Fated to Fall for You (Completed)

Chapter Eight: Missed Opportunity?

The next morning I woke up feeling dreadful. Not only was I incredibly dehydrated and hungover. But I completely regretted how I ran away from Callum last night.

Although I was typically a deep sleeper, I couldn't fully turn off my mind to surrender to rest.

I was dismayed to see that Callum hadn't reached out to me. But to be fair, I hadn't reached out to him either... I really messed up this time.

I finally climbed out of bed at 8 AM and sent Val a text.

Elodie: [I hope your night was better than mine.]

I started to prepare some coffee and toast. A few minutes later, my phone vibrated with a response.

Val: [It was pretty amazing, actually ;) ]

Val: [Oh no, what happened? :( ]

Curiosity got the better of me and I dialed Val, munching on a slice of toast while I waited for her to pick up.

"Hey..." Val's voice was hushed as she picked up. I heard rustling in the background.

"Oh, sorry - still got company?"

"Nah, it's fine, I'm just going to leave the room." The door closed quietly on the line behind her.

"Well, I'm glad one of us had a good night." I laughed, but there was a pause on Val's end.

"Please don't judge..." Val started with a twinge of guilt in her voice.

"Why would I judge?" I poured my fresh coffee into a mug and spooned some sugar into it.

Val paused for a moment before continuing on. "I'm with Josh..."

I stopped stirring my coffee as I processed her words.

"Ohhh." I tried to keep my tone even.

"Well, we've been friends with benefits for like a year. And I guess whatever Naomi said about him being a romantic dumpster fire made him want to give us a real shot," she clarified rapidly. "It was really sweet what he said to me."

I smiled and pulled some creamer out of my fridge. I could actually imagine them being a good fit. "I'm happy as long as you're happy."

"Aw, thanks. Now back to you... What happened?! The last thing I saw was crazy chemistry!"

I took a long, deliberate sip of my coffee. "So we got to his apartment..."

"And?" Her expectant question hung in the air.

"He's Wesley's brother."

Val was silent for a long moment. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not. That apartment was his brother's as well."

"Oh. My. God." I could imagine Val salivating over the news. "So then what happened?"

I rubbed my aching temple with my free hand. "I... uh, kind of panicked and ran out."

"Oh no... Did you tell him about the fortune thing?"

"No, of course not! I feel awful, it was so abrupt. I pretended to be sick..." I stared into my coffee mug, wondering what Callum was thinking of me this morning. I probably ruined everything.

"So wait, how did you find out that Callum is his brother?"

"We were trying to get to know each other, and just all of these little coincidences kept coming up..." I trailed off, hearing Josh mumbling in the background. Val started giggling right after.

"Should we talk about this later?" I could hear her shushing him and swatting him off.

"Ahem, sorry. You know, why don't you just cool off today and ask him out again?"

"What?"

"You're psyching yourself out. Just try to get to know him for him." Of course, it sounded so easy when Val said it. "Besides, getting with the brother of your so-called soulmate isn't half a bad deal if the connection is like THAT."

I shook my head to myself knowing she was right. "Ok, I'll try. Talk to you later."

"Keep me posted!"

We both hung up and I cleaned up my breakfast, trying to come up with how I was going to text Callum. My phone vibrated as I dried my hands off from doing the dishes.

Callum: [I'm sorry about last night. Are you feeling better?]

I felt awful. He had nothing to be sorry for.

Elodie: [I'm the one who should be sorry.]

Elodie: [I'm getting there. How are you?]

I headed back to my room and flopped down on my bed, awaiting his response.

Callum: [No, I'm genuinely sorry. It's not an excuse, but I feel like a different person when I'm in my grief. It's not how I'd like to make an impression on you.]

I bit my lip reading his reply. I took a deep breath and typed in my reply.

Elodie: [I don't mind. I'll take you however I can get you.]

Callum: [Now I'd like to experience that :) ]

I set my phone down on my bed and got ready to take a shower.

I started the water and waited for it to warm up. There was something so indescribable about Callum. Playful, but intense. Smart, but effortless. I felt that I could be myself and tell him anything in the world.

And that was it. How could I fess up something so stupid as this fortune? It would come up again eventually - he was living in my supposed soulmate's apartment.

It felt like I spent an eternity in the shower. Despite my pruned toes and fingers when I got out, my mind felt more at ease.

I picked my phone up after I got dressed to see a missed text.

Callum: [Please stop me at any time I'm coming on too strong :P ]

Elodie: [You're not :) ]

Elodie: [How about we have a re-do. How does tomorrow evening for dinner at my place sound?]

My heart hammered in my chest, waiting for him to accept.

Callum: [Let's do it. Tell me when and where to be. Oh and what kind of alcohol I can bring that you will drink ;) ]

Elodie: [Deal.]