“Oh, besides the fact that it’s seven in the morning here?”
“Oh, shit, sorry.” I said, picking up the nearby alarm clock and trying to do the math. “I didn’t think about that. I just needed to talk to someone.”
“It’s all right, buttercup. It’s been over a week since you called. We were getting worried so it’s all good. Why?” She sounded concerned. “What’s wrong? Is it Kelly’s wedding again?” Callum and Harper were the only ones who knew about my little Kelly issue. I heard a mumbling then Harper’s muffled response. “No, it’s cool. It’s Tom. I think he’s depressed again about Kelly.”
I rolled my eyes. “Harper, please tell Callum that I am not depressed about Kelly. I told you, I am so over Kelly it’s not even funny. She’s a friend and nothing more.”
“All right, then what’s up, man?”
“I’m, uh-” I cleared my throat. “I’m, uh,-”
“T-t-t-today, junior!”
“Shut it, Harper.” I took a deep breath and just spit it out. “I’m in love.” There was a long pause. “Harper?”
“Oh my God, with the girl? January?”
“Yes. But I know what you’re thinking and this isn’t Kelly-love, Harper. This is-this is...it.”
“And you know this for sure?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
“I’d say that’s pretty damn sure.”
“It is.”
“So what the hell is the problem then?”
“I’m having some trust issues, it seems.”
“You sound like a chick, Tom.”
“Christ, I know. It’s embarrassing as hell.”
“Well, grow a pair, dude. Suck it up. Because Kelly really didn’t wrong you, you wronged yourself. If you’re insecure, it’s because you made yourself that way and there’s no reason you should tiptoe around yourself because you’re the toughest bastard I know.”
“Damn, Harper, that was harsh.”
“Well, I’m sorry. You needed to hear the truth and I love you too much not to be honest with you.”
“Thank you for that, truly.”
“Of course.” I could hear her run and bounce on their sofa, then I heard Callum yell at her to stop throwing herself on the couch because it was scuffing the wall, then I heard her smile and roll her eyes. Okay, I didn’t hear that, but I definitely knew her well enough to know that it’s exactly what she did. “You’re not my dad, Callum,” I heard her say.
“That’s not what you said last night,” I faintly caught.
“I’m outta here,” I told her.
“Don’t! Stay! Hold on! Do you say that shit to embarrass me?” she asked him.
“Yes,” Callum answered as laughter faded away.
“Anyway. Tell me. What’s she like?” she asked, the giddiness returning to her voice. Girls ate this crap up.
“I told you. Gorgeous, cool.”
“Oh my word, boys are dumb. I’m gonna have to pry every detail from you aren’t I? How tall is she?”