Chapter Text
“Yeah, I’m just on my way back now, Jay.”
Callum checked his watch, before pacing even faster down the street. He’d left the client’s house around fifteen minutes ago, but had forgotten his route back to the station. Doubling back on himself, he now had to pick up his speed if he had any hope of catching his train on time.
“Everything go alright, yeah?” Jay replied, and Callum could tell he had been nervous about trusting him to deal by himself with a client. Though he had been working at the funeral parlour for many months now, it wasn’t actually a career he fell into naturally. He enjoyed the talking to people and he knew he could comfort those who were grieving. There was a slight reluctance that seeped through him when it came to trying to upsale their services. He didn’t want to coerce people into giving up their money during the worst time of their lives.
“Yeah, it all went well,” he replied, honestly. Callum hadn’t shown them the higher end coffins or encouraged the little extras. It was a small house, with little extravagance and the elderly man clearly didn’t have many pennies to spend. Callum ensured he was happy with the arrangements for his wife, but couldn’t bring himself to push for any more. “I’ll drop the paperwork back at the office, and then head home, if that’s alright?”
“Right little part timer you are, ain’t you?” Jay joked, the humour in his voice evident over the phone. “You got some exciting plans this evening? Washing your hair?”
Callum gave a brief chuckle. It was clear that Ben had told Jay about their plans for dinner tonight. The last few hours had dragged by, not helping by the fact he had checked his watch every five minutes. His stomach was constantly jumping and his toes kept wiggling into his too-tight shoes. With every hour, the feeling just increased. “I can’t go out like this. I smell like the train and I’ve got to get changed. What shall I wear?”
“You’re asking me?” Jay replied, his voice slightly cutting out for a brief moment. “I live in this suit. I half expect to take it off one night and just see another plastered to my body. I had that nightmare a few times! I just kept peeling off the layers!”
“Do I wear a suit?” Callum asked, unsure. He didn’t want to overdress and feel awkward, but at the same time he wanted to look like he put the effort in. “Or shall I just go casual? Maybe a shirt? What do you think?”
There was no sound coming from the receiver for a moment. “Mate, I’m flattered that you keep asking me about these things, but you appear to be under some illusion that I’m a one-man Queer Eye team! Just wear what you feel comfortable in.”
Callum wasn’t sure he would feel relaxed in anything. It seemed silly; he knew in the back of his mind that he was being ridiculous. This wasn’t some blind date with a man he’d never met. Although, perhaps he wouldn’t have been so anxious if it were.
“Alright, well I’ll just see what feels right when I get in,” Callum replied as he approached the station. “See you later.”
After Jay had muttered his goodbye, Callum hung up the call. A loud whirring sound was getting closer and he assumed that his train was approaching the platform. The realisation suddenly hit him that he was on the wrong side. Without stopping to think, he quickly jogged up the steps to the bridge that covered the tracks. He tightly gripped his phone and the folder with the paperwork, sprinting quickly when he saw that the train had already stopped. He had to get into the carriage before the doors closed. Who knew what would happen if he didn’t?