blind first dates (c.h)

"until next time"

"No," I said, laughing at the thought. "I'm gonna walk to Cassidy's."

"Oh... yeah, I guess they're right there," Calum said, chuckling as he nodded his head. "I could walk you there if you'd like."

"If they see us together... they might invite you in. And what would that do to the mystery?" Calum's eyes rolled playfully as he looked down at me and he slowly started to smile.

"Can I get your number?" Calum asked, seeming hesitant to speak.

"Yes, you can." I pulled my phone from my purse that had been sitting on his coffee table and he pulled his phone out from his back pocket. We exchanged phones and added our numbers to each other's contacts. "I had a really good night, Calum. I swear to god, the minute I found out Cassidy just set me up again, I thought I was going to go on a murdering spree."

"You sure the wine hasn't gotten to you?" I laughed quietly and gently pushed on Calum's shoulder.

"I'm glad I didn't leave, and I'm glad you happened to hear me talking to Cassidy like a total psycho," I told Calum, feeling my cheeks burn as I looked up at him.

"I'm glad I persuaded you to stay," Calum said, grinning wide as he looked at me. While I had been on a million first dates, I was absolutely terrible at them.

"You're by far the best blind date I've ever been on, so I'm glad Cassidy's making improvements. This probably means that the next one she sends me on will be even better," I said, joking with Calum as I made it seem like he was only a stepping stone in my blind first date journey.

"Emerson, I hate to break it to you, but I don't know how I feel about you getting ready for more blind dates," Calum told me, causing my eyebrow to cock as I looked at him suspiciously while a small smirk played on my lips. "Maybe I could stall that advancement for a little while?" I hadn't noticed it, but both of us had been walking toward Calum's front door, and, eventually, my back pressed against it.

"You could try," I told Calum, shrugging my shoulders.

"I think I will, if you'll let me," I nodded slowly and Calum smiled to himself before leaning down to my height, clearly planning to kiss me. My breath hitched in my throat as I leaned into him and, as our lips met, my eyes closed and my hands flew up to his chest. His hand caressed my cheek and as we pulled away, his thumb grazed against the skin of my cheek. "Is that allowed on a first date?"

"I don't know, I usually don't get this far," I told him, shrugging my shoulders as my eyes searched all around his face, taking in all his features while he was so close to me. "But I'll allow it." Calum laughed breathily and finally distanced himself fully.

"I should let you go," Calum said, clapping his hands together quietly. "You'll text me?"

Every second of every day.

"You can't text first?" I said, pushing my thoughts deep down as I pretended to pout as I looked up at him. "Is that too big a job for you?"

"Fine," he said, laughing breathily as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I'll call you, Emerson."

"I'll think about answering," I joked, reaching for the handle of the front door. I began to open it and Calum countered me, moving so that he could follow me and wait inside the door. "I'll see you soon?" Calum's head nodded and I looked down at the ground as I smiled once again; smiling had been a constant reaction from me all night long. "Bye, Calum," I said, stepping backward out of his apartment.

"Until next time, Emerson." Calum grinned as I sent him one last smile and turned my back to him, making my way down the hall. I turned and looked over my shoulder as I sent him one last wave, and he waved back just before closing the door to his apartment.