NEAR MISSES

CHAPTER EIGHT 

IAN'S POV 

"This is..." Cal swallowed, looking up at her with pure appreciation. "This is easily the best thing I've eaten all year."

A proud grin broke across Nonnie's face. "See? That's real food. Your grandmother always said I made the best gravy in town, and it looks like she was right. Eat up, both of you.”

I sat down quietly opposite him, consuming my food instantly. But the look on his face made me pause—his eyes were fixed on his plate, a mixture of wonder and quiet disbelief softening his usual guarded expression.

"What? What's wrong?" I asked him, setting my fork down.

"I thought you said she was strict," he murmured, looking up from his plate with a light, almost emotional smile. "How come she’s so kind and lovely around me? And... if I'm being completely honest, this is the first hearty meal I’ve ever had in my life."

I blinked, taking in his tone. "I always thought I'd like to be in your shoes, you know? Multi-course delicacies, planned gourmet meals... I always assumed that was as good as it gets," I said, trying to lighten the mood and make him feel better about his world.

"No, it's not about the meal course," Cal said softly, shaking his head. "It's about the joy of eating with people of like minds. Homemade food prepared with love—not something cooked by hired chefs while you sit all by yourself at a long, empty table."

The morning bustle—the clinking of coffee mugs and Nonnie’s hum behind the counter—seemed to fade for a second.

 For all the wealth and prestige of the de Witt name, Callum was sitting in a cozy booth, experiencing something as simple as morning family warmth for what felt like the very first time.

We ate the rest of the meal in silence. I kept quiet on purpose, wanting him to just sit with it and enjoy the moment without any pressure to talk or act like a de Witt.

Across from me, Cal took his time with every bite, his shoulders finally dropping the rigid tension he usually carried everywhere.

 Every now and then, I caught Nonnie looking over from behind the counter, watching him in pure awe—as if seeing a piece of her old friend alive again in the way he held himself, mixed with a gentle, protective warmth for a boy who clearly hadn't been looked after like this in a long time.

By the time we cleared our plates, the quiet between us felt completely natural, built on an unspoken understanding that words would only ruin.

Checking the time, I realized I was getting late for the library shift—completely forgetting for a second that Callum had already promised to give me a lift.

"Give me a few minutes to change into something presentable—maybe my PE clothes with the school logo on it—I'll be back soon!" I rushed out, the words tumbling over each other so fast I practically ate half of them.

"Okay, no problem," I heard him say, but I was already darting up the stairs to my room.

A few minutes later, I jogged back down.

My appearance seemed to genuinely amaze him. I had just wanted to look neat and put-together, but the wide, surprised look on his face said something else entirely.

 Cal’s eyes tracked me as I stepped up to the table, his usual cool composure slipping for a second before he caught himself and cleared his throat.

"Anyway... Nonnie, I'm off to the library!" I called out toward the kitchen, slinging my backpack over one shoulder.

"Okay, my son, take care and drive safely," Nonnie called out, pressing a warm paper bag into my hands. "You can share these snacks with your friend." She turned to Cal, her eyes soft with genuine affection. "Callum, I'll be expecting you anytime. This is your home, if you don't mind. You're always welcome here."

"Nonnie, thanks for the hospitality. I'm so grateful, ma'am... and thanks for the food. It really reminded me of Nana," I heard him mumble softly to her, his voice full of a rare, quiet emotion. "See you later, bye."

I was already waiting for him outside the restaurant, taking in the crisp morning air. 

When Cal stepped through the door, the subtle softness in his expression immediately hardened back into his guarded, everyday composure, though the warmth in his eyes lingered. 

He unlocked the car with a quiet beep, glancing over at my freshly changed uniform with a subtle, appreciative smirk.

"You know," Cal said, walking around to the driver's side, "for someone rushing to study, you clean up remarkably well.”

"Oh, thanks," I said, feeling pretty good about myself. Truth was, that uniform was about the only thing in my wardrobe that felt tailored—the rest was just casual pants, plus Callum's oversized jacket that he’d lent me after pulling me out of the pool back at the Velvet Lounge, which I still hadn't returned.

Cal chuckled as he opened the passenger door for me. "You never cease to amaze me. But honestly, you don't need to overthink it. A PE uniform isn't anything super special... though I get where you're coming from. Come on, let's go."

I slid into the passenger seat, setting my bag and Nonnie’s snacks on my lap as Cal circled around and got in behind the wheel. 

The quiet comfort of our morning at the diner lingered between us as the engine purred to life.

"Lest I forget, your jacket is still with me," I added, looking over at him. "I haven't had time to dry clean it yet, but I will later. Thanks so much for the other day."

"It's my pleasure—anything for my newly found friend," Cal replied with a light, teasing half-smile.

My mind flashed back to those chaotic moments by the pool side back at the Velvet Lounge, the cold water and the sudden, grounding pull of his arms saving me.

 I stared at him closely while he adjusted his seatbelt, watching a stray strand of dark hair falling near his chin. 

My breath hitched as he leaned slightly toward my side to check the driver-side mirror, his pink lips moving just inches from mine.

For a heartbeat, the hum of the engine vanished, replaced entirely by the sudden, intense heat between us. 

Then his gaze shifted from the mirror to my eyes, his smirk faltering into something deeper. "You know your lips are tempting me."

"Just concentrate on the road and take your flirting eyes off my lips," I barked back, turning to face the other side.

Oh, really?" Cal murmured, his voice dropping into a low, amused hum that vibrated right through me.

 Instead of looking away, he leaned in a fraction of an inch closer, his gaze heavy and undeniably deliberate. "And what if I don't want to concentrate on the road?"

"Callum," I warned, though the betraying heat rushing to my cheeks completely ruined my firm tone.

Cal leaned in close, his gaze heavy and deliberate. He gently touched my chin, tracing my jawline with his thumb.

For a heartbeat, the world outside seemed to fade, replaced by the sudden heat between us.

"You know," Cal whispered, his voice laced with longing, "your lips are tempting me."

I held my breath, unable to pull away, lost in the intensity of his gaze.

As his face drifted closer, I wondered if this was the start of something real, or a beautiful fantasy we both longed for.

My heart hammered against my ribs, but just as he was about to kiss me, a sleek black car screeched to a halt right in front of us, blocking our path completely.