Calum Hood One Shots

Matter of Time

Summary: Bringing the guy she had feelings for along as her date to her ex's wedding was probably the smartest decision Talia could've made.

"He invited you to his wedding?"

Talia felt her shoulders deflate, nodding solemnly to Calum's incredulous question. As they wandered around the mall, hands carrying a few bags that were some much needed retail therapy after the invitation she had received, she let out a sigh. "He did. I don't know if I'm annoyed that he's already getting married, or because he's being the bigger person by inviting me."

Calum swallowed a sip of his coffee—she had dragged him out to the mall quite early, she felt kind of bad for not letting him sleep in—before his slow, still morning voice responded, "Maybe he's just bein' petty by inviting you." Lifting a finger that was wrapped around the Starbucks cup, he pointed at the brunette and spoke after smacking his lips, "Show him you're the bigger person by showing up like it doesn't affect you."

Talia frowned at his words, stopping short as she faced her tall friend and blinked up at him. "It doesn't affect me," she stated firmly, hoping he heard it over the busy noise of the mall around them. She didn't want Calum—or anyone—thinking that she was still hung up on an ex with whom a relationship had ended a year ago. Sure, Ian had broken up with her and it had hurt, especially since she had loved him, but that was in the past. She'd moved on. But that didn't mean she was jumping at the chance of attending his wedding while she was still single. Not that it was a competition. It was just a bummer.

Calum lifted his chin, looking down at her with curious, challenging eyes that kind of had her breath hitching. "Prove it," he said, prompting Talia to raise her eyebrows. "Show him you're unbothered and how you hadn't thought about him until the invitation showed up by attending the wedding to congratulate him."

With a scoff and a roll of her eyes, Talia pointed out, "I doubt he's gonna be paying attention on his wedding day, Calum."

Her friend took a step closer towards her, enough to let the familiar scent of his favorite cologne wash over her, forcing Talia to tilt her head back ever so slightly to maintain eye contact with his taller figure. She ignored the butterflies in her stomach at his proximity, something she'd nearly become an expert at doing over the past few months when something unexpectedly switched in her head and she wasn't looking at Calum as just her friend anymore.

He was an observant man, but Talia desperately hoped he didn't notice the way her throat worked through its sudden dryness or the tenseness of her shoulders as he stood so close to her. His brown eyes held every bit of intensity that she had come to know yet still melted under, eyebrows raising subtly in encouragement as he responded, "Then prove it to yourself, Tal."

She bit down on her lower lip, telling herself she imagined the brief second in which Calum's gaze had dropped to her mouth before returning to meet her eyes, as she thought over his suggestion. Honestly, Talia doubted that she'd feel any kind of pain at the sight of Ian vowing to love another woman for the rest of his life—that wasn't why she was hesitant on attending. Like she had told Calum, it was more of an annoying self esteem thing. Ian had found someone else to love; meanwhile, Talia was struggling to keep her feelings for her friend at bay out of, what? Fear? Anxiety? Nervousness?

Excuses, excuses, excuses.

Maybe if she took Calum's suggestion, maybe if she faced this one thing, she would find some courage to face her feelings. Maybe it would give her the push to actually do something about them.

Ugh. She kind of hated that Ian was giving her this opportunity.

"Fine," Talia found herself answering, lifting her own chin decidedly as Calum raised his eyebrows. Then, with a smile, "But if I'm gonna attend my ex's wedding, I need a new dress."