Page 54 of The Deviation

He holds his hand out to me for the first time in six months. I press my warm palm to his as we shake. I imagined this a million times, coming skin to skin with Calum once more. My imagination always pictured a moment steeped in desperation and broken promises. The reality is surprising in its calmness. The thrum of awareness is still there. I still want him. At the same time, there’s a depth to the ache that wasn’t present the last time we touched. A rightness.

We’re still staring into each other’s eyes, the renewed connection between us tentative and fragile, when the music cuts off and Gavin’s voice lifts over the din of the nearby crowd. “Listen up, you lot. There’s five minutes left until midnight, so top up your glasses and get ready to ring in the new year.” The music returns with a crash of drums, and Calum and I grin at each other.

Grabbing our empties, we set them beside the overflowing green and yellow recycle bin before finding our way back into the throng. Charmaine is dancing around with two open bottles of champagne, refilling outstretched glasses. Ned pulls me into a side hug, smacking a kiss on my cheek before wrapping his armsaround Toni. The shorter man smirks up at him, tugging on the T pendant that hangs on a chain around Ned’s neck until he bends down for a more thorough kiss. Hannah moves into place on Calum’s other side, looking appalled by the crush of people, even as she holds tight to Oz’s hand.

“One minute,” Gavin calls.

Calum’s arm brushes against mine, and I thrill at the thought of not having to avoid such incidental touches anymore. Keeping him at arm’s length has been exhausting. We glance at each other, and I see my own relief reflected in his eyes.

“Ten,” Gavin yells, starting the countdown. The rest of us quickly join in, getting louder as we go.

“…seven, six, five…”

Ned and Toni are already making out. Hannah and Oz only have eyes for each other. Which leaves me and Calum.

“…three, two…”

I want to hug him. It seems more appropriate for midnight than another handshake, but I don’t want to push.

“…one!”

Calum throws his arms around me. I freeze for all of a second before hugging him back. It feels so good to hold him again. I’m so grateful we’ve found our way back from what felt increasingly like the brink of disaster.

“Christ, I’ve missed you.” His lips brush against the shell of my ear as the hoarse words make their way inside me.

“I’ve missed you, too.” My heart threatens to explode, and I tighten my hold on him. “Happy new year, Cal.”

He presses his cheek to mine for a brief moment before pulling away, an easy smile lighting up his face. “Same to you, Johnny. Only good times ahead, yeah?”

I’m nodding when Hannah appears, tugging on Calum’s shirt. He turns to engulf her in a hug.

Watching them, I can’t stop smiling.This is good, I think to myself.We can make this work.

TWENTY-TWO

______

CALUM

Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if, by chance, I’d strolled into the pharmacy where Johnny works before we met. The location is a couple of suburbs in the wrong direction from where I live, so the chances were low, but it could have happened.

Would I have been smitten with him the moment he advised me on cold and flu tablets or the benefits of some random vitamin supplement? Or would I simply have noted his good looks with a lingering once-over before walking away? I’ll never know how such a meeting would have played out, but now I do know him, I can say one thing for sure: Johnny Durant looks hot as fuck wearing his crisp, white pharmacist’s coat.

When he called me an hour ago to see if I could give him a lift from work to rehearsal, I jumped at the chance. I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity to get a sneak peek into the other half of his life. I made sure to get here a few minutes early, so I’d be able to scope out the inside of his workplace.

The automatic doors slide closed behind me, cutting off the sweltering heat of late February and enveloping me in blessed air conditioning. Johnny is behind the rear counter; his gaze focused on whatever script he’s filling back there. I wander into the maze of shelves, trying not to be obvious as I sneak glances over the top of them.

“Good afternoon.” A young woman stands beside me, with a crisp blue uniform and bright smile. “Can I help you find something?”

“No, thank you,” I say, returning her smile. “I’m here to pick up Johnny.”

Confusion clouds her features. “Johnny?”

Now we’re both confused. Lifting a hand, I gesture to the counter, where the man in question is now talking to an elderly woman. “Durant,” I add.

“Oh, you mean John.” Her face brightens in understanding.

Mine doesn’t. “Yes.” I nod, belatedly. “I mean John.”