There were some things we talked about, and some things we didn't.
When I smelled the ashy remanants that lingered on his clothes as Calum stormed past me into the bedroom, I knew that tonight would be one one of those days where'd we have to figure it out together.
I follow a couple steps behind, catching the door before he can slam it. I wave him off when he twirls around, tan cheeks flooding with red when he realizes he almost hit me. He shoots me a weak smile as he shimmys the heavy leather jacket off his arms, revealing the tattoos that donned his tanned skin.
"Didn't see you there." He murmurs, sliding off his boots.
"It's fine." I say softly, leaning against the doorframe as I watch him finish undressing. "How was work?"
"It was work." Calum shrugs, peeling back the cool silk sheets.
You nod, biting the inside of your cheek. "I uh...made you a plate." You say hopefully. Food always had a way of lifting his spirits. "Why don't you come down and eat? I made Chicken Pot Pie."
"Not hungry." He grunts, turning his back to you. I notice the pack of cigarettes hanging out of his jean pocket confirming my suspicions. Calum only smoked when he was stressed, and there was clearly something deeper on his mind.
"Then how about we watch a movie or something?" I suggest, the hopefulness in my tone beginning to dwindle. "Netflix just added some really good standups an-"
"Can't you just see that I'm tired?" He snaps, exasberation dripping from his voice.
This takes me off guard. Calum was usually so soft-spoken, even when he was upset. My jaw goes slightly ajar, but I quickly regain my composure, crossing my arms defensively over my chest.
"Well excuse me for trying to help." I mumble, slamming the door behind me.
I plop back down on the couch, grumbling nonsense under my breath. This is where Calum and I differed. I'm so outspoken that no one ever has to wonder what's on my mind. He bottles his feelings until it becomes unhealthy. Even after dating all these years, it's still not something that I've gotten used to, but I've learned to just back off when Calum got like this. It would be a matter of time before he would come around, but I have to remind myself that it's in his time, not mine.
I drift off to sleep to a Disney movie playing softly in the backround, but when my eyes flutter back open I'm sitting in complete darkness.
"Babe." Calls a tired voice, summoning me fully awake. "Wanna go for a drive?"
"Drive? This late?" I ask turning onto my side. "I thought you were tired."
"Changed my mind."
He gently pulls me to my feet, wrapping a throw blanket around my shoulders as he leads me towards the garage. I recline the passenger seat and snuggle into the plush leather seating.
"Baby." Calum calls once again, placing his hand on my thigh. "Are you mad at me?"
"No." I reply weakly, placing my hand over his. I gently rub my thumb over the top of his hand and kiss it.
There's a long pause before he takes a deep breath, his low, raspy voice filling the silence. "I couldn't nail one riff tonight." He says softly.
"What?" I ask rhetorically, my sleepy brain registering the world at half speed. I reach forward and roll down the old R&b song that Calum had over the aux.
"Not one fucking riff." He explains, this time louder. I hear him a cigarette out of the package and place it between his lips, causing a temporary impediment. "We go on tour really soon, and that shit won't fly with some of the higher ups. I mean, how hard is it to play our own songs?"
"Is that what this is about?" I ask softly, grateful he was starting to open up. "Honey, you just released the album a couple of weeks ago, it's going to take some time for everything to fall into place."
"It's never taken this long though." He sighs, cursing under his breath when his lighter won't start. "I just feel like such a dumbass sometimes, like I can't do anything right."
I roll over, rising up so we are at the same level. I place my hand on the one white knuckling the steering wheel. "Calum, stop the car."
He onces me over to check if I'm serious. "What? I can't just stop in the middle of the road!"
"Stop. The. Fucking. Car." I say sternly, taking him aback. He curses under his breath, manuvering the BMW onto the side of the road.
"Now what could be so important that-"
I cut him off with a kiss. The tension in his shoulders melts away, and I smile, deepening it momentarily and grabbing at the curls at the base of his neck. I wait until he's fully immersed, pulling at the base of my sports bra and moaning softly against my lips before I pull away just enough to catch my breath.
"What was that for?" He asks, a goofy smile tugging at the edge of his pink lips.
I shrug, smoothing my curls back into my pineapple bun. "You shouldn't talk down about yourself like that, Calum. You're fucking amazing. I just think you needed a little reminder."
"Reminder?" He chuckles, nodding his head in approval. "Maybe I should forget more often."
"Hey, don't push it boy." I warn, wrapping my blanket tighter around my shoulders. "Now can we please go home now?"
"Depends." He smiles, "Only if we can finish what we started."
