He raised a brow. “Come on, little brother. I’ve known that look since you were old enough to steal my Cheerios. You’ve got that exact same face you had when you first realized you liked Lydia’s best friend.”
I glared at him over the rim of my mug. “You’re enjoying this way too much.”
“Of course I am,” he said cheerfully. “It’s about time the tables turned. For once, you’re the one with the messy love life.”
“I wouldn’t call it love.”
He smirked. “Yet.”
“Callum.”
He held up his hands, laughing. “Fine, fine. No more poking.”
“Good.”
He waited half a beat. “You gonna tell me what happened?”
I stared into my coffee. “No.”
He laughed again. “Didn’t think so.”
We fell into silence after that, both pretending to be busy. Callum checked the draft lines; I wiped down the already-clean counter. Outside, a group of kids ran past, waving paper snowflakes and laughing. The sound drifted in on a burst of cold air when someone opened the door.
It should’ve felt peaceful. It didn’t.
“You know,” Callum said finally, breaking the quiet, “you could always—”
“Nope,” I said immediately.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I can guess.”
He smirked. “You’re assuming it had to do with Melanie.”
“I’m assuming correctly.”
“Fair,” he said with a shrug. “But for what it’s worth, I wasn’t gonna give advice. Just… observation.”
I sighed. “Let me guess. I’m sulking too much and should just follow my heart.”
He chuckled. “God, no. I’ve seen your heart. Terrible sense of direction.”
That got a laugh out of me, reluctant but real. “You’re an ass.”
“Takes one to know one,” he said easily.
I shook my head, still smiling despite myself, and glanced toward the door again. Outside, I could see Lydia’s truck pulling onto Main, the sunlight catching the windshield.
“Speak of the devil,” I muttered.
Callum followed my gaze, his expression softening immediately. “She looks good, doesn’t she?”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “She does.”
He was quiet for a long beat, then looked back at me. “You sure you’re good?”
“I’m fine,” I said again, and it sounded just as hollow the second time.
