“I’d love to be a fly on the wall when you break this news to your dad.” I chuckle.
“He’ll have over four months to get used to the idea. He’ll come around.”
“Four months feels like an eternity. It’s going to be hard.”
“You’ll be too busy to miss me too much.”
“Impossible. I’ll be thinking of you every second I’m off the pitch.” Iwillbe incredibly busy with training and matches because the manager has already said he’ll be starting me immediately. The team’s form has been poor this season, and they’re trading their current center forward before the transfer window ends, replacing him with me to bolster the front line. Which means the pressure will be on me from the very start, but I’m up to the challenge. More than that, I’m gagging for it.
“We can message and FaceTime, and I can visit you during spring break?” she suggests.
“I’ll have a full schedule, but I would love you to come. Maybe Dara can fly in for a few days, so you won’t be alone too much.”
“I don’t mind exploring London by myself. It’ll be fun.”
“I’d rather you have someone with you. London’s a big place and as dangerous as any major city is.”
“Relax, it’ll be fine.”
“Maybe I’ll hire you a bodyguard,” I muse. “Especially if people know you’re my girlfriend.”
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”
“I’ll ask the manager. He was fucking delighted when I told him about you. My agent said Colin loves when his players are in settled relationships as they’re more grounded and less likely to be distracted by outside forces.”
Astrid snort laughs. “I’ve never heard girls referred to as outside forces before.”
Laughter tumbles from my chest. “Truth.” I run the tip of my finger across the screen, wishing it was her face. “I’m glad I won’t have to keep us a secret. I don’t want to hide what we have.”
“Same, but if English soccer fans are anything like those girls around campus, we shouldn’t go shouting about our relationship either.”
“Agreed. I won’t do anything to make you a target. I promise.”
“When are you coming home?”
“As soon as the paperwork is signed, which hopefully will be in the next few days. I won’t be home for more than a few days though. Just long enough to pack up my stuff and say my goodbyes. I need to be at the club for the press conference, on the last day of the transfer window, when I’ll be officially announced to the world.”
“I don’t care if I have to get up in the middle of the night. I’ll be watching it from here wearing the biggest, proudest smile.”
A small part of me was worried about telling Astrid because of the separation and the pressure it would put on our relationship. I should have known my girl would take it in her stride. Some girls might not want to do the long-distance thing, and I would never have asked her to transfer to university here, so having her immediately jump in to suggest it has made this best day of my life even better. “Thank you for supporting my dream. I’m so lucky to have you.”
“You’d do the same for me. We’re a team, babe. I’m excited for this next chapter in our lives.”
45
ASTRID
“Don’t cry, baby.” Callan stops moving inside me to brush aside the silent tears rolling down my cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m just going to miss you so much.”
I’m being ridiculous because I will see him in six weeks for spring break, and then ten weeks later, I’ll be moving to London permanently. My college applications are submitted, and I should hear back in a couple of months. I just applied to the top three colleges on the advice of my adviser in the international office because she’s sure I won’t have a problem getting into one of them.
“The separation will go fast, and then we have the rest of our lives together.” Callan pulls out and thrusts back in slowly.
Pleasure flows through my limbs, and a whimper leaves my lips as I writhe on the bed. “I can’t wait,” I rasp, tightening my legs around his waist as he makes slow love to me.
We kiss and whisper loving words as we glide against one another, neither of us in a rush. My hands roam his muscular shoulders and back as he lowers his head