Part of me wanted to follow Calum, just to check in on him, but I was rooted to the spot. I craved being near Dare, even if I fought looking at him. It was enough to stand a few feet away from him, to have that solid assurance nearby.
I was conscious of my father’s heavy gaze, so I kept my body angled toward my former high school friends. Dad could be displeased I’d chosen to side with Calum on this matter all he liked, but heknewI was right.
Calum hadn’t invited the paparazzi; they had just showed up with the rest of the guests, like Emma and Charlotte. It wasn’t as if the details for Gramps’s funeral had been kept secret. Most people assumed his famous grandson would be there.
But I knew Cal wanted his privacy right now just as much as Dad wanted his always. Calum had just received life-altering news that forced him to make a snap change, to decide to be the man we all knew he could be. The fact he had to do that with the whole world watching, I didn’t envy.
They didn’t even know about his son yet. My parentsandmy brother’s fans. When word broke about that, things would likely get a thousand times worse. More interest from the media, more paparazzi camping outside looking for the perfect shot. If Dad thought things were invasive now, he would be in for a rude awakening when the news of his surprise grandchild finally broke to the public.
CHAPTERTWENTY
Dare
Connor’s light “nothing serious”remark had pierced right through me, but I tried to brush it off. The situation hadn’t changed, as much as I wished it would. Not being able to touch her, to comfort her when she was hurting, that sucked on a level I wasn’t prepared for.
Even if she denied what we had, she needed me. I could tell by the way she kept stealing glances at me, as if a look would tide her over. I was doing the same, and so far…it wasn’t working. The pain in her irises made me want to reach across the space between us and hold her.
The only thing keeping me in place was the fact Michael was staring us down, especially now that Calum had left. Connor was aware of it—she was aware of everything.
Something had happened between Cal and his father at the cemetery. He’d headed over to his parents’ SUV with Connor, but he hadn’t climbed into the vehicle. Michael and Calum had some kind of terse stare down, then Cal left, joining us for the ride to The Wharf.
Whatever had happened between the two of them was affecting Connor. She was trying to appear in control of her emotions, but she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown. She seemed a little peeved at the girls, her old friends from high school, and on edge.
The guys and I had just started talking to Tai when the three girls approached us. I’d recognized Michelle after she reintroduced herself. She used to hang out with Connor in middle school. I’d never met the other two, although they’d fought for our attention from the moment they walked over to “say hi and introduce ourselves.”
Connor hadn’t brought Michelle around or mentioned her in years, and she didn’t seem pleased to see them. I could understand her annoyance, we were at the funeral reception for her grandfather and at least two of those girls weren’t there for her moral support.
“How are you enjoying Dalhousie?” Michelle was asking her. Her interest in Connor seemed genuine. Meanwhile, Emma and Charlotte seemed completely disinterested in catching up with Connor.
Charlotte, no longer put off by Calum’s refusal, had refocused her attention on Evan. She was writing a phone number on his hand, laughing at something he’d said. I didn’t catch it; I’d been too focused on watching Connor.
“It’s been great!” Connor replied, her eyes going to me again. I didn’t think she was aware of how frequently she glanced at me. Emma noticed, and angled her body even closer to me. I stepped aside, giving her a polite but disinterested smile. Miffed, she turned to her friend.
“Come on, let’s get a drink from the bar,” Emma told Charlotte, tugging her toward the bar. Charlotte went willingly, waving at Evan over her shoulder. Both girls sidled up to the bar beside Cal, but he didn’t bother looking up from his glass, much to their disappointment.
Michelle stayed, continuing to chat with Connor about what she’d been up to. Tai waited until Michelle went to the washroom with Charlotte and Emma. They’d invited Connor, but she smiled and declined.
When it just Evan, Connor, and me standing around, Tai let out a heavy sigh.
“I was hoping to talk to youall,” Tai said, sending a frustrated look in Cal’s direction. “We have a lot of business to discuss. I know the timing is terrible—sorry, Connor—but the label is putting a lot of pressure on me right now.”
“You’ll have to settle for us,” Evan said cheerfully. “What can we do for you, Tai?”
“I need Cal for this. We need to book a televised interview as soon as possible,” Tai said, alluding to the elephant in the room.
“He will when he’s ready. You need to let the man grieve and adjust to the news himself,” I replied. Connor sent me an appreciative smile.
“I’ll give him another week,” Tai sighed heavily, massaging her temples as if we’d given her an instant headache. “We need to control the narrative, the longer he puts it off…the more we risk having this story hit the tabloids.”
That thought made me feel sick to my stomach, and I nodded…seeing her perspective on the matter. “Give him a couple weeks, and we’ll talk about an exclusive interview.”
“Fine. We’ve also been bombarded with requests from local radio stations, asking to get you guys in while you’re in town.”
“Schedule those two weeks from now too,” I replied. “We’d love to get on a few local radio shows.”
“Two weeks from now!” Tai exclaimed, her brows knitting together. “Just how long are you planning on staying here?”
“Not sure, it’ll depend on Calum. But given the circumstances, I’d imagine he’ll want to stay close. We can write anywhere, so we don’t mind.”
