“You’re with Wyatt?” I ask.
Surely he doesn’t mean my Wyatt, right? The one who threatened to turn him into fish food.
“Yep. He agreed to walk me home like a gentleman. Isn’t that sweet of him? Wyatt is all quiet and stoic.” Kellan lowers his tone to a whisper-shout. “Don’t tell him I said this, but underneath is he a big old gummy bear.”
“I think the term you are looking for is teddy bear,” I hear Wyatt provide in the background.
“Oh yes. Teddy bear.”
I smile at his antics. He is adorable when he is drunk.
Then it hits me.
He drunk-dialed me. That means that out of everyone, he wanted to talk to me.
“Well, Wyatt is the nicest of the bunch. Easily my favorite friend of my brother’s,” I admit.
“Thanks, Cora. That means a lot,” Wyatt calls out.
“Am I on speaker?” I cringe.
“Well, no, but I am half carrying him, so yeah, I can hear everything. Maybe don’t say anything to scar me,” he admits.
“Oh, so no telling Kellan how I want him to bend me over a table and…”
“Cora, whatever your middle name is…don’t you dare let him hear the things you want me to do to you. That is private between us,” Kellan hisses, making me laugh.
“Well, it seems like he won’t let me scare you anyway,” I tell Wyatt.
“Pretty much. Hold on. I’m getting him into his room now.”
I hear some commotion. Then it’s quiet. After a minute, there is a scratching noise on the phone.
“He’s in bed. Here he is,” Wyatt tells me. “Don’t say anything stupid,” he says farther away, obviously talking to Kellan.
“Never. Cora is my beautiful girl. Isn’t that right?” he mumbles into the phone.
“Bye, Cora,” Wyatt yells, and then it’s me and Kellan.
“Why did you get so drunk?” I ask.
“Your brother made me go to the karaoke bar with them. It was fun. I love those guys. I hate that I missed all last year with them because I couldn’t get my head out of my ass. Even if you decide you deserve better, which you do, please don’t take them from me,” he mumbles.
My heart aches at the insecurity in his voice.
“Oh, Kellan. I’m not the kind of girl to make them choose sides, but that’s not going to happen. We are giving this a real shot, remember?” I remind him.
“I know, but every time I think about you, I get all tingly and warm and stuff. Then I think about the fact that I am such a fuck-up that you deserve way better than me and it feels like an elephant has sat on my chest. It’s a cycle I can’t seem to stop. Don’t leave me. I promise I will do whatever I can to make you happy. You want my hoodies? They are all yours.”
“Hoodies? Why would I want those?” I ask, confused why that’s his answer.
“Girls like to steal hoodies. I always hide mine because I like my hoodies, but you can have them.”
Well shit, now I feel oddly touched.
“Well, thank you. That seems like a high honor. Maybe we can discuss you giving me your clothes when you are sober?”
“Okay. I miss you. I wish you were here. I know we are taking it slow, but I would cuddle the hell out of you.”
