The name of the club was Eclipse, and Callum was only here because Micah had invited him.
He stepped out of the car into the cool night air, pushing his hair out of his face as the bass from the club thumped against his chest. The neon sign above the entrance flickered, casting a kaleidoscope of colors over the laughing, stumbling crowd outside. Callum adjusted his jacket, feeling overdressed in his button up shirt and tailored pants amidst the sea of crop tops and ripped jeans.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glancing at the screen.
Ryan.
Callum answered. "Yeah?"
"Hey, Cal. Are you free right now?" Ryan's voice crackled through the line, loud and cheerful.
Callum sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Not really, no."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by the sound of Ryan's muffled laughter. "Are you in a club right now?"
"Well, not right now. I'm about to walk in," Callum replied, his tone dry.
Ryan whistled. "You dirty dog."
Callum rolled his eyes. "I was invited to a birthday party. What is it? Anything important?"
It had been a while since he'd spoken to Ryan. Between the chaos at Catalyst and the looming sale of the company, they'd been ships passing in the night. Ryan usually sought him out at work, but he was hard at work trying to get their new mobile game up and running. Their busy schedules had kept them at opposite ends of the building.
Ryan hesitated, the playful edge in his voice fading. "Nah. It's nothing."
That made Callum frown. Ryan wasn't the type to call without a reason. Plus, why did he sound so apprehensive? "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. I'll tell you at work," Ryan said, his tone lighter now. "Go eat some cake and spank some ass."
Callum deadpanned, "I'm hanging up now."
Ryan's laughter was the last thing he heard before he cut the call. He slipped his phone back into his pocket and approached the bouncer at the side door, ignoring the long line snaking around the front.
"Callum Pierce," he said, raising his voice over the music.
The bouncer scanned his clipboard, then nodded. "Your friends are in VIP."
Callum stepped inside, the music hitting him like a wall. The club was a labyrinth of strobe lights and pulsing energy, the air thick with the scent of sweat, perfume and alcohol. Bodies moved in sync on the dance floor, their silhouettes illuminated by flashes of neon. The DJ was perched high above the crowd, dropping beats that shook the air in the room.
He made his way to the VIP section, where a velvet rope separated the elite from the masses. Before he could even speak to the guard, Micah's voice cut through the noise.
"Callum! I'm so glad you came!"
Micah was a blur of motion, weaving through the crowd with a grin that could light up the darkest room. Before Callum could react, Micah threw his arms around him in a tight, innocent hug.
Callum froze for a moment, then relaxed into the embrace. Micah had that effect on him—like a balm to his frayed nerves. He wrapped an arm around Micah's shoulders, breathing in the faint, citrusy scent of his cologne.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Callum said, pulling back slightly. "Happy birthday."
Micah wrinkled his nose, as if the reminder of his age was a personal affront. "Ugh, don't remind me."
He grabbed Callum's hand, pulling him toward the VIP booth where Elle, Rosa, Genesis, and Damian were seated. Damian was sipping his drink, his head bobbing slightly to the music. If the sight of Micah hugging another man bothered him, he didn't show it.
"Hello Ladies," Callum greeted the three women. Then, more icily, "Damian."
Damian's acknowledgement of the greeting came in the form of a sly smirk and his arm snaked around Micah's waist, pulling him into a kiss that was anything but innocent. It was slow, deliberate, possessive and just heated enough to make Callum's blood boil.
Micah whimpered into it.
Callum's stomach twisted, jealousy hitting him like a physical force.
Rosa groaned, throwing a napkin in their direction. "We're still here, people!"
Damian broke the kiss with a chuckle, his lips brushing Micah's ear. "Sorry. I just couldn't help it. He looks so good."
And good Micah looked. He was dressed in a fitted black shirt that hugged his frame, paired with dark jeans that left little to the imagination. The strobe lights caught the silver chain around his neck, making it glint like a beacon.
Callum tried to ignore his jealousy for the upteenth time that day as Micah slid into the booth between him and Damian, their thighs brushing. He leaned in, his lips grazing Micah's ear.
"He's right, y'know. You look good."
Micah's blush was evident even under the club's chaotic lighting. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the music.
Genesis sipped her drink, watching them with a knowing expression. "Well, this is cozy."
Micah laughed and tossed the napkin Rosa had thrown his way back, "Gen, we're young—"
"And hot," Rosa added helpfully.
"Cozy isn't a great descriptor for what we're here to do," Micah concluded.
Elle chuckled, raising her glass. "We're here to celebrate you."
"To Micah Liu, now 24 and still flustered by the thought of having a dildo lamp," Rosa said, raising her glass alongside Elle.
"Shut up! It's not my fault it's hideous!" Micah defended.
Genesis laughed and clinked her glasses to that of her girlfriends. Callum did the same, earning him a pained and overdramatic "Et tu, Brute?" from Micah.
Damian called for the waiter.
The night wore on, the drinks flowing freely. Damian was relentless, his hands and lips never far from Micah. He whispered in his ear, kissed his neck, and let his fingers brush against Micah's thigh under the table.
Callum saw all of it. Not that Damian was really trying to hide it, it was like one last thread of social awareness was the only thing keeping him from fucking Micah then and there.
There was no doubt in Callum's mind that he was doing it on purpose.
Damian seemed to get the kick out of making Callum jealous and mission-fucking-accomplished.
Callum's jealousy simmered beneath the surface, growing with every laugh, every giggle, every stolen glance. Because since the day he met Micah, he'd hated that he had a boyfriend.
