Out of Order | ONC 2022

12

The taste of the white dessert wine burned down Callum's throat. It was a sweeter beverage of choice, an unopened bottle from a couple of years ago that one of his exes had gifted. It was probably an expensive, limited edition bottle, but Callum didn't care.

"I think you're exaggerating," Charlotte said through his phone. He had placed her on speaker as he guzzled the drink down like a parched man. It continued to burn, and he was already feeling the effect of the wine after half a glass. In hindsight, he should've read the alcohol content before deciding on this bottle.

He burped and glared at the phone as if she were in front of him. "Obviously, I fucked it up."

Callum could almost envision the eye roll she made as she scoffed. "Callum, it couldn't possibly have gone that bad. It's not like he walked out on you, right?"

He mumbled a "no" before taking another swig of his drink. "But he definitely didn't like what I was saying."

"And that would be?"

Callum sighed and told her about the plane ticket and about Chris, or what he had gathered in the short time Logan had talked about him. "I just thought I could be helpful. Since—since I've been in that situation before."

"With Tess?"

Callum hummed. "I don't think she'd take it that far, but she did yell and cursed at me a lot."

"I know."

"Keyed my car," Callum listed off. "Ruined my things."

"Threatened to sue you for everything."

Callum nodded lazily. "It's not like I'm trying to make him uncomf—Umcomfer...You know what I mean."

Callum frowned when he heard her chuckle, his eyes feeling heavier by the second.

"I know," she said. "But I think you're being a big baby about it and overthinking it."

"No," he drawled. "What do you mean?"

She sighed. "Callum, of course, he's going to be weirded out about his ex. He just found out he's coming to town; he's probably just nervous and scared about it. Didn't the ticket say he'd fly out tomorrow?"

Callum muttered a word that he hoped sounded like tomorrow. "But he said I'm just his boss. And that I shouldn't meddle."

"Just give him time, Callum. Let him figure out his feelings and emotions first. He'd obviously got a lot to worry about with his ex, right? I mean, you were trying to convince yourself that dating was pointless after the whole Tess fiasco, remember? You are his boss first; you know he greatly values his work. Of course, he'll be cautious about seeing you past your job title."

Callum groaned before downing another large gulp of wine. "And if he doesn't? What if he goes back to New York for good with his stupid ex, never to be seen again."

There was a pause on the line, and Callum wondered if she had hung up. "When have you ever been the type to give up that easily?"

Callum stared at the rim of his wine glass. His whole head hurt, the room spinning slightly. He often thought of where he shirked from responsibilities and hid away from his coworkers or important business partners. Hadn't that been the same as giving up? Was she talking to the right Callum? 

He swirled the glass's contents in a spiral, careful not to spill on his couch, but thought about Charlotte's words. He did continue to be the CEO even after his dad had threatened to disown him. It wasn't entirely the same thing as not giving up, though, right? He couldn't remember being that adamant and persistent on anything before—maybe one of his past relationships?