23

Chapter Song: It's Always You (Live Acoustic)- Tate Brusa

When we entered the backyard we couldn't help but admire how everything was pulled together. There was a path created out of lights leading down their cobblestone path towards a large white tent.

Once we entered the white ten we saw white tables to stand at off to one side. On the other side were large white round tables for dinner. There was a dance floor installed towards the back of the tent as well as a large stage. Everywhere there were hanging lights. Against the curtains, across the tents ceilings, on the centerpieces. The whole scene was magical, including the ceremony.

I knew Cal's mom helped her dad plan the entire thing. She had a knack for planning events. Cal always talked about how she would get so giddy over placemats or even napkin rings. I always thought it was cute, but he found it incredibly headache-inducing. Cal had referred to the entire thing as World War Three, but somehow Mrs. McCormick worked her magic and it was a beautiful sight.

I wasn't sure where Cal was. He had said he would try to find me when I texted him I was there. I had texted him, but I didn't know if he had seen it or not. I thought I spotted his brother Nolan talking to some important looking people with their dad, but still no sign of Cal.

"You look stunning," Cal whispered in my ear placing his hand on the small of my back finally gracing our table with his presence.

"Not so bad yourself," I smirked waiting for him to sit in an empty seat but he continued to stand.

"May I have this dance?" his fingers reached towards mine.

"I suppose." I sighed and started to giggle but reaching for him anyways as we excused ourselves.

He led me out of the tent into the freezing December night and towards a large oak tree in his yard. I always loved this tree of his, it reminded me of the one in our front yard I would always climb in. I'd take a book with me and sit there for hours. Liam would try to throw rocks at me until I would cry eventually coming down and I wouldn't talk to any of the boys.

"Why here?" I asked glancing up at him.

His curls were still a mess on top of his head, but I can tell he tried to tame them with gel. I clenched my hands to refrain from running them through his curls.

"I wanted you all to myself for a moment." He brushed a stray hair away from my face pulling me in close. He slid his hands across my waist. I loved how perfectly they fit there.

I snuggled into his chest perfectly content. It was very chilly out here but he had notorious body heat. I breathed in his cologne that stained his skin. He smelled like a Bath and Body Works candle, and I couldn't get enough.

He paused for a moment to take off his jacket so I could wear it. I was going to question it since he should use it but was a little cold so I accepted it anyways. He didn't have to say anything and neither did I. Somehow we just knew.

I could still hear the music from outside of the tent, but it was softer. Muffled by the fabric of the tent, and the lives going on in it. We swayed together in the silence mixed with the music from the reception under a sliver of the moon for more than one song.

I winced at the pressure on my feet. I tried not to notice or complain, but after three times I couldn't help it.

"You keep stepping on me," I whined.

"Am not." He scoffed

Ouch.

"Okay, that one was on purpose!" I pulled away but he turned me back into him.

"Thank you for coming." He whispered into my hair ignoring the foot stepping comment.

"I mean believe it or not I do know your family in case you forgot we're neighbors," I said into his chest while poking at his feet.

"Okay smart ass," he laughed. "But seriously thank you it means a lot to me."

"Do you mean coming to the wedding or out here so you could step on my feet?" I asked a playful smiled danced across my lips.

"Mmmm both." He lightly tapped on my shoes again.

I pretended to be dramatic and cry out in pain. I couldn't help but laugh so I didn't get too far with my act. He picked me up and spun me around in his arms.

Neither one of us dared to say a word as if it was forbidden. This was my favorite thing about Cal and me, we didn't have the need to speak to each other 24/7. We always had the ability to share comfortable silence between each other, and you don't find people like that often.

"Can I ask you something?" I whispered.

"Go for it."

"What is this?" I squeaked afraid of my own question.

"You tell me," he hummed completely unaware of how scared I was.

"I-I." I stopped dancing and tried to make out the words I wanted to say. A little afraid to answer myself.

"It's okay I get it," he raised his arms in surrender.

"No, It's not that it's just-" I paused biting my lip rubbing my arms together suddenly feeling the cold air.

"Don't bite your lip," he whispered.

I could see his eyes darken. The butterflies in my stomach began to flutter.

No. Not here.

"It's just what?" he eyed me waiting for my response.

I didn't know. I was completely stunned and at a loss for words. I didn't want to admit how afraid I was to let him in. Terrified actually. People leave it's what they did. They get bored or scared and ran. My mom got bored with her life so she went to find a new one.

Here he was the most genuine person I have met. Always so honest and caring towards me, and yet I was still afraid to be with him. After all this time, he continued to be there.

That had to count for something. I couldn't imagine ever feeling this way about someone else. I think that's what scared me the most.

I could sit here and continue the list in my head of all the reasons why he was so important to me, but I think it's the way he made me feel. Not beautiful, or smart, or sexy because he does make me feel all of those things.

He made me feel real. When I'm with him I think I understood why Icarus got too close to the sun. He was warned not to but did it anyway to know what it really felt like. I guess that's what happened to us. We were told no, only to be pulled together by desire.

"I'm scared." I forced myself up to look at the moon because if I look down the tears would fall and we couldn't have that. Not tonight.

I was fine.

"You don't think I'm scared?" He whispered. "Parker, I'm going to be honest here and just let me speak okay," he warned.

I pretended to zip my lips shut causing him to smile losing focus.

