CHAPTER SEVEN

They left the apartment a little while later after the rain had eased. Callum drove, his tall, lean frame relaxed behind the wheel of the sleek black car. Mia sat beside him, her petite frame curled slightly toward the window, her dark hair falling loosely over her shoulders. The city looked washed clean after the rain, the streets glistening beneath the gray sky as they left downtown and headed toward the hills.

Callum took her to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the city. They sat there for a while with the windows cracked open, the cool breeze carrying the scent of rain and damp earth. As evening settled in, the city lights slowly began to appear, their reflections shimmering across the wet roads below.

The car was quiet as they drove away again.

Mia shifted in her seat, taking in the view outside before finally breaking the silence.

“It feels so good to be able to come out and relax without worries on my mind.”

Callum kept his eyes on the road.

“And what is it that you were worried about?”

She smiled wistfully.

“Just… now that I no longer have to think about rent money, I feel like I can finally breathe without a weight on my chest.”

She let out a quiet laugh.

“I definitely didn’t expect to end up becoming roommates with my ex-boyfriend. But I think it’s still better than living with a complete stranger whose personality I know nothing about.”

Callum remained quiet.

Mia rolled her eyes.

“Though it is still awkward living with you and all.”

“So…” he said, glancing at her briefly. “Does this mean you’re okay with me being around?”

She looked at him.

“Because I have a proposal to make.”

Curiosity immediately crossed her face.

Callum smiled faintly.

“But first, I want to take you somewhere.”

He drove them to the little Korean diner they used to visit together. The moment Mia stepped inside, memories came rushing back.

The warm lighting. The comforting aroma of grilled meat and spices drifting from the kitchen. The familiar chatter that filled the room.

Months ago, Callum had booked a table at one of the city’s most expensive restaurants, determined to impress her on one of their earliest dates. A reservation mix-up had ruined the evening before it even began. Frustrated, he’d suggested finding somewhere else.

Mia had spotted the tiny Korean diner across the street.

“It smells amazing,” she’d said.

Callum hadn’t been convinced.

Until the food arrived.

They’d laughed over shared dishes, discovered her obsession with spicy food, and forgotten all about the ruined reservation. What was supposed to be Plan B became their favorite place instead.

After that night, they kept coming back.

Birthdays.

Celebrations.

Ordinary evenings when they simply wanted to be together.

Somehow, without either of them ever saying it aloud, the little diner became a thing of theirs.

He ordered exactly what she always got.

He hadn’t forgotten a single thing.

As the waiter disappeared with their order, Mia rested her elbows lightly on the table.

“So…”

She studied him for a moment.

“What’s the proposal?”

Callum remained quiet for a while. Just when she thought he wasn’t going to reply, he leaned forward slightly.

“Let’s try again.”

Mia blinked. “What?”

“You and me,” he said, voice low and steady. “Let’s start things afresh.”

“Callum…”

He cut her off gently. “I know. You want your life to feel like yours again. You don’t want me taking over and doing everything for you. That’s fine. I understand. So I’m not going to do anything you don’t want me doing. I’m not going to help you… unless you ask me to, Mia.”

Mia stared at him, indecisive. Her heart was racing. She could feel the weight of his words, the way he was looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered.

Callum reached across the table and covered her hand with his, rubbing his thumb slowly over her palm. “There’s never been anything you asked me for that I didn’t give you, baby.”

The word baby sent warmth rushing through her. Her resolve weakened. She remained silent for a little while before she finally spoke.

“I have to take some time to think about it.”

The waiter arrived with their order — two bowls of kimchi and a bottle of soju. Callum gave Mia a small smile as the food was placed down.

Mia took a bite and closed her eyes. “Hmm, I missed this.”

Callum watched her intently. His gaze fixed on her mouth, the way her lips wrapped around the spoon, the small movement of her throat as she swallowed. The soft sound she made went straight to his groin. He could feel himself getting hard under the table. Fuck, he thought. The way she ate… the way her tongue licked her lips… he wanted to feel her mouth on him. He wanted to taste her, and feel her come apart under him again. The memory of her body, the sounds she used to make when he was inside her, made his pulse throb. He shifted in his seat, trying to ease the ache, but it only made it worse. He wanted her so badly it hurt.

Mia opened her eyes and caught him staring. “Could you please not stare at me like that while I’m eating?”

Callum’s voice dropped to a low pitch. “Staring at you… in what way?”

The air between them instantly became charged. Mia picked up her drink and gulped it down. The cool liquid did little to calm the heat spreading through her body. She could feel herself getting wet, her thighs pressing together under the table.

Callum continued watching her. “Easy,” he said teasingly. “Remember, you’re a lightweight when it comes to drinking.”

Mia grabbed the bottle of soju and poured herself more, filling her cup. She glared at him challengingly. “That’s what you think.”

Callum chuckled at her little act of defiance and poured a drink for himself as well.

Mia was already feeling lightheaded but tried to play it off. Callum opened the car door for her. Once they were both inside, she leaned back in the seat.

“Don’t turn on the AC,” she said. “Open the window instead. I want to feel the fresh air.”

Callum complied.

Callum had been watching her. She looked flushed. Her cheeks and ears were slightly red from the soju. Her lips were in a soft pout. He wanted to kiss her so bad. That was literally all he’d been able to think about while watching her eat — the way her mouth moved, the sounds she made, the way her flushed skin looked in the dim light of the car. The urge was almost unbearable.

Mia relaxed into the car seat as the cool air touched her skin. She turned her face to Callum and before she could say anything, she felt his lips on hers…

Mia was stunned, her mind going completely blank as she tried to process what was happening.. His lips were warm and sure. Before she could fully register what was happening, his tongue gently probed, coaxing her to open for him. Heat rushed through her body and settled low in her belly. She gave in, kissing him back. The kiss deepened, slow and hungry, full of all the days they had spent holding back.

When she finally pulled away, breathing hard, she whispered, “Callum…”

He grasped her face gently, pushing her hair out of the way. He stared straight into her eyes, then rested his forehead against hers. He breathed in deeply, taking in her scent like he needed it to survive. After a moment he pulled back slightly.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he said, voice rough, “but I couldn’t resist. Being near you the whole day today and not being able to touch you has been torture.”

He looked at her face, her eyes, then settled on her lips. “I really want to taste you so bad.”

Mia’s breathing quickened. She felt herself getting wet, heat pooling between her thighs. Her chest rose and fell softly as she stared back at him, flushed and speechless.

Callum settled back in his seat. “But I’m not going to do that. I’m only going to do what you ask me to do. And I don’t want to rush you into anything since I just proposed we give our relationship a trial again.”

Mia swallowed hard.

Callum started the car and drove them back home, the tension between them thicker than ever.