As we drove away, I watched Kyle and Michelle grow smaller in the side mirror, knowing they made no hurried moves to get in Michelle’s car and follow us. Knowing her, she’d make them take their time in following us, which would mean Calum and I would be forced to spend more time together.
I know. Great. Just great. Tonight was never-ending where the greatness was concerned.
The radio in Calum’s car was turned down all the way. His attention was solely focused on the road, though when we arrived at a red light, he turned his eyes toward me as he asked, “What kind of music do you listen to?”
God, the small talk was horrible. If I could go the rest of my life without partaking in any sort of small talk again, I would be happy. Well, as happy as I could be, anyway, which wasn’t really happy at all.
I shrugged. “Any and all,” I whispered. “Besides country and rap.”
“I was going to say,” Calum deadpanned, stepping on the gas as the light turned green, “if your favorite kind of music was country, I was going to make you get out and walk to the theater.”
A hollow laugh left me. “You’d make me walk? You really hate country that much?”
“Yeah,” Calum muttered, running a hand down his face, keeping one hand on the wheel. “I, uh, just got out of a relationship. My ex loved country. I sucked it up and listened to it, went to concerts with her, but I can’t stand the twang.”
Ah. He just got out of a relationship. Maybe that’s why he seemed so distant, other than the fact he clearly had no interest in me. I was not the kind of girl anyone could rebound with, and I bet he knew that just by looking at me. There would be no sexy hookup, no sex without strings with me. This night was definitely a mistake.
Even though it was absolutely none of my business, I found myself asking, “What happened?”
Calum glanced at me, and I could see his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat, like he was swallowing, unsure of what to say. Or maybe I surprised him by asking, I didn’t know. “I’d rather not talk about it,” he settled with saying.
I looked away, my gaze landing on the sidewalk beside the car as we drove along through the city. “I’m sorry,” I muttered, biting my bottom lip. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
He said nothing to that, and after another five minutes of driving, we pulled into the large parking lot filling the space in front of the movie theater. Calum pulled the car into a spot and turned her off, leaning back in his seat as he rested an arm on the windowsill of the door, looking pensive and brooding.
I couldn’t help myself. I stole a few glances in his direction. The more I looked at him, the cuter he became, and I wondered what happened. Clearly it was not a mutual breakup. Clearly he was still into her. Did she break things off with him? Did she cheat on him and basically force their relationship to end? Maybe it was wrong, but knowing he was still pining away for someone else made me feel better.
It meant he wasn’t acting like this because of me. It meant he had other baggage that took up the forefront of his mind and thoughts.
The silence in the car was heavy, and I felt vastly uncomfortable. Michelle better shut her mouth for the foreseeable future; this night was awful, through and through, and I never wanted to repeat it.
“Look,” I whispered, breaking the pregnant silence and causing the brooding one to finally glance in my general direction, “we don’t have to see the movie. You can go home.”
Calum shook his head. “No, we’re seeing the movie, even though it’s going to be stupid.”
I said nothing to that, mostly because there was nothing more to say. Calum once again averted his eyes, as if I was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen, like he couldn’t wait to be out of this car and away from me, to have his brother back. I guess I could relate to the feeling; I waited for Michelle to get here while trying to get my anxieties under control.
They must’ve taken their time in the restaurant parking lot, for it was at least five minutes before they showed up, taking the spot beside us. As we got out of the car, I met Michelle’s eyes. Those pretty blue orbs were expectant, as if she thought Calum and I had truly bonded while we were alone.
All I could do was smile, because at least if I was smiling, she’d think I was trying.
I wasn’t, but that was beside the point.
While Kyle and Michelle were hand in hand, Calum and I followed them into the theater. The guys got popcorn while Michelle and I waited off to the side, holding the tickets. Michelle studied me under the neon lights, and I knew she was hoping for the best for me. She probably had no idea how hard this night was for me, how difficult just sitting in the car with Calum had been, let alone finding out that he was as unavailable as a guy could be.
Don’t get me wrong—it was a relief, but still.
“After the movie, Calum is going to take you home,” she said. “I’m going back to Kyle’s house with him.”
I wanted to throw up at hearing that. That was the last thing I wanted, to spend more forced time with Calum, to steal glances at him while his mind was off, thinking about his recent ex-girlfriend. Did Michelle know he just got out of a relationship? Did she know she was trying to set me up
