his hand on my shoulder and gently shake me awake.

I open my eyes, looking up at him for a few seconds before my eyes widen. "How did you get in here?" I ask him, looking to my bedroom door in panic.

Calum chuckles, noticing the obvious panic on my face, "Your dad let me in."

"My dad let you in?" I ask, raising my eyebrows in genuine surprise.

Calum laughs, "It was weirder when he called me this morning, trust me."

"He called you?" I sit up in my bed, leaning against the headrest. "Please elaborate."

Calum sits down on my bed, cross-legged and facing me. He was barefoot and wearing swimming trunks and a muscle tee. "Your dad called our home phone this morning and my mum almost freaked out on me because she thought I'd gotten into trouble again," he says with a laugh.

"But?" I ask, urging him on.

"But then your dad explained he was looking for me and mum gave me the phone. He told me you were ungrounded and he wanted me to pick you up so we can go to the Fourth of July celebration at your grandfather's cabin together."

"You're kidding?" I ask, not fully believing what Calum was telling me.

"I'm not," he shakes his head with a smile. "I was skeptical if it was a trap at first, but when I drove here he welcomed me and told me he's happy for us and-"

"And after doing a lot of thinking I have realized that you two are both good for each other," dad says, snapping both of our heads towards the doorway where he was standing. "Calum hasn't gotten into any trouble since you got here," he looks at me, "and you seem very happy, and that's my main priority."

A wide grin makes its way on my face.

"You just better not hurt her, kid," dad turns to Calum with a stern look.

"Of course, sir."

×××

A few hours later, we were at our secret dock on the lake. Michael, Lola, and Stella were swimming whilst Ashton, Luke, and Bea had gone back to my grandad's cabin to prepare and bring back the food.

Calum and I were sitting on the dock on a towel. I was sitting between Calum's legs and had my head leaning against his chest. His arms were protectively wrapped around my waist as his chin rested on the top of my head.

"Can I talk to you?" he turns his head to look at me.

"Yeah," I nod. "What's up?"

Calum looks at me nervously, "I meant alone..."

"Okay?" I say as more of a question that a statement.

Calum stands up, removing his hand from around my waist. He held out his hand for me. I took it and he pulled me to my feet. He laces our fingers and tugs at my hand until I start walking.

I walk faster to keep pace with him. "What are you hiding in there, Hood?" I narrow my eyes at him, asking him in a whisper.

Calum laughs, "I'm not hiding anything."

"Is this where you kill me?" I ask.

"What? No." he says, trying to stay serious through my joke.

"Then what are you hiding?"

"It's a surprise," Calum says, smiling as he walks the same pace as me, squeezing my hand tighter, not turning his head to look at me.

"Is it too late to decide I don't like surprises?" I ask.