“Callan, you all right?” Baird asked, glancing worriedly in my dad’s direction.
“Fine. I’ll catch you later.” I jumped into my Defender before my mates could say another word. Sitting there for a second, eyes on my wing mirror where I could still see Gavin, I breathed in and out slowly, attempting to ease the compression on my chest.
Now and then, Gavin did this. Went around acting the proud father, telling everyone I was his son, making out like he was the one who helped me get to where I am. In reality, he did fuck all. He treated me like I was a burden, like I was a nuisance dropped in his lap when I was twelve. All while I was grieving my mum and stepdad.
Gavin Urquhart was a sleekit piece of shit.
And him hanging around meant only one thing: he wanted something from me.
I turned on the engine, glanced in my mirrors, and swung out of the space to join the traffic of players trying to leave the grounds. As I moved toward the security gate, I could sense my dad watching me. The right side of my face burned with awareness. My hands clenched the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white, and I didn’t breathe a full breath until Gavin Urquhart disappeared from my rearview.
Beth had a full schedule, so instead of leaving from the apartment building together, she asked me to meet her for dinner at a Thai restaurant in Stockbridge. Since it was less than a ten-minute walk from my flat, I strolled there. I took the timeto shrug off the encounter with my dad. I didn’t want to walk into the restaurant a brooding bastard. Beth didn’t deserve that. And I also didn’t want to deal with any questions she might have as to the cause.
Although New Town wasn’t quite as busy as the rest of the city in August, the streets were crowded as I made my way there. The Fringe Festival always brought a buzz to Edinburgh that was hard to explain. The atmosphere was electric, like being at an outdoor festival or a professional league football game. While I hadn’t had a chance to explore any of the events in the last few years, I quite liked the Fringe.
I did not like that it made vehicle and foot traffic so congested. It was probably why Beth chose Stockbridge. Princes Street, Old Town, and the university were usually the most crowded areas of the city during the Fringe.
The hostess greeted me as I walked into the small restaurant. With its exposed brick walls, low ceilings, and old Georgian windows, the place was moody but warm. Beth waved to me from a table by a window. As she stood to greet me, I tensed.
She wore a tight cropped black tank top that showed off her cleavage and a few inches of bare skin on her torso before her high-waisted wide-leg trousers covered the rest. A suit jacket that matched the trousers was thrown over the back of her chair.
Her blue eyes looked even more dramatic than usual because she’d penciled a wee black flick at the tips.
Why did she have to be so fucking gorgeous?
Her perfume wafted over me as she pressed up on her tiptoes to brush her lips against my cheek. “Hi, Captain.”
My fingertips brushed her bare waist for a second as I replied with a gruff, “Hi.”
Body like a live wire, I quickly took the seat across from her.
“You look good.”
I raised an eyebrow at how she devoured me with her gaze. “We’re going to have a problem if you keep looking at me like that.”
Beth raised an eyebrow and snapped up the menu. I watched her as she perused it, thinking for not the first time what a damn shame it was she wasn’t interested in casual. So much tension crackled between us, I had a sneaking suspicion the sex would be mind-blowing.
“How was your day?” she asked, keeping her focus fixed on the menu.
“We won against Roselin.”
Her smile was wide as she finally looked at me. “You said you would.”
I smirked. “We fucked them up.”
Beth laughed. “So bloodthirsty, Callan Keen.”
“They drew first blood.” I shrugged. “We ended it.”
“I’m pleased for you.”
“Thanks. Just need to keep up the streak. Got a game against Northpark United in the Pro League on Sunday.” Which meant I’d be coming straight from training to attend this launch party for Beth, and there would be absolutely no drinking for me.
“I really do appreciate you coming with me on Saturday night before a game.”
“No problem.”
The server arrived to take our orders, so I gave the menu a quick glance and chose the healthier option of tom yum soup. Beth chose Thai green curry, and I almost changed my mind and got the same. But I had to keep on top of my diet. The beautiful game required stamina, and stamina required sacrifice.
