Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I don't think I've ever had this much cake in my life." I slump back in my chair and place my hand over my stomach.
"I can think of at least two other occasions where you had that much cake."
"Oh shush, don't make me feel bad about it."
"Let's dance."
"I just expressed how incredibly full I am right now, and you want me to get up there and dance?"
"I'll hold you up." Calum stands out of his own chair and he grabs my hands and pulls me up to my feet, to which I groan.
"Fine." We both step onto the dance floor and I feel one of Calum's hands touch down at the small of my back as one of my own lands on his shoulder. We sway in silence for a moment before Calum decides to speak.
"I feel kind of bad for that guy you brought."
"Yeah," I agree. "He said he was fine though."
"Did you like him?"
"Calum."
"What?" I sigh. "I'm just asking if you liked the guy."
"I didn't bring him because I disliked him." I see how his jaw clenches. "Hey." I make him look down at me. "Isn't that the point though? I liked him, but I love you."
"Just, don't go on dates with other guys."
"I don't see why I would need to."
"Good."
"Emma and I are going to need you to take some of the flowers off our hands," I tell him. "I love the gesture, but it's a bit suffocating."
"The only flower you need is right here." Calum nods to the rose he decided to stick behind my ear earlier.
"I really missed you, Cal-Pal."
"I missed you too, Skittle." I lean up onto my toes to quickly press a short kiss to his lips and then I place my head against his chest and he pulls me closer to him.
"Don't ever make me leave you again," I mutter against him.
"I'm not planning on it anytime soon."
"Good."
...
"It's only been, like, two weeks since I've been here," I say as Calum and I step into his apartment. "But I've missed it."
I hear a gentle padding against the hardwood floor closing in and my mouth falls open when Calum falls down on his knees to embrace the tiny ball of fur which comes galloping around the corner and into his arms. "Hey, buddy. I missed you, yes I did."
I look on in wonder as he ruffles the dog and lets it kiss him all over his face. Calum looks happier than ever. "You got a dog? I was gone for a few weeks and you got a dog?"
"Yeah, this is Duke. I adopted him last week."
"I–I can't believe you adopted a dog," I blabber. Calum picks Duke up as he stands and the two of them look at me adorably.
"I felt so alone when all of a sudden you weren't here anymore, so I found this little guy and I fell in love with him—I mean how can you not fall in love with that face?"
I can't help but break out into a smile at the sight of them. "He's adorable."
"You wanna hold him?"
"Yeah." Calum hands Duke over to me and I am instantly attacked with kisses. I let out a giggle and follow Calum into the kitchen area.
"Luke!"
Luke comes into the kitchen a moment later. "Yeah?"
"Did you feed Duke?"
"Nah," he says and he hops onto the counter. "I got home like twenty minutes ago."
Calum takes out a bag of dog food and fills up Duke's bowl. I feel him getting excited in my arms so I set him down on the floor and he rushes up to happily munch down the food.
"That dog has replaced me," Luke says. "One day I'm the light of Calum's life and now all attention is turned to Duke over here. You're next, Scotty."
"Luke's just being dramatic because I wouldn't braid his hair because Duke fell asleep in my lap and I didn't want to wake him."
"Do you know how hard it is to French braid your own hair, Scotty?"
"Duke is still just a puppy, you know he gets tired easily."
"You make Calum braid your hair?" I grin Luke's way. "Do you want me to braid it?"
"Would you?" Luke lights up at my offer. "Because Emma can only do normal braids so that would be awesome."
"Sure, I'll do it." Luke hops down from the counter and follows me over to the couch. I take a seat and Luke sits down between my legs. I start braiding one side of his hair and once I start on the second one Duke comes clumsily waddling over to stumble onto Luke's lap. By the time I'm done Duke has fallen asleep.
"Calum," Luke says. "He's asleep on me."
"So?"
"What do I do?"
"Just let him sleep," Calum shrugs. I get up from behind Luke and walk over to Calum. "We're gonna go get ready for bed."
