“Stop overreacting.” He folds his arms and fixes me with a stern expression. “And I’m only in a shitty mood because we’re talking about Gwenagain.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I shout, regretting it when several heads turn in our direction.
Callan notices too, taking my hand and leading me outside the bar, where it’s less noisy and nosy. “I don’t want to fight.” He pulls me into his arms. “And I really don’t want to talk about Gwen. I know you’re worried about her, but I’m sick of her name coming up in conversation. She’s a grown woman, responsible for her own actions. She is choosing to ice you out when you’ve done nothing wrong. Let her be.”
“You don’t get it, Callan. You don’t know the horrible things done to her as a child and how it’s traumatized her. Mara’s passing has sent her spiraling, and if I don’t care about her, who will?”
Callan sighs while dragging his hand through his hair. “You have the kindest heart, Astrid. I know it’s not as black or white asI see it, but you can’t expect me to support Gwen when she’s not being nice to you. Did she even tell you she came to the match today?”
“She did?”
He nuzzles my neck. “She’s been after Robbie for weeks. I warned him, but it seems it went in one ear and out the other.”
“I don’t understand her.”
“I doubt anyone does.” He dusts little kisses along my jawline, and my shitty mood lifts.
“I don’t want to fight with you either.” I drag my fingers through his hair. “I have hardly seen you this week, and I’ve been looking forward to tonight all day.”
“It’s fine.” Taking my hand, he kisses my ring finger. “We knew college would test us.”
“At least we have Christmas coming up. I’m looking forward to going home and spending time with you and my family.”
“Same, and I could use a rest before the team flies out to the UK in January.”
I cup his face. “I wish I could be there for it.”
“I know you do.” He brushes his lips against mine. “But I won’t have much free time, and I wouldn’t want you to be all alone. Dara and my granddad are going to fly over for a couple of days to watch a few of my matches.”
“Awesome. I’ll message Dara, make sure he sends me videos of your games.”
“Are we good now?” A shiver visibly works its way through him. “I’m freezing my balls off out here.”
“We’re good, and I’m sure Paige is wondering where the fuck we went to.” I loop my arm in his, and we walk back inside the bar together.
I’m woken way too early the following morning by boisterous knocking on my door.
“Who the fuck is that?” Callan complains in a sleep-heavy voice.
“Maybe Paige forgot her key or something,” I say over a yawn, but it’s unusual for her to come back this early on a Sunday.
Tonya works full-time at the bar, and it comes with a small studio apartment over the premises. Paige stays there most weekends, meaning Callan and I have the dorm all to ourselves. It’s a bit of a squish in the bed, but it’s an excuse to go to sleep all tangled up together.
“I’m coming,” I call out when more knocking ensues. Picking my way over the discarded clothing on the floor, I grin to myself as I remember last night. We barely made it to the bed before I was impaled on Callan’s cock. Catching up on lost time this week, we went a few rounds, falling into an exhausted sleep in the early hours of the morning.
Grabbing my fluffy robe from the back of the bathroom door, I tie it around my waist and head to the door. When I open it, I’m surprised to find Scott outside. “Scott. What are you doing here?”
Scott winces when he glances over my head, spotting Callan. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I shouldn’t have come so early, but I didn’t know where else to turn.”
Dark circles underline his eyes, and it looks like he hasn’t shaved in days. If I had to guess, he didn’t get much sleep before he hopped in his car and drove the almost three-hour journey from the University of Vermont to here. The poor guy looksexhausted and heartbroken, and I hurt for him. He’s bent over backward for Gwen, and what she’s doing now is not fair. If she’s not into him anymore, she should just make it a clean break for his sake as much as her own. “I’m assuming this is about Gwen?”
He nods. “I really need to speak to you.”
“What’s going on?”
I whip my head around at the sound of Callan’s voice just behind me. He’s wearing a bed sheet, gripping it at the waist to hold it up.
“I’m sorry to butt into your personal time, man, but I need to talk to Astrid.”
