Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

“The time will fly by,” I said, “like this.” I snapped.

And snap.

Harper and I worked eight hour shifts, earning two hundred dollars apiece. We took our cash and headed out into the evening. We were both exhausted, though.

“Okay, should we even bother heading to The Hope House?”

“I think we should try, Harper. If it’s one thing I’ve learned on the streets it’s that money is precious. We shouldn’t waste it, if we don’t have to.”

“Agreed. Let’s go.”

It was the weekend, and fortunately for us, the weekends were The Hope House’s least busy times of the week what with people partying and staying with friends and all. Harper and I stood in line close to the stone interior after I convinced her that her bra was the safest place to place our money. That was a strange argument but one I will never forget. She even turned her back toward me to place it. I have never wanted to laugh so hard in my life.

“I have the most incredible sense of deja’ vu,” she teased after fifteen minutes of silence.

“Huh, what do you know! So do I!” I winked. “Wait, except, I don’t remember doing this before.” I push the side of my knee into the back of hers and she stumbled forward but I caught her before she lost her balance completely. This has an unexpected effect and the moment from the subway we had yet to talk about resurfaced in both our eyes and breaths, our bodies close yet again.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, a song blared but died away as a car passed, a man and woman scream at one another but we barely registered it. I can only stare at her, breathe her eyes in. Our faces inch closer and closer, barely half an inch separates our mouths but neither of us takes it any further. The ultimate teasing. The ultimate flirtation.

“What are we doing, Callum?” She asked, her breath warm against my lips.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, desperate to close my eyes and marry her mouth to mine.

We’re so close, I can feel her eyelashes on my cheeks, get drunk off her hair. Just another half inch and we’d be kissing. One. Half. Inch. “God, you smell good.” I admitted, swallowing loudly.

“So do you,” she panted, her bottom lip jutted out the slightest bit, narrowing the half inch gap.

My hands trembled on her waist. Her hands gripped my shoulders hard. She pulled away slightly and I almost cried out for her to close the distance again but before I can do it, Harper runs both her hands along my jaw line, silencing me with the skill of her touch.

“You have stubble already,” she stated quietly, bringing her mouth close to mine once more, making my stomach tighten in response, in happiness.

“I know. An Irish curse, I think.”

“I didn’t know you were Irish,” she whispered, slowly closing her eyes and opening them equally as languidly, just as inebriated with the moment as I was.

“I’m magically delicious,” I mock delivered.

We both laugh, her bottom lip brushes mine and it sobered us quickly.

Yet, we still didn’t commit, the anticipation growing, butterflies taking residence in both our stomachs. She closed her eyes completely and I follow her silent instruction. I took a deep breath through my nose, letting the buzz swirl through my head.

“Callum!” I heard, breaking our perfect, flawless moment.

Our eyes shot open, regret can be read all over her face and I know mine screams one word, ‘why?’

“Callum!” We heard again, louder. I tore myself from her, studying the direction I heard the voice coming from. “Callum! Over here!” I look to my left and recognize Cherry.

“Cherry? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, just bustin’ my hump trying to find you. Charlie insisted I give you this,” she said, handing me a key to his flat.

“I think I love you, Cherry,” I said, lifting her six foot frame up and twirling her around.

She gave me a goofy face and peeled herself from my hold. “Okay, sweets. I did my part. I got work to do. Tell Charlie he owes me for leaving the Hamptons early for you.” She winked.

“I’ll tell him. Thank you so much for this,” I said.

“No problem, honey. Anything for you.” She pinched my cheek and winked one more time. “Who’s this, baby?” She asked, gesturing toward Harper.