After All • Calum Hood (Sequel to ISTTY)

42

—Are you feeling better? -Mali walks into the room where I was sleeping with Wyatt on her arms, who was too focused in grabbing his aunt's necklace-

—Mhm, something. How much did I sleep? What time is it? -I ask looking for my phone, once I grab it, I check to see if there was any message from Calum. Nothing-

—Not much, like 4hrs -she says and I sigh-

I throw the phone to the bed again and stand up, getting ready to leave the bedroom

—I'm sorry, Mali. I slept longer than I should have -I apologize making her chuckle-

—Are you a fool? You needed to rest, that was the idea—besides, you know I love being with my nephew

The truth is I wish I could've stayed asleep for 5 more hours and that Calum had landed on Japan already. I stretch a little, combing my hair with my fingers. I must look like a walking disaster right now

—Do you want to stay here? We could go get your stuff then drive to a Walmart and fill ourselves with candy. I want like a hundred liters of ice cream and watch some corny Netflix movies

—I'm so into that idea -I giggle, hesitated-

—That's the only thing that seems to work when Cal leaves -she chuckles a little- you know? It's strange but different. I mean, even though he will always be my brother, now we're used to grow up in different paths... It's not like we see each other. But you're his girlfriend and you two have a son, I understand that you might miss him more than I do

—Let's just say I'm not used to his absence, Wyatt isn't either, he's so used of seeing his dad daily, playing with him -I shrug before continuing- before Calum left, whenever he wasn't around due to his work, Wyatt would get so grumpy, and right when Calum arrived, Wyatt was the giggliest boy on earth

Mali hands me a bottle of cold water as if she was reading my mind, I smile

—My brother's world swirls around his son. I wish you could see him whenever he's talking to me about Wyatt, I bet you'd fall in love deeper. I mean, he makes parenthood seem so magical that it makes me want to have a child ASAP -she laughs. I nod as I sip on the bottle-

—Seeing the person you're in love with and your son together, sharing that bond and complicity is the best I've ever experienced. I wish you could go through that one that, I really do -I smile-

—I hope so, too -she answers as I look through the window- Should we go get your stuff already? Before it's too late

Mali stands up, leaving Wyatt standing up on the floor, he was following her like a baby penguin. After a minute, she comes back from her bedroom with her bag and the keys on her hand

—Let's go -she motions me to follow her-

—Wait!

I go grab my phone that I had left on the guests room bed, I check it again but still no text from Calum. As I make my way back to the living room I grab Wyatt's diaper bag and hold him, following Mali to her car

~

—This is Calum's favourite, I didn't know it was yours too -I tell her as I grab I take the chocolate mint ice cream from the bags, putting it in the fridge-

—It's the best one -she shrugs while chuckling-

—There are better! -I say obviously- like the dulce de leche one, the coffee one. Those are, hands down, the best ice creams on earth

Wyatt was laying on the living room sofa, he had fallen asleep as soon as we came back to Mali's

—However -Mali rolls her eyes and laughs-

We finished putting everything we bought at Target in its place. A notification lights up my phone screen, I quickly grab it, to find Calum's name on the screen

—Is that my brother? -I nod to her question, still smiling at the phone-

I unlock it to read the message

"We just got here. I'm beyond tired, as soon as we get to the hotel, the first thing I'll do is leave everything on the floor and throw myself in the bed. Please, let my sister and parents know I made it safe and sound, I'm really tired. Kiss Wyatt for me, I love you two."

I read the message out loud for Mali to listen, she just "awws" to it. Without leaving the app, I write a message to David and Joy, letting them know heir son made it to Japan. Mali went to take a shower as I was answering Calum, sitting on the sofa next to my sleeping son, minutes later, she came back looking fresh & comfortable on her PJs

—Go take a shower if you'd like, I can stay with my nephew

I smile and nod, leaving to the bathroom to take a refreshing shower. I was looking for Wyatt's diaper bag but couldn't find it, when I went back to the living room, I realised Mali had it & that he already changed Wyatt to his PJs... There's no doubt she'll make an amazing mother one day.

—Thank you -I smile, a little bit ashamed- you didn't had to

—It's okay, it was easy peasy -she winks while chuckling- what are we watching today?

—I don't know, last time I chose, now it's your turn -I answer shrugging-

We were sitting trying to find something interesting on Netflix

—Madeleine? -Mali grabs my attention-

—Yeah?

—Don't you feel bad because you didn't told my brother anything before he left? -she asks before biting her cheek-

—Mmm, something but—I don't know, those are sacrifices, I guess. Things that just had to be done that way and that's it

—I don't know how you're so okay with yourself, I'd be dying right now

—I'm not okay with myself -I admit- there are nights where I can't sleep because my conscience is eating me

—I hope you can tell him soon, my brother deserves to know

—Mali... May I ask why you haven't tried to tell him yet? I mean, it's a little bit weird the fact that you two are so close but still you've been keeping it a secret—but I appreciate it thought.

—As much as I want him to know, it's not something for me to tell -she pauses- it's something you need to tell him, something you two need to discuss as a couple -I nod sheepishly-

—I'll go make some popcorn and then I'll bring the ice creams, you decide what are we going to watch -I say feeling a little bit uncomfortable, walking to the kitchen-

Minutes later, I came back and Mali already decided on some corny love movie but I was too busy with my thoughts that I didn't even remembered the name of the movie.