14 - it has a ring to it, don't you think?

CALLUM'S LA HOME
los angeles, california
march 14, 2024
friday
12pm

i paced around callum's living room as he sat on the couch holding in his laughter as i blabbered on about kourtney's works in confirming callum and i's relationship.

"i mean can you believe that? i know her and i aren't on good terms but seriously? who would do that?" i said. "of course it's obvious you and i are seeing each other but for her to confirm it...jesus," i said as i continued pacing.

callum chuckled as he watched me pace back and forth, clearly amused by my frustration. "i have to admit, it is kind of funny how she'll do anything to get under your skin." he said.

i stopped pacing for a moment and shot him a glare. "yeah, hilarious." i said sarcastically. "except it's not. it's infuriating. she has no business exposing my personal life like that."

callum stood up and walked over to me, placing his hands on my shoulders to stop me from pacing. "hey," he said gently. "you're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep that up."

i took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. "i know, i know. it's just so frustrating." i said as i leaned into him, resting my forehead on his chest.

callum wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close. "i know it is. but you can't let her get to you like this. she's just trying to get a reaction out of you."

i groaned. "yeah well she's succeeding. i just want to live my life without her sticking her nose in it all the time."

callum gently rubbed my back. "you're never going to be able to keep her out of your business unfortunately. she's family, she's always going to be around."

"speaking of family. some of my family members really like you," i said as i looked up at him.

callum raised an eyebrow. "oh yeah? which ones?" he asked, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"kylie for being so good with stormi and aire, kim for...i don't know why, kendall for being on her favorite show." i paused, "yeah that's it so far. which is really good. my family usually hates the guys i let them meet."

callum chuckled. "well i'm flattered. i'm glad they're all on board with me." he said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "but i'm a little hurt you didn't mention your parents."

"my mom and i haven't actually talked a lot recently and as for caitlyn, i don't see her often." i shrugged.

callum furrowed his brow. "are you and kris fighting?" he asked, clearly concerned.

i shook my head. "no, no. nothing like that...we just haven't talked since the housewarming party." i explained with a warm smile.

callum nodded, understanding. "ah okay. i'm just glad there's not any family drama." he said, a small smile on his face.

"there's always family drama. were you listening when i told you about kourtney-" i said before being cut off by him.

callum chuckled and placed his index finger over my lips, silencing me. "i think i've heard enough about kourtney for one day," he said, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

i rolled my eyes playfully and swatted his hand away. "fine, fine. we don't have to talk about my crazy family anymore. though i'd love to hear about yours."

callum chuckled again and sat down on the couch, gesturing for me to join him. as i sat down next to him, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me close. "there's not much to tell about my family, really. we're pretty boring compared to yours. it's just my mom and i really."

i raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "just you and your mom?" i echoed. "no siblings or other relatives?"

callum shook his head. "nope. just us two." he paused for a moment, a fond expression on his face. "my dad and mom divorced when i was little and now he lives in australia with his other family." he said nonchalantly with a shrug, making me feel like he was trying to downplay it. "so it's always been just me and my mom. we're pretty close, though. she's my best friend."

my heart softened as i watched him speak about his mom. it was clear how much he loved her, even though he was trying to act nonchalant about it. "that's sweet," i said, leaning my head against his shoulder. "it's nice that you're close with her."

callum chuckled softly, resting his chin on the top of my head. "yeah, she's the best. i wouldn't have made it this far without her." he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "she sacrificed a lot to raise me on her own. she deserves the world."

i felt a lump form in my throat at his words. i could sense the depth of his love and respect for his mom, and it touched me deeply. how lucky was he to have such an amazing mother in his life? "you're a good son," i whispered.

he chuckled softly. "i try to be," he said, his hand absently stroking my hair. "she's the most important person in my life. i would do anything for her."

"is she still in london?" i asked softly.

he nodded. "yeah, she's still living in london. she's got a nice place in the suburbs of the city. that's why i love having a place here in los angeles and another one in london. i get the best of both worlds." he said, a smile creeping onto his face.

i smiled, imagining what it must be like to hop back and forth between london and los angeles. "that is pretty awesome," i mused. "i bet you miss her though when you're here in la."

callum nodded. "yeah, i do miss her. but we video chat a lot and she visits me here as much as she can. plus, i always fly to london to see her whenever i have free time." he paused for a moment, a guilty expression crossing his face. "i've actually been meaning to talk to you about something related to that..."

my brow furrowed. "what is it?" i asked, curious about what he needed to talk to me about.

callum took a deep breath. "well, i'm going back to london in a few weeks to film the new season of masters of the air." he explained.

i felt a pang of disappointment, realizing that meant he would be gone for quite a while. "oh, i see," i said, trying to keep my tone casual. "how long will you be gone for?"

"about two months," he said, clearly sensing my disappointment. "i've got a pretty packed shooting schedule. they're not giving me much time off." he paused for a moment before continuing, "but if you wanted to come out on set, the offer stands."

my heart leapt at the idea of joining him in london and getting a behind-the-scenes look at his life there. "are you serious?" i asked, unable to hide my excitement. "you would really want me to visit?"

he chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction. "of course i would. i'd love for you to come out and see me in action," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"when do you leave?" i asked with raised eyebrows.

callum thought for a moment, counting silently on his fingers. "in two weeks, so the week of march twenty-fifth." he said. "i know it's kind of short notice, but it's mostly just the last few episodes i'm shooting, and then i'm free to come back to la."

my mind was already racing with the possibility of visiting london, and i was itching to jump on the idea. "i think i can make that work," i said, a hopeful smile plastered on my face.

callum smiled, clearly pleased by my enthusiasm. "really? you'd come out and visit me?" he asked, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "it's going to be a lot of long days, a lot of early starts. a lot of just hanging around while i shoot."

i shrugged. "i don't care. i can lounge around a set. and i'd love to see you in your element." i said, a cheeky grin spreading across my face.

he chuckled at my response. "oh really?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "you just want to see me in my combat gear, don't you?"

i felt my cheeks heat up slightly, caught off guard by his observation. "well, i won't lie, i figured it'd be better to see you in it in real life opposed to on the television."

he chuckled again, clearly amused by my response. "well, i promise you'll get a good look at me in my uniform," he said, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "maybe you'll even get to try it on yourself at some point."

my eyes widened at his words. "are you serious?" i asked, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of getting to wear his uniform. "you'll actually let me wear it?"

he chuckled and nodded. "i mean, why not?" he said with a shrug. "it's not like it's some sacred military uniform or something. you can have a little fun with it. just make sure it still fits me when i get it back. i'd hate to have to explain to wardrobe that it doesn't fit because my girlfriend stretched it out."

"your what stretched it out?" i said a bit dumbfounded by the name he used.

callum chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction to the word he used. "my girlfriend," he repeated, a hint of a smirk on his face. "i'm sorry, was it me calling you my girlfriend that has you so flabbergasted?"

my cheeks flushed deeper as i tried to keep my cool. "no, no," i said quickly, feeling a mixture of nervous excitement and disbelief. "it's just... it's the first time you've called me your girlfriend out loud like that...i didn't realize that's what i was."

he laughed again, clearly enjoying the effect he had on me. "well, i mean. half the world already thinks you are," he said simply. "and i'd like to hope you're my girlfriend, at least. unless you have any objections to that."

i shook my head adamantly. "no, no objections here," i said quickly, a smile spreading across my face. "just to be clear, we're officially boyfriend and girlfriend now, right?"

he nodded, his expression softening. "yes, officially," he said, a warm smile spreading across his face. "you're my girlfriend now, and i'm your boyfriend. i'm happy to officially claim the title."

my heart swelled with happiness at his words. it was surreal to hear him say it out loud, but it also felt incredibly right. i grinned, feeling a rush of emotions coursing through me. "boyfriend and girlfriend," i repeated, testing out the words. "i like the sound of that."

~~

a/n

yes this is moving fast and no i don't care 😍

bit of a shorter chapter just to get my point across