blind first dates (c.h)

"message from calum"

"I'm not judging you," Wes said, laughing quietly as he shook his head. "As long as you can admit that you're not perfect, I'm not judging you." My eyes rolled and Wes sent me a wide smile. "In all honesty, you shouldn't settle for just anyone... so it's not your fault that it's taken a little more time to find the right guy."

"Okay... it's not like I think Calum's the one."

"Ooh, Calum," Wes said, winking at me.

"Don't act seven years old," I told him, firmly crossing my arms as I did so. "He's just really attractive... and he's funny, and he can cook. Oh, and he's sweet."

"Ew, stop being so in love with him."

"Oh, shut up. Why am I even talking to you about this?" I rolled my eyes and pushed myself off my bed again, standing up and walking across the room. "You've been seeing the same girl since high school. You don't have to deal with all this first date shit."

"I am not seeing Penny," Wesley said as he crossed his arms. "I haven't been in high school in almost ten years... it's not like we're dating. We're just friends." I furrowed my eyebrows as Wesley delivered his defense and laughed breathily as he seemed to finish.

"Wesley, you've been in love with Penny since you were fifteen years old. You guys have been out of high school for eight years, have only gone on dates with each other, and can't go a full month without seeing one another. When's the fucking wedding?" I asked, sort of getting annoyed as I realized the opportunity Wesley had been handed all these years. If I were Penny, I would have gone insane by now.

"I'll have you know I haven't seen her once since I've been home," Wesley told me, sticking his chin in the air.

"And, let me guess, you miss her a lot and you're planning a full day of hanging out with her so you can make up for lost time?" Wesley looked at me and scoffed, shaking his head slowly. "You better call her tomorrow, Wes." I finally got a sigh from him and hypothesized that I had gotten him to break.

"If I do, it's not because of you."

"I know, it's because you love her."

"You don't even know what love is, Sonny," Wesley said, huffing to himself.

"Yeah, you're right... you don't have to rub it in." I sat back down beside of Wesley and typed out a reply to Calum, wanting to talk to him before getting engulfed in family time.

emmie
8:40 am
that is probably mine!! but only if it's a gold chain with a blue jewel?

"So... he's a good guy?" Wesley asked, gaining my attention once again.

"He seems promising," I told Wesley, not able to tell him anything for sure. I was hoping I had finally found someone worth my time, that I really liked. "But time will tell, right?"

"I think that's how it works," Wesley told me, sending me a small smile. "I'll leave you to it, kiddo. Come down soon? Mom and Dad are cooking up a storm."

"I'll be down in ten," I said, laughing quietly at his words. Wesley kissed the top of my head before standing up completely and I sent him a smile.

"It's nice having you home."

"You'll hate it in no time."

"That might be true." Wesley winked, turned around, and left my room, closing the door behind him. I sighed quietly and fell back onto my bed, feeling myself become tired as my back hit the mattress. My phone buzzed in my hand and I smiled as I looked at it.

calum
8:43 am
that's the one! glad i found the owner

calum
8:43 am
also glad the owner left me a reason to text her sooner

calum
8:43 am
you don't think it could be... staged?

emmie
8:43 am
you wish

emmie
8:44 am
but i'm glad i accidentally left it in good hands

calum
8:45 am
i promise to keep it safe :)

emmie
8:45 am
weird question, but do you usually get up this early?

I stood up after texting Calum, and I tossed my phone on the bed. I decided to change into something different before going downstairs, but nothing special. Just leggings and a sweater I really liked. I was going for cozy, not necessarily stunning.

I heard my phone ding and I rushed over to it, unable to tame my eagerness.

calum
8:47
yes, as of recently. i work at a gym in town and they changed my shifts

Of course he worked at a fucking gym. He's got to be ripped himself.

emmie
8:48 am
oh, i see

emmie
8:48 am
on average i wake up at roughly 11 ... but we don't have to talk about that

calum
8:50 am
i would fucking kill to sleep in that late

calum
8:50 am
do you work?

emmie
8:51 am
i'm actually the co-manager of a bar in town... but i haven't actually been into the bar in a week

emmie
8:51 am
whenever i go in it's around 5 and i stay in my office until i hear a lot of yelling and then i tell our guy pete to take care of it

calum
8:52 am
... are you kidding? not to offend, but i really can't imagine you working in a bar

emmie
8:53 am
i wish i were kidding. graham's brother owns the bar and he hired me two years ago. it's easy money and i get to taste test drinks all the time

emmie
8:54 am
i actually have a taste testing two days after christmas... maybe you could come along?

calum
8:55 am
i didn't know it until now, but that's all i've ever wanted

calum
8:56 am
okay i was just on break and remembered the bracelet thing, so i wanted to say something. i honestly couldn't wait any longer to talk to you. however, i do have to go work again, so... i'll talk to you later?

emmie
8:57 am
it's a yes from me

emmie
8:57 am
please disregard any weird texts from me: that sounds good

emmie
8:57
we'll talk soon :)

calum
8:58 am
until then, emerson

Fuck, I thought. I hope he never stops calling me that.

a/n:

yeeeeee why do i loooooove writing this story!!!

thank u all so much for reading and finding a place in your hearts to enjoy this!!! i love y'all so much!!

y'all are the best :)))

big love for u!!!!

jill :)