13. Cal

Chapter song: Pick and Choose- Daniel Nunnelee

We made it the whole weekend. That's what mattered most.

Not the fact that we slept together. Or that we could act as if nothing happened. We were always good at that. Not to mention how we still haven't talked about it.

Maybe we won't.

Maybe we shouldn't.

The weekend was mostly a blur. A drunken blur if I was being honest. We all were in that state but somehow we survived. No major injuries unless we counted Carter one of our college buddies slicing his hand while chopping things for dinner. But he was sober for that so it didn't count.

I do remember sneaking glances at Ken anytime I could. How she laughed and was carefree. It felt good to see her like that again even if it was brief. How Riley and her danced on the counter singing Abba songs at the tops of their longs.

We even made a fake club inside. Hayden was the DJ while Carter took a chance being a bouncer. Riley and Liam made it to the VIP section where Ken and Riley's friend Lo pretended to be bottle girls. Then the night got fuzzy. I think I carried Ken up to her room and she tried to get me to stay. I definitely carried Liam up to his room.

We got back two nights ago and the usual group were meeting at Liam's to open our time capsule. Riley insisted on us opening it up before the wedding and this weekend would be too busy to prepare for the day that we decided tonight would work the best.

We were supposed to do it at the cabin, but we were all a little preoccupied. Some of us were pretending things didn't happen, some of us were too drunk to walk, and some of us just plain forgot.

I grabbed the drinks I was in charge of supplying and made my way up the steps I could walk with my eyes closed. The door was unlocked so I didn't need a key. I was greeted with the smell of pizza as soon as I opened the door.

"Honey I'm home," I called to no one in particular. Usually I was referring to Liam. At times he would call back in a mocking shrill voice.

As I looked up I caught sight of Kennedy strolling around in nothing but a towel. Her hair was wrapped in a similar towel and she was completely unaware of my presence. I cleared my throat in the smallest of ways.

"Oh my god!" She jumped. "I'm so sorry Cal I didn't know anyone was coming yet." She folded her arms across her chest looking me in the eyes.

What I would give to drop everything in my hands to go and take that towel off of her. Suddenly I was imagining coming home to this. To her. What a perfect fucking view. Shit.

I shook the thoughts away. "You left the door unlocked."

"Shit. Don't tell Liam. He'll yell at me and tell me I'm gonna get murdered." She rolled her eyes.

"You could have. Did the pizza guy come by already?"

"Yeah it's in the kitchen." She ushered her shoulder in that direction.

Obviously it did. That's why you smelled pizza when you walked in you idiot. I needed a distraction from her and fast.

"Are you sure he's not lurking somewhere," I gave her a wicked grin.

"Don't say that," she gasped. Her cheeks flushed and for a second I forgot she could look like that. Her beauty surprised me in ways I didn't understand. "He's probably in my closet," she grumbled.

"Do you need me to scope it out?" I tried to hide my smile.

"No if I scream loud enough hopefully you'll  get there in time. I'm gonna get dressed real quick you can put everything down get comfy. The others will be back in a bit. I don't remember where they went," she shrugged turning back around.

I couldn't help but watch her walk back down the hall. It was as if I was frozen in place like the first day I saw her again. I felt that she kept me frozen without even knowing.

I tried to shake off my thoughts as I went to the kitchen. I threw everything in the fridge and set the oven at the lowest temperature to keep the pizza warm. I made myself a drink and plopped onto the couch.

Riley came leading down the hall shortly after my 20 minutes of social media scroll. I spent way too much time when I should have been responding to emails. That'll be tomorrow's problem.

She threw herself in the couch with a loud sigh. Without saying anything I passed her my drink. We developed a better unspoken bond than the one we had in high school. She was a good person.

"I'm just ready to be married already," she huffed. I glanced at her raising an eyebrow.

"So why don't you?"

"Huh?"

"Just go get married now," I shrugged.

"No I can't." She took another drink. "I mean I could but like I want a wedding. Do I need one? No. What matters is I want to be with Liam. I just want to be married already."

"Just a few more days, Riles." I couldn't help but smile at her.

"We're in single digits now, oh god," she smiled to herself. "I can't wait."

"It'll be good," I agreed.

"How's everything going with you? With Ken? Are you both right?"

I waved my hand ushering the drink before taking a sip. "I'm good. I guess. Ken," I paused. "She seems to be doing better sometimes but then sometimes it's like she closes the door."

"Yeah that sounds like her."

"We're good though. Better than expected."

"Yeah," she smiled. "You guys seemed to be doing really good at the cabin." Riley wiggled her eyesbrows at me.

"Oh my god she told you?" I gasped almost spilling my drink.

