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Beckett mixed up a salad, and afterwards, as they were eating while sitting in their camp chairs, their phones buzzed.
“Callum’s sent a photo to the group chat,” Beckett said, showing Miles his phone screen.
In the photo, Callum stood in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge with a girl clinging to him, her arms wrapped around his neck and her face burrowed into his shoulder, so it wasn’t visible.
“Who is that?” Miles asked. “Kiara?”
“No, he said he was going with Jenny,” Beckett said.
“But didn’t Jenny dump him? Maybe that’s Cassie.”
A new message popped up.
Addison: Wow.
Beckett chuckled. “Full stop and everything.”
“It’s a nice photo. At least Callum isn’t sending shirtless selfies from bed anymore. Remember when he did that, and there’d always be a random chick’s elbow or lock of hair in the corner of the photo?”
“He only did that to get a reaction out of Ryan,” Beckett said, eyes on his phone as he typed out a reply.
“Ryan? But Ryan didn’t even care at all.” While the rest of them would respond to those selfies with ew, gross, we don’t need you to advertise the fact you got laid last night, Ryan would ignore it completely and continue with his multi-paragraph texts analyzing the latest episode of his favorite webtoon.
“Yeah, that’s why Callum stopped,” Beckett replied.
Miles tilted his head. “I don’t get it. Why would Callum rub those photos in Ryan’s face?” That seemed cruel, and while Callum could be obnoxious and annoying, he had the biggest heart, especially around Ryan.
“Because Callum’s obsessed with Ryan,” Beckett said, then stiffened, as if he’d let something slip.
“I guess.” Callum was obsessed with Ryan the way a little kid might be obsessed with a cute puppy. He always ruffled Ryan’s hair and carried him around. He’d bring Ryan hot chocolate in the mornings and happily listened to Ryan ramble on about anime with a goofy smile. That was a kindness he didn’t afford the rest of them. If Wesley so much as said the word ‘crypto’, Callum would flick a rubber band at him and shout “boring!”
Still. Miles didn’t know what that had to do with sending shirtless selfies in bed.
He picked up his own phone and checked the incoming messages.
Beckett: Sydney looks nice.
That was the message Beckett had sent a minute ago.
Callum: Yeah. Soz for ditching ur camping trip tho
Beckett: It’s fine. Have a good time :)
Miles: Have fun with Cassie!!!
Callum: It’s Jenny.
“I told you it was Jenny,” Beckett said.
“Huh. Callum must have wooed her back.”
They put their phones down and finished off the rest of their dinner. Miles watched Beckett bite down on a cherry tomato, paid attention to the mechanics of his jaw as he chewed. Beckett had a nice jaw. It matched the rest of his face. If an artist rendered Beckett, they’d use straight, slashing lines. Sharp angles everywhere. Except for his eyes. Beckett’s eyes were disarmingly soft.
Beckett caught him staring, and Miles looked away and cleared his throat. “I hope you’re not upset that all the guys bailed. I know you’ve wanted to go on a camping trip forever.”
“I don’t mind,” Beckett said. “You’re here with me.”
Miles’s heart did something funny. “Yeah. I am,” he managed, and his mouth suddenly felt dry, so he chugged some water. He brought his hands together. “So, what’s next?”
