Chapter 4

"While I appreciate your kind words & breakfast, I don't have time for this." I pout. "My dad will be here any minute and he's driving me home for family dinner. Mom is acting weird and told me to pack a bag because we need to have a talk and she thinks I'll be staying there for a while?"

Calum leans against the kitchen counter and listens as I talk and I see a flash of something in his eyes. Understanding maybe? I'll just add that to my list of weird things today.

Calum sighs heavily. "Okay. No problem I'll just be right on my merry way." I can tell something is bothering him, rolling my eyes I ask "Is everything alright with you? You seem a little off today too. Everything feels weird today" His eyes flash with what looked like panic? Why?

He looks at me with his sharp eyes, "What do you mean everything feels weird, what feels weird?" He demands. Shocked I say "Whoa easy cowboy, I'm just saying my whole day has been off, I'm okay physically..."

Visibly calmer he takes a sip of his coffee and offers me one. "I already put cream and sugar." Gratefully I accept it. "So what's going on Calum?"

He clears his throat, "Well. My job is transferring me to their new location." Confused - I realized I didn't actually know what Calum did for a living. Somehow we are always talking about me. I feel guilty for not attempting to know more about him. Cal is a great guy and wonderful friend. He's beautiful inside and out, but regardless of him literally being the perfect man and legit husband material, I don't feel anything for him. Which in my opinion is good, I don't want to ruin our relationship. He's my best friend.

"Oh that's awesome! Hopefully you transfer with a promotion?" My eyebrows dance up and down, I'm ready to celebrate for him. Whatever he does I'm sure he's the top expert in his field and deserves it.

He sighs again and lowers his eyes. Clearing his throat he says "Yes I will get a promotion." I jump up and down excited for him, grabbing his shoulders, "YES! Yay!! Where are you going? The town closer to us or farther away?!"

"Rose, they're transferring me to Switzerland. I'll be gone next week. I didn't get any kind of notice, it's a huge surprise to me but it's the kind of opportunity I absolutely can't turn down."

I drop my hands to my side feeling my heart drop in my stomach. I turn around to give myself a second to blink away my tears. My best friend is leaving me and going literally across the world from me. That's more than a days travel by plane. Before I have a chance to pull myself together, there's another knock at the door. Dad must be here.

Running over, I swing open the door, before I even have a chance to say hello, dad grabs me and pulls me into a bear hug. You know the kind where your body fits snug in with the other person and one of you buries your head into the others neck? Dad is giving me one of those. And in my emotional state of my best friend telling me he's leaving me and the weirdest day I've ever had of my life, I kinda lose it. I just sob into my dads arms. I know I could be over reacting, but the pit in my stomach won't go away. This feeling of dread. And everything feels wrong today.

Dad pulls back and looks at me with concern, then glances up at Cal with hard eyes "What is going on, why is my daughter upset? Who are you!?" Looking back at me says, "What's wrong sweetie?" I shake my head, "It's nothing dad, I'm having a weird day and then Cal just told me he's being transferred to Switzerland like next week and it feels like a lot today" I finish and take a deep breath, wiping my tears off my face and trying to internally shake the feeling of dread I have.

"Oh this is the infamous Cal!" Dad beams at him and goes over to shake his hand. Cal smiles and doesn't seem uncomfortable at all, "It's nice to meet you...?" He pauses for his name. Dad says "Dad! Call me dad" He beams. Chuckling, Cal just nods his head up and down.

"Well you're practically family. Why don't you come to family dinner with us if you're leaving so soon? It's a hell of a drive but it's worth it." He winks at him. Cal hesitates and glances over to me as I smile and then agree. "If you're not leaving until next week, you can make the drive and come stay for a couple days too, right dad?"

"Yup no problem." Cal seems to think about it but says "I don't know, I would hate to impose. I don't even have anything with me I would have to go home and pack... Maybe I can see you when you get back Rose?"

"Perfect, so it's settled. You'll go home quick, pack and meet us back here and we'll go. Does one hour from now work?" She had so much hope on her face. Cal looks defeated, he sighs and says "One hour from now works."

Jumping up and down I bounce back over to him and throw my arms around Cal. I'm still not okay with the whole, him leaving me thing, but this takes the edge off the anxiety in my stomach. Smiling at him sweetly, I shove him to the door and tell him to get moving and tap my watch. He just shakes his head as he walks out but pauses to yell over his shoulder "It was nice to meet you Dad!"