"Wait I-"

"Told who what?" Kennedy walked into the room fully dressed. She looked at Riley's confused face and my shocked face. "Wait did you tell her Cal?"

"I didn't do anything," I quickly got up.

"Wait what did you do that you aren't saying you did," she eyed both of us back and forth. She was putting it together.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuuuuck.

If Riley figured it out she would never let us live it down. It wasn't in her nature. She's be too excited and then everyone would find out. None of us needed to be stressed or add this to everyone's plate this week. Liam might consider murder actually.

"Nothing," we said at the same time. I glance up at Kenny, and her forehead was creased together. I wanted to comment on it that she was going to give it away.

"Hold on," Riley stood up. "You two," she pointed at us, "you hooked up didn't you."

"Uh.."

"No."

"Why would you even ask that?"

"I KNEW IT!" She screamed. Meanwhile Kennedy looked as mortified as I felt.

"When?!"

"We didn't," Kennedy began.

"Kennedy Lee Parker don't start with this. You can't escape." She wagged a finger towards her. "Oh my god! You guys totally fucked on the first night there huh?" She grinned wickedly.

"Riley," Kennedy started again. She looked at me for help, but what the hell was I supposed to do?

"You guys couldn't even be alone for one night and you already jumped each others bones? And I thought I was bad.You have explaining to do young lady." She pointed at Ken. Then she turned to me, "and you. We'll I'm going to have some words with you too."

"Have words with who have?" Liam walked in with Mase and Ty following close behind. Just great. Exactly what I needed was the peanut gallery here. My head was already starting to hurt.

"This explains so much," she whispered to herself.

"Don't," I muttered.

"With me Liam. I forgot to lock the door and McCormick wandered in like a stray." Kennedy admitted.

I felt myself staring at her. More than I usually do. Sometimes I try to sneak glances at her but this time I couldn't not look at her.

"What did I tell you?" Liam yelled. "You're gonna get murdered or we'll get robbed."

"I'm sorry! Besides it was only Cal!" She threw her arms pointing to me.

"You are gonna go back to dad's if you keep it up."

"No she isn't!" Riley yelled.

"I'll go to dad's, but as soon as you're of age you're going in a home," she folded her arms and glanced at Riley muttering an apology.

"We're the same age! You'd be in it too." Liam groaned.

"No because I'll be with Riley. At her house!"

Liam loooked at me for help and I just shrugged. I was no help to anyone right now. I was still trying to process the fact that Riley knew about Ken and I. Not to mention how the whole room doesn't know.

It was always fun to watch them go at it. Even more so now. It was almost more comical now that we're considered adults and their arguments hadn't changed one bit.

"Okay, well can we eat I'm hungry." Ty complained. Thank god for Ty.

"I second that," I said raising my glass. I figured it was time to cut Liam some slack. That man stressed enough as it is.

"I need a drink," Kennedy groaned. I felt myself laughing at that. Never once had I heard her say that. I didn't know why it surprised me so much.

I followed everyone into the kitchen but Riley stopped me.

"You guys actually were speaking full sentences with each other at the cabin. That's how I knew. Something had to be up, if you two could communicate well."

"What?"

"Oh c'mon Cal don't be stupid. Ever since she got back you guys can barely stand to stay in the same room together. You guys made it a whole weekend and were together by yourselves for a whole night."

"Even if we did sleep together-" I started.

"You did."

"If we did-"

"No Cal you did."

"If-"

"Did."

"Okay fine. We fucking slept together," I whispered. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"I'm glad one of you will fucking admit it." She crossed her arms. "Both of you gotta let things go to make it better you know that right?"

"Yeah I just-"

"It's okay you don't need to explain anything to me. I get it. I mean I've been there for her through it all. I've seen both sides. And I just want to say thank you for being there for her regardless of everything. I'm also grateful that you're doing so much for us for the wedding and all."

"Riley are you going to make me cry right now?"

"What?  No," she laughed. "I just want to say that you deserve to be happy Cal. You're a good guy. I want you to believe it and figure out things for yourself. Whether it's with Ken or not with her, you deserve to be happy."

I wasn't sure where this was coming from or how me and Kennedy sleeping together brought it up but it made me happy. I always liked Riley. She was a good friend to the core. The way she was there for Kennedy was something you were lucky to have in your life. I was glad they had eachother and that Liam had her.

"Also I want you to go to the kitchen so we can eat some pizza," she punched my arm.

"Okay okay, let's go."

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Here is a brand new chapter!!! I promise I'm writing! Or trying my hardest to. We're getting closer to the end which makes me sad 🥺

But I'm trying to wrap it up nicely and I'm sorry it's taking so long but life is busy. Thank you for reading and being patient! ❤️ also give me all your thoughts I love hearing them