Page 6 of Forgiven

3Callum

Callum had been waiting for Ezra in Ink Envy’s reception area for at least fifteen minutes before he heard someone coming down the wooden stairs. He looked up expectantly, but quickly realised it was Jared, not his uncle.

“Hello,” Jared said, smiling. “Ezra’s been held up. He says sorry.”

Callum’s shoulders slumped. “That’s okay. He said Tuesday was normally the quietest day of the week.”

“It is, but he had a walk-in.”

“Oh.”

Callum couldn’t blame his uncle for prioritising a paying customer over lunch with him, but it still stung a little.

“You were going to get lunch together?” It was definitely a question rather than a statement of fact.

Callum nodded. “It doesn’t matter. It’s not like I don’t live with him. I’ll see him for dinner later.”

“I’m meeting Kyrone for lunch, you’re welcome to join us.”

“Kyrone?”

Jared had mentioned him in passing on Saturday, but Callum had no clue who he was.

“My fiancé.”

Callum’s growling stomach begged him to say yes. It would be nice to get to know someone other than his uncle, and Jared did seem really friendly, yet…

“I wouldn’t want to gate-crash.”

“It’s lunch, not a date.” He grabbed his coat. “Come?”

“Why?”

Jared’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

Jared’s smile faded a little. “Didn’t I say on Saturday?” His brow crumpled a little and he looked to the floor.

“About feeling like a stranger?” Callum asked.

Jared’s face brightened and he met Callum’s stare. “Yes. I didn’t know anyone when I first came to Leeds. It was hard. Come to lunch?”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“You don’t want to get to know me.”

Jared frowned. “I don’t?”

“You’ll hate me.” Callum’s gut twisted. He didn’t like pushing people away, but he didn’t want to win Jared’s friendship and then have to deal with the fallout when he found out the truth about his dad.

“I will?” Jared rubbed his forehead with his thumb and fingertips. “I’m not sure I’m keeping up with this conversation. I’m sorry. I was in an accident and…” He faltered, smiling in a fragile manner. “My brain doesn’t work as well as it should anymore.”

Callum felt sick.

“You’re going to have to catch me up,” Jared went on. “Why will I hate you?”