Page 14 of Shades of Grey & Gold

“You know,” his voice startles my eyes back up to his. “There I was, thinking I’d never see you again.”

He leans back a bit, revealing the plain white t-shirt stretched across his chest under the black bomber jacket.

His chest. Every useful thought I had leaves the building.

Is this the tequila?

The t-shirt looks like it had been fitted to him, soft cotton stretched just enough, clinging to all the best places when I’m trying to concentrate on his words. The thin fabric outlining the hard lines of his chest, the curve of his shoulders under the jacket, and what must be the solid strength of massive biceps with twirling tattoos I know are running down his arms.

Pay attention, dummy! What did he say? Say something agreeable! Pretend you heard him!

My brain tries to catch up, and I only manage to squeak out, “Oh yeah?”

And begrudgingly, I pull my eyes from his glorious chest back up to his face. His eyes sparkle—do men’s eyes sparkle? Or do they shine?

The band talks into the microphone and the speakers break the trance as Callan and I both look in the direction of the stage.

“We’ve been working on this cover, let us know what you think. This is Promises by EMO.”

The guitar starts playing, setting some kind of mood, and Callan’s eyes meet mine again.

“I missed you, Sims, it’s been a long time.” The nickname I didn’t know I missed leaves his lips as they curve up into a smirk. “You haven’t changed a bit, same beautiful face.”

I tilt my head at him.

Callan lifts the caramel-colored liquid in his glass to his lips. I take my advice from my bathroom pep talk earlier and don’t pause to think before acting.

Before he can move the glass back down to the bar, I lift my hand, placing it half on his around the glass. I don’t break eye contact and his smile falters slightly.

I softly pull the drink from his hands and bring it to my lips. The smell of whiskey meets my nose. No backing down now.

I tip the glass and take a big sip, the smoky burn running down the back of my throat. His hand is frozen in midair around an invisible glass, and I put it back in his hand slowly.

“I’ve changed a little.”

Leaning back against the bar, I silently thank Becca for pushing the liquid courage earlier.

I look past Callan at the stage, even though things are starting to look a bit more cloudy than they did ten minutes ago. The song feels heavy, coating the air around us and somehow making me feel even more confident.

I dare to glance back up to Callan’s eyes again, and the heat in the room feels too much. I close my eyes for a second before looking back into his.

“Want to get some air?” He tips his head towards the back exit, and I nod, because just like he did in Boston, he knows when I need a break. He tips his glass back, finishing off the whiskey, he starts to walk towards the back door.

I will my legs to move, and they do. I follow him down the short hallway to the back door. I turn my head back and see Becca above the rest of the people at the bar. She is already on top of a barstool making a ‘touchdown’ pose with her arms and wearing a big, ridiculous grin.

I mouth, “Stop,” in her direction and she throws her head back in a cackle. Dave is looking between the both of us laughing.

The cold air rushes in, cooling the prickling heat that’s settled against my skin as Callan pushes the door open. The dark night meets us in the parking lot, but the flickering streetlights around Wildhorse throw shadows and a glow around us.

Callan slides his hands in his pockets, looking back at me as he slows his steps. We are halfway around the building, stepping onto the dimly lit sidewalk.

His smirk has turned into a full-blown smile now and I hear him laugh.

“And what exactly is funny, Callan Reed?” I cross my arms in front of my chest and stop walking, feeling self-conscious.

He stops and turns to face me, a goofy smile that reminds me of all-nighters in the library and Sunday mornings with study guides on his couch still plastered across his face. His teeth are sparkling and his eyes match, as he runs his hand over his hair and down the back of his neck, shaking his head at me.

“When I said I thought I’d never see you again, I meant it, Max. If you only knew.”