Page 68 of Shattered

“I need a shower.”

“I can wait downstairs. Take all the time you need.”

She took a deep breath and lingered on the view of him standing there in her room. Even just after waking up he looked like absolute perfection, and she still hated him for it.

“What are you thinking about?” he questioned hopefully after her gaze lingered on him just a moment too long.

“That it’s not fair.”

“What isn’t?”

“The fact that you can make me so mad and yet I still want to kiss you.” He smiled at her words. “But mostly because you slept on a futon half your size and still woke up looking like that.” She waved a hand toward him with a grunt.

He laughed and tentatively took the three steps toward her.

“You are absolutely breathtaking. Don’t ever believe otherwise.” He kissed her on the cheek.

Even though her emotions were still a jumbled mess when it came to Callum, that compliment and his touch that followed sent butterflies straight to her stomach. As much as she’d like to, her traitorous heart wouldn't let her forget that she loved being around him.

“I’ll be downstairs. If you don’t want to go with me, just have Kristin kick me out.” He headed out her bedroom door.

He peeked back in briefly before completely exiting with a smirk on his face.

“For the record. You talk in your sleep.” And with that, he went downstairs and Sam was left with the ever-mounting feeling of needing to vomit; this time more from nerves than from tequila.

*******

When Sam finally made it downstairs, fully showered, dressed, and not about to vomit, she found Callum sitting at the kitchen table and Kristin standing not too far away from him with an absolutely murderous scowl etched on her face.

“You ready?” Sam asked and grabbed her purse.

“Are you sure?” Kristin interjected before Callum could speak. Kristin’s eyes were pleading.

“Callum just wants to go get coffee and talk. I’ll be back after class.”

Kristin swallowed and took a deep breath. She still had her body somewhat placed between Sam and Callum, as if she was the barrier to any hurt and would protect Sam with her life.

“Kristin, I promise it’s okay. I’ll be back soon.”

“Call me if you need me. For anything.” She put an extra emphasis on the last words and quickly turned her head to face Callum. Sam couldn’t see the face Kristin made toward him, but from the awkward smile he gave her and the way he threw his hands up in mock surrender, Sam was sure it was nothing but deadly.

The car ride to the coffee shop down the street was silent. Sam wasn’t sure what to say, so instead, she methodically picked at her newly painted nails. In her defense, she was sure Kristinwouldn’t be too upset with Sam for ruining the design since it was hideously painted during their previous night's drunken escapade.

The first utterance either of them made was the order. True to character, Callum ordered black coffee. Sam ordered a frap with extra whipped cream and caramel drizzle.

She tried to balk when he paid for both, but he swiped his card before she could even get her wallet out.

“You realize that’s not really coffee?” Callum observed as they made their way toward a table by the window.

“What? Yes, it is. You just heard me order it.”

“It’s mostly cream and sugar with a splash of coffee. It's basically a milkshake,” he teased with a tentative smile.

Sam playfully sent a glare his way.

They sat in surprisingly comfortable silence for a few minutes while each let the coffee fill them with some courage to speak. Sam was shocked that it was his voice that broke the silence.

“You want something to eat?” Callum asked as they stared out the window. It was past ten in the morning, which meant she’d definitely missed her lab. She would have to text Stacy for the notes later.

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