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"That's like her third coffee today," I hear Arden tell Emma as I sift through the racks of dresses in the wardrobe section of the magazine building. "And it's only one o'clock."
"She doesn't even really like coffee that much," Emma says and I look up from the selection of clothing.
"You both know I can hear you, right?"
"Scotty, you're having a nervous breakdown. You need to calm down."
"I can't calm down!" I snap and the heads of everyone in there large room turn to me for a moment. "Calum is coming with me to Connecticut—my first boyfriend ever—and I have no idea what to wear or how to handle the fact that I'm in so deep with him that if he was to actually freak out about my family and leave me I would be crushed beyond repair. Also I have no clue as to what the January issue will even be about. I have nothing but a blank page taunting me every time I open up my laptop to try to write something, but the truth is that I don't know how to write what's happening right now because I don't even know what is happening. I write bitter stories about men being trash to appeal to women who lets face it are probably just as much to blame for not landing men themselves. That's who I am and I just can't—I am literally going to start hyperventilating."
"Skittle." Emma places both her hands on my shoulders. "Deep breaths."
"I'm sorry," I stress. "I am such a mess right now."
"I don't think you have to worry about Calum, Scotty. I'm pretty sure he's in just as deep as you are."
"You're probably right."
"Let's just have a night," Arden proposes. "We'll wear cozy robes and do face masks and paint our nails in front of the TV."
"Yeah," I breathe out. "That sounds good."
...
"Don't you feel much better?"
I sigh in contentment as I lean back on the sofa, my robe wrapped around my body and a clay mask covering my face. "I really do. Thanks, guys."
"How are things with you and Ashton now that the restaurant isn't happening?"
"We're actually going on a date on Friday."
"That's great, Arden."
"Look at us," Emma says proudly. "We all used to be painfully emotionally scarred but here we are getting guys left and right."
"I take things are going good with you and Luke?"
"Oh yeah," Emma nods. "I'm spending Christmas with his family this year."
"That's...wow. I didn't know you guys were getting that serious."
"I guess we are," she grins.
"I'm absolutely, no doubt about it, one hundred percent, in love with Calum."
"You are?"
"Uhu," I nod. "God," I groan. "I always though I wouldn't get to fall in love ever. I though I would go through life and never really be able to love someone, but Calum is perfect, and I love him so much it physically hurts to think of being without him."
"Then don't think about not being with him," Arden tells me. "Think about the fact that he is with you, because I don't know if you've noticed, but you're balls deep with him."
"Ew, don't say balls deep."
"It's a great expression!" she defends. "But you get my point."
"I do."
...
"Hey, is something wrong?"
"No," I shake my head, even though I know Calum can't see me through the phone. "I just wanted to talk to you. Just hear you voice, I guess."
"Do you just want to come over?" he asks. "I'm not doing anything tonight."
"No—I mean yes, I would love to come over, but I can't. The girls and I are having a spa night to calm me down."
"What are they calming you down from?"
"Um," I pause.
"Are you still freaking out about me going with you to Connecticut?"
"I guess a little bit, yes," I admit and I hear him sigh. "But it's not just that. I have no idea what to write for the January issue, and as if that's not enough Victoria is making us write three online articles all throughout January."
"As for the work stuff, don't stress about it too much. I know I've never really read your column, because I'm not a single woman with a mission to take New York by storm, but after all of the things you've told me about Victoria I doubt she would've hired you if you weren't a great writer."
His words are comforting and I can't help but smile. "When did you become so wise?"
"I've always been wise."
"Thank you," I tell him.
"And about Connecticut, don't sweat it, Scotty. You have made me enough flash cards about your family that I could probably write a biography about them if I wanted to. It'll be fine, I promise."
"Calum?"
"Yeah?"
Is this it? Am I telling him about my revelation that I am helplessly in love with him? "I...I really like you."
"I really like you, too," he chuckles. "Hey, Luke's calling for me, but I'll see you Friday."
