Page 7 of A Loser by Christmas
Calum laughs, and it’s been a while since anyone did that in this cabin. It’s also the last thing I’d expect from someone the internet states is aggressively heterosexual with no shortage of girlfriends.
His brother doesn’t join in with Calum’s laughter. This third Trelawney brother says a gentle, “Rude, babe.” He passes down an armful of bags that Calum takes from him. “Hurry up or we’ll be late for dinner.”
“Don’t wait for me,” Calum tells them both. “I’ll see you there later.”
I don’t get a chance to ask what the fuck I did to deserve the kind ofughI usually reserve for wankers. Calum clears that up after I shut the hatch. “Seb’s almost as protective of Jack as I am.”
Ah.
How many more people are gonna turn up on this mooring to let me know I’m the world’s worst person? And the world’s worst salesman too, which I’m reminded of when stomping footsteps approach.
Dad bellows from too close for comfort. “Valentin? Don’t be late. I’ve got test drives booked solid for you all evening.”
I only realise my hold on the egg has tightened when a warm pair of hands close around mine again. Calum hasn’t done thatto heat my chilly fingers. “Not so tight,” he murmurs as Dad’s footsteps fade, and I release an egg that I’ll struggle to keep warm if Dad keeps me busy for the whole party.
Calum solves that problem. He digs into one of those bags and comes out with exactly what I need to keep it cosy.
I read the lettering on the box he empties. “A mini incubator.”
“No shit, Sherlock.” He settles the egg inside, closes a bright yellow lid shaped like a roosting chicken, then holds up a cable. “Power?”
I show him an outlet beside my bunk, where I quickly disconnect my laptop. As soon as he flicks a switch, every cabin lamp fails, and we’re plunged into complete darkness.
Or almost.
A red light blinks on my camera and a golden glow emits from a safe haven that will make my life so much easier. That glow also shows movement. Not from the egg. This movement is Calum Trelawney stripping.
Out of his clothes.
“What the fu?—”
“I need to change for dinner. Got held up trying to find this.” He taps the lid of the incubator. “Go ahead if you need to leave. I’ll stay until I’m sure it’s working.” He says all that as though a hockey player getting almost naked before doing a spot of egg-sitting for me is business as usual in this cabin.
It isn’t.
Neither is a sportsman worth a fortune crouching in his undies. That’s a lot more bunching muscle than I’m used to seeing beside my bunk. No one else has ever knelt there. Not for sex nor to tell a bedtime story like Calum murmurs.
“The temperature and humidity needs to be just right, and the instructions say that it can take a while to stabilise. Someone needs to make sure it isn’t too hot or too cold for you, yeah? Iwon’t go until it’s just right.” He murmurs that to an egg as if it’s Goldilocks facing three bowls of porridge, and I can’t help smiling.
Calum doesn’t miss that, and again his tight jaw clenches until he gives up and grins at me like he can’t help it either.
I didn’t expect to share another smile with him. Or for him to worry on my behalf. “That was your boss?”
I nod. “My dad.”
“He sounded tetchy. Don’t get into trouble on my account.” He glances in the direction Dad’s footsteps had pounded. “Go, Valentin.”
That’s an order. I’m the worst at following those. Always have been. Tonight, a virtual stranger whose face is a reminder of someone who once saved my life issues another.
“Tell him you’ve made a sale. That is, if you’re up for the challenge of making me look like a loser. Think about it tonight, yeah?” He looks directly at my camera, confirming he knows it will record him rattling off his phone number. “Let me know before midnight, and I’ll place an online order.”
He still hasn’t told me why.
Dad booms a distant, “Valentin,” and I jump. Calum must notice that reaction. He stands, shielding me the same way I saw him doing for his teammates in YouTube highlight reels.
I don’t need his protection. Plus, I just heard him cooing to a duck egg, so I’m not sure his hard-man reputation tells his whole story.
I want to know what does.