And since the day he met Damian, he'd hated that said boyfriend was him.
But usually, he could suppress it. Usually, he could let it simmer and burn itself out.
Not tonight.
Because tonight, the jealousy didn't fade. It grew. Louder. Sharper. Growing more insistent with each passing second.
Micah should be his.
He wanted Micah to be his.
I know you feel like you have some obligation to keep me safe.
That was what Micah had said and it couldn't have been farther from the truth.
It was true that he felt some sort of responsibility for what had happened in their past lives, it was true that the thought of losing Micah again scared him more than anything. But what he felt was way more than that.
He wanted Micah to be his because… he loved him.
The realization hit him like a freight train. All his caring, all his affection—it wasn't only about keeping Micah safe and happy. It was because he loved him.
Callum watched as Damian nuzzled Micah's neck, his lips brushing against his skin.
My life will be complete if all I am is your savior.
But it wasn't enough. Not anymore.
Callum's grip tightened around his drink. The condensation seeped into his palm, but he didn't care.
Damian whispered something in Micah's ear. Whatever it was, it made Micah laugh.
Callum's wanted that laugh to be his. He wanted Micah to turn to him with that bright, weightless joy.
Instead, all he could do was watch.
'I can't sit here anymore and watch this. If I stay, I'll lose my mind.'
So he moved.
He set his glass down with a quiet clink and pushed to his feet. "I'm going to dance."
Genesis raised an eyebrow, setting her drink down. "I'll come with. Mostly to avoid watching you trip over your feet. I don't want to see you at work and burst out laughing each time."
Callum shot her a glare. "Fuck you, I'm a good dancer."
She hummed like she didn't believe him, then turned to her girlfriends. "Would you like to join me, loves?"
Elle shook her head. "Pass. I'm actually an awful dancer."
Rosa laughed, sliding out of the booth. "She really is."
"Hey!" Elle protested.
Genesis giggled as Rosa wrapped her arms around her waist, grinning. "I'll dance with you."
Callum looked away from the love birds.
The one person he wanted to dance with was currently occupied.
He made his way to the dance floor, losing himself in the music. He allowed it to consume him. Dancing wasn't something he did often, but he'd learned how to during his rebellious teenage years, sneaking out to clubs and house parties, throwing his parents money at drinks and people whose faces he wouldn't remember by dawn.
He'd done a lot less dancing since then but muscle memory was still there. He moved, rolling his hips to the bass, arms loose, letting the beat take over.
Then he felt someone beside him.
Micah.
"May I join you?" Micah asked, his voice barely audible over the music.
Callum shrugged, keeping his movements fluid. "It's a free country."
He was trying to act nonchalant. But when Micah moved, he moved with him.
It was electric.
They danced together, their bodies spinning and swaying in sync. Micah was light on his feet, his movements effortless and graceful. He was like a shade, the spirit of a lover. Callum couldn't take his eyes off him, afraid that if he looked away, Micah would disappear.
He couldn't take it anymore.
"Micah," Callum shouted above the music, his voice rough with emotion. His heart pounded. "I need to tell you something."
Micah kept dancing, but he tilted his head to show he was listening.
"I love you," Callum said, the words spilling out before he could think twice about them.
Micah froze for a moment, his movements stuttering like a record scratch. Then he kept dancing, his smile strained. "I love you too. You're such a good friend."
Callum grabbed his hand, pulling him closer until their chests were almost touching. He stared into Micah's green eyes, his voice low and intense. "That's not what I meant, and you know it."
His fingers twitched at his sides, like he didn't know what to do with them. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and then—the mask slipped back on.
"Oh… okay…" Micah's voice was lighter than before, too light. Forced. He turned his head away, but Callum caught the way his ears burned red under the flashing lights. "Well, I guess that makes sense because Ash—"
Callum spun Micah around and pressed their bodies together again, his chest to Micah's back. He growled in his ear, "Don't you dare call his name. I love you. You, Micah Liu."
He felt Micah's pulse spike, felt the way his breath hitched. The music faded into the background, the crowd blurring around them. It was just the two of them, lost in the moment.
"Tell me you feel the same way," Callum begged, his voice breaking.
Micah swallowed hard, pulling away slightly. "What I feel doesn't matter."
Callum had had enough. Spinning Micah around again and earning a shocked yelp from the man, he pulled him to a secluded corner of the dance floor. He pinned Micah against the wall, his body caging him in.
"What you feel is all that matters," Callum husked, his fingers tracing a line down Micah's cheek, his throat, feeling the rapid flutter of his pulse. "Do you have feelings for me?"
Micah's breath came in shallow gasps. "You can't ask me that, Callum."
"Why?" Callum's hand moved lower, brushing Micah's nipple over his shirt. He continued, his voice a low murmur, "I see the way you look at me, the way you react to my touch."
As if to emphasize his point, he let his fingers brush just below Micah's belly button. Micah's hips jerked forward, a soft gasp escaping his lips.
Callum smirked, satisfied. "I want you, Micah. Don't you want me too?"
Micah squirmed, his resolve wavering. "I have a boyfriend. I won't cheat on him."
"I'm not asking you to cheat on him," Callum said, his voice firm.
Micah's eyes searched his, confusion and desire warring in their depths. "Then what are you asking?"
Callum searched Micah's face, looking for anything—anything—that wasn't rejection.
A flicker of hesitation. A shiver at his touch. The way Micah's breath trembled when Callum's fingers skimmed the hem of his shirt.
That was all the proof he needed.
He leaned in, his lips brushing Micah's ear. His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Be with me instead."