"I've had the biggest crush on you since the first day I met you as cheesy as it sounds. You were wearing converse and a Cincinnati reds hat that you stole from Liam and you were playing in your front yard with your puppy. Liam was practicing lacrosse out there with your dad. He walked you guys over and introduced us and you were mad because me and Nolan were boys. But you looked at me." He stopped. "You looked at me as if you knew something about me that no one else did. Like you had me figured out and we shared a secret".

"That was right after my mom left," I whispered. I forgot about that.

"Yeah you told me that your dad said you needed friends but you had Liam." He smiled at the memory. "That you didn't want another friend that was a boy." He rolled his eyes playfully.

"Liam was a handful okay. Plus you guys always picked on me."

"Yeah and then Nolan would come and beat us up for you. He was always your favorite." Cal pointed out causing me to smile.

"You looked at me like you knew something too," I said after a little bit of silence.

It was true, we both looked at each other in an odd way. Maybe because we understood each other even from a young age. It could be the universe's way of saying "hey here you go you're welcome!" or even fate finally bringing us together.

I laughed at the memory because I was so mad that the McCormicks didn't have daughters. I had Riley but she was never over all the time like she was now. I thought Liam was going to leave me behind for them, but he didn't. Instead, he wouldn't go to their house without me. Sometimes I had to force him to go over because he was too shy to go by himself.

"I've always had the biggest crush on you." He whispered again tilting my chin up to meet his eyes.

"Always?" I wondered.

"Always Parker. Always" He stepped closer.

"Technically you kissed me first." I poked him stepping closer to close the space between us.

"No. Yes," he admitted.

I couldn't help but laugh. I wrapped my arms around his waist and pulled him towards me. He continued to look into my eyes. I placed my palm on his cheek smiling at him.

"Have I told you how utterly breathtaking you are?" He smiled at me.

I couldn't help but blush the heat rising to my cheeks. I stood on my tiptoes and lightly planted a kiss on his lips. Instead of pulling away, he wrapped one of his hands into my curls tugging at them gently allowing my mouth to part. Our tongues and lips intertwined to their own beat.

I couldn't help but press my body closer to his. Without missing a beat he spun me around so my back was against the tree. I tried not to wince as a piece of bark scratched my back, but I didn't really care. All I cared about was Cal.

I ran my hands against his back and across his chest wanting to feel every inch of him. He lightly ran his teeth across my bottom lip causing a moan to escape my mouth. I pulled him closer.

Soon he pulled away. He rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathless. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if we just ditched the rest of the reception.

"God, you are something, Parker."

"You're pretty something yourself McCormick," I whispered not bothering to move from where we were. "You sure we can't ditch the rest of this thing?" I joked pulling lightly on his tie.

I couldn't help but bite my lip which caused his eyes to grow wide. He opened his mouth and tried to speak but he choked on his own words.

"Okay love birds break it up I gotta steal you away!" Nolan snuck up putting his hands on Cal's shoulders interrupting our moment. I felt my cheeks heat up again and tried to look away. I really hoped he hadn't heard what I just said.

"Congratulations by the way on school and your beautiful bride," I smiled at Nolan.

"Thank you," he smiled. "Wait. Kennedy Parker?" He pointed to me in disbelief.

I nod and threw my arms out, "in the flesh". He raced over to give me a big bear hug. Body heat ran in the family.

"Wow, you've grown up. You look beautiful tonight." He smiled looking at me up and down.

I hadn't seen Nolan much since he went to college. I would see glimpses of him here and there over breaks, but never enough to hold an actual conversation with him. Especially since he started Law school this past year, he barely came to visit anymore.

I used to have a crush on him back when I was a freshman. It wasn't that long ago but it felt like even more years had passed. He still looked just as charming.

"Thank you." I felt my cheeks flush again. How annoying.

"Cally you better not fuck it up with this one." He said pointing to me. "You have a keeper, just look at her. I knew it was only a matter of time with you two."

"Yeah, I do." Cal beamed at me causing me to smile bigger which I didn't know was possible.

"C'mon dad wants you to talk to some of his college buddies, before your big speech." Nolan placed both hands on Cal's shoulders looking at me faking a yawn.

"I guess we have to go back." Cal pouted at me.

"Go." I laughed, "I'll see you later".

He winked at me and the brothers turned away from me.

We all made our way inside and I sat down at the table with everyone again. My dad's eyes followed mine towards the boy laughing with his dad and smiles at me showing his one dimple. Liam pretended to gag and I punched him in the shoulder. While Riley gave me a huge smile with a big thumbs up before reaching for my hand.

"So are you finally going to tell me the big mystery about Callum McCormick over there?" My dad nudged me in Cal's direction.

I couldn't help but watch Cal. The way he casually struck up a conversation with his dad and his college friends. I watch as they nudged his shoulder from time to time, or they raised their glasses to whatever charm he was using. He always had a natural talent in speaking with people.

He stood there laughing causing his smile to reach the corners of his eyes. He was charming in all the best ways. He stood tall, almost as tall as his dad now.

I couldn't help but admire how handsome he looked in his suit. Don't even get me started on his but, or the way his jacket laid upon his shoulders.

Somehow he caught me staring at him. I knew he saw how moon-eyed I looked. Probably like all the girls at school looked at him.

Regardless he continued to stare at me oblivious to the conversation around him. His eyes twinkled playfully at me. With one swift movement, he winked at me.

"He's pretty something." Was all I could say unable to take my eyes off him.

————-

Obviously the picture I used isn't exactly what I mean, but again aesthetic ideas to help get the point across.

Ugh my heart. I loved writing this chapter as cheesey as it may be. I hope you like it!

Xoxo