Not in the Same Way

Thirty One

It has been a week since the boys album was released, and three days since Calum's post to social media. I had done my best to stay off the sites since then but there was a gnawing little voice in the back of my mind that wanted to know what people were saying.

Maybe I was masochistic, maybe I was just insane but I pulled my phone from the charger and joined Calum and Ava outside. The pair splashed in the pool and I took a seat on the lounger. After watching them for a moment over the rim of my sunglasses I opened the twitter app and tried to mentally prepare myself for what I would find before diving in.

I typed my name in to the search bar and wait.

I bet Darby took his phone

When the fuck has Cal ever written a damn book like that. I smell Darby

Can I just say that Darby isn't even that pretty? C could do sooo much better

I feel myself becoming flustered, my face heating up in embarrassment as I read through more replies that accuse me of being pregnant again, abusing Calum, forcing him in to letting me stay with him during quarantine and questioning if Ava is even Calum's child.

I use my pointer finger to push my sunglasses back up on the bridge of my nose, shielding my eyes from the sun and my watery eyes from Calum.

Fuck.

I shouldn't have gone looking when I knew what I would likely find. I use to be better at hiding my emotions but having a baby had turned me into my own personal emotional roller coaster and I cant stop the tear that rolls down my cheek.

When I am sure that Calum is focused on Ava and not looking at me I lift my hand and quickly wipe away the dampness.

This is part of what comes with being with Cal and he is worth it. That's what I repeat to myself over and over as I try to erase the memories of the words I'd read from my brain.

"Mama play." Ava says and my attention snaps to her.

"Yeah, Darbs. Come play. You're awfully quiet this morning, what's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"

"Nah, I'm good." I say, brushing aside his comment and walking calmly towards the pool. I take a seat on the edge dipping my feet in the water as Ava waves to get my attention before showing off with her swimming skills.

I praise her and try to avoid Calum's heavy gaze that I can feel on me. His face holds a pensive look and I know he's studying me, trying to decide if I am being truthful in my feelings. I try to force a smile, hoping he'll be thrown off enough to drop the issue. It really isn't a big deal and I'll get over it with just a little time.

"I have a proposition for you." He says and I tilt my head.

"What kind of proposition?" I ask, my eyes moving from him to our daughter who swims happily in the shallow end with the assistance of her floaties.

"It's the end of the charting week tonight and Michael invited us over to celebrate."

"Cal there's a quarantine."

"I know, I know but hear me out." He says raising his hands in surrender. "They've all been in quarantine over fourteen days and so have we. There's six people over there, so with us that takes it to nine. You're allowed to have groups less than ten and visit family and for us they might as well be family. If we need to we can stay six feet away from everyone. I think we should go."

I rake my hand down over my face, the idea of seeing Crystal and Mikey and just generally anyone aside from Cal and Aves is awfully alluring but I drop my gaze to Ava as I consider the proposition.

"We've just got to keep Aves in mind." I tell him.

"If it would make you feel better we have that kids mask we bought for her in case we had to leave for groceries and stuff."

I consider it.

"And I watched a doctor speak this morning they say as long as you're cautious and wash your hands and take precautions, visiting family is fine. That's what we'd be doing Darbs. They're family and you know it."

I sigh and close my eyes as I try to think and process.

"You think we'll be fine?"

"I wouldn't put you guys at risk if I thought something would happen."

I sigh out a heavy breath and nod. "Okay then, take Aves' mask with us, just in case I start to feel weird about it."

"Great." He says swimming over and standing up, his body positioned between my legs as he slings his arms around my neck and stands on his tippy toes in the water to kiss me. "I'll call them later and say we're coming. Get in." He says backing up a bit so he's closer to Ava, able to help her if she starts struggling though she is still more than content splashing and kicking her feet, her floaties keeping her from wearing herself out.

"No, Cal I'm not wanting to get wet right now." I tell him.

His eyes darken with mischief.

"I mean it Calum Thomas Hood." I say firmly, glaring at him as he swims up to me, again his hands surrounding the backs of my knees as a grin, boyish and amused, coats his face.

"I will withhold sex for a month." His hands immediately drop back into the water and a satisfied smirk works it way onto my face.

"That's just mean." He pouts, his bottom lip out turned.

"And threatening to pull me in the water isn't?" I ask, my words coming out in a laugh.

He rolls his eyes and mutters "fair enough."

I think hes given in so I lean back, my arms supporting me as I lift my head towards the sun, soaking in the warmth. It gives him the perfect opportunity to sneak up and pull me into the water.

"Calum, What the Fuck!" I yell as I surface from beneath the water. He's laughing so hard he can barely breathe, his hand covering most of his face. Ava squeals in delight behind him, only adding to his amusement.

"Ava, do not encourage him!" I chastise.

"You're laughing now, Hood. We'll see hard you're laughing when it's just you and your hand the next month." I say smugly.

"Oh come on now Darby. You and I both know that would just be punishing yourself." He says lowly, wrapping his arms around my stomach and pulling me to him so my back is flush against him.

Goosebumps cover my arms and I feel my resolve start to falter already, damn him and the things he does to me.

"Nope. I'm serious." I say trying to sound firm but coming off as more defiant than anything.

Cal only squeezes me tighter.

"Sorry, I got you all wet." He says directly into my ear, his voice deep and low and now I'm worried about being a different kind of wet which I believe was exactly his intention.

I press myself against him under the water, the telling hardness pressed against my back making me smirk.

"Sorry that you're all hot and bothered. Too bad I can't do anything about that for you." I say freeing myself and shooting him a devious smile as I grab Ava, putting her on my hip and exiting the pool using the stairs.

I hear him groan audibly behind me as I take my time exiting, making sure he has to see how damn good I look in this bikini.

"Aves can you say 'haha dada'?" I ask her.

She looks to me and tries to replicate the sounds.

"Close enough." I say kissing her cheek and throwing a wink over to Calum before retreating into the house. Looking back to see his eyes are still on me before he lets himself fall back into the pool with a groan.

AN: ah the infamous DJ party with a twist of Aves.

This will be good.

How'd you like their playful moment?

ILY

Sav