blind first dates (c.h)

"i'm glad we're on the same page"

"It's about fucking time," I said as excitement coursed through my veins.

"Yeah, yeah—I hear you. Can I get to the good stuff now? Not that Pen isn't good stuff—she's great and plenty important, but—"

"What's the exciting news?"

"I got the job I interviewed for!" he exclaimed, immediately causing my jaw to drop. "Still want to be roomies?"

"Wes, you're serious?"

"Of course I'm serious!" he said through a laugh. "They called me this morning. I start next week."

"Wes! This is so exciting!" I engulfed Wes in a hug once again and physically jumped up and down. "You really want to live here?"

"At least for the time being, if you'll have me," he said which caused me to grin. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it's a yes! Have you talked to dad and mom?"

"Not yet, I figured I'd drive home and tell them all about it. They'll be so happy to have me out of the house again," he said through a chuckle.

"A barely three-month setback isn't all that bad, Wes. I think they might be a little sad that you didn't get to stick around longer."

"Funny," he scoffed out. "I'm at least hoping that Annie will miss me a little bit."

"Once you're not there anymore, she'll start to feel bad that she didn't take advantage of having you at home. It's just how the cookie crumbles." He gave me a look that stated how much of an inconvenience my words were, but I knew Annie well enough to know exactly how it would play out.

"I stay counting my blessings that she even gives me any attention; I'm sure having a sibling thirteen years older than her isn't much fun."

"Mom and Dad definitely could've timed things a little better," I said through a dry laugh. "I think she resents us subconsciously because she feels like we left her."

"She'll grow out of that, won't she?"

"If she follows the natural progression of being a human? The odds are good. She'll learn to approach things in a different way in the next couple of years, and then hopefully she'll appreciate the years between us a little more. But that's just wishful thinking."

"Does Calum have any siblings?" I was given brain whiplash by Wesley's sudden change in direction and I let out an amused laugh. "You're still seeing him, I'd hope? I want to know about this fellow."

"For your information... we decided to put a label on things, so I hope to be seeing him exclusively for at least the next little while." As I spoke, I watched Wes's face light up.

"You're telling me you're back in the relationship game?" I let out a quiet snort at his words but shrugged my shoulders in compliance; I guess he wasn't wrong to put it that way. "That's a big thing, Sonny! Are you excited?"

"I'm not excited to be in a relationship again, Wes. I'm just excited to be in it with Calum. It's not like I was just looking for a relationship to be in; it's him that I'm doing it for."

"That was the right answer," Wes said which caused my eyes to playfully roll. "I'm happy for you, sis. But that also doesn't answer my question—does he have siblings?"

"He's got an older sister, yes," I explained, knowing that Calum had mentioned her during our wine-tipsy conversation at his friend's place.

"Good—I wouldn't want you dating an only child," he joked which caused me to snicker. "What's so special about this kid? Not that I didn't take a liking to him when I met him, or anything. I thought he was a cool guy. But what draws you to him?"