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Having Mali here has been healthy for Calum, she naturally keeps his spirits high. But she left three days ago.
Calum is still in a good mood, and I hope it lasts, because seeing him hurt has quickly grown to be one of my least favorite things. "Scotty."
I snap out of whatever daze I have fallen into watching him focus on his computer screen for the past five minutes. It's uncharacteristically warm and sunny outside for late November so we are sitting on the balcony. Calum with his laptop on the table in front of him while I attempt to flip my way through the magazine I am holding, my feet propped up on the table. "Yeah?"
"I think the restaurant won't happen right now."
"Why?"
"It's not the right time."
"But this is your dream."
"It can wait," he insists. "I like where I am right now. I'm happy, and maybe I want to focus on keeping another dream alive right now."
"What other dream is that?" I laugh. "I only ever hear you talk about food."
"You're my dream," he says and I send him a shy smile. I did not expect that. "I like where I am at work, but even more, I like where I am with you."
"I like where I am with you too," I tell him putting my magazine aside to stand and walk over to take a seat on his lap. "You know, I'm working on my column for the December issue next month, and I think it's the first time I won't sound like my mom when writing it."
"I wonder who could have inspired you." Calum's hands move along my thighs and I let my fingers entwine behind his head as I lean in closer to his face.
"Maybe you could help me figure it out." I attach my lips to his and Calum's hands move to the back of my thighs to push my body even closer to his. I pull away when there's a knock on the sliding doors and Luke peeks his head out.
"Please don't have sex in that chair," he says. "It's my favorite chair out here."
"Don't worry, Luke," I tell him. "If it comes to that we'll make sure to move to your bed instead."
Calum laughs and Luke scoffs. "Not funny."
...
I wake up to a rustling coming from inside my room. When I reach over to turn on a lamp I see that it's Calum who is trying his best to get out of his chefs attire.
"Hey," he says when he sees me awake in bed.
"What are you doing here?"
"I worked late and I'm super tired and your place is closer to the restaurant than mine is." He manages to get his shirt off and then let his pants fall to the floor. He notices me looking and he moves towards the bed. "I missed you."
I hold an arm out between us and he looks confused. "You have to shower before you get in bed—you smell like food and frying oil."
He rolls his eyes. "Fine, I'll be right back."
I turn the light off and try to doze off again, but I can't go back to sleep it seems so I lie on my back looking up into the darkness of the room and wait for Calum to return from the bathroom smelling of peaches.
"I smell like peaches now," is the first thing he says upon arriving back in my bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. The light coming from the hallway on the other side of the door he's left ajar is enough to accentuate his toned upper body.
"Good thing I like peaches then." Calum moves to put on a pair of boxers from his designated drawer in my dresser before finally lifting the covers to get in bed. He pulls me closer immediately and I feel that his skin is still cold and a little bit damp. "You're no cozy when you're all moist."
"But you're super snuggly right now, Scotty." He peppers my face with kisses all over and I can't help but laugh at him.
"I'm tired but I can't go back to sleep."
"I bet I can wake you up," he suggests and he moves a hand up to my face to cup my cheek. When we kiss his other hand moves to my leg and I move to have one leg on either side of his body straddling him.
"It'll be totally worth falling asleep at work tomorrow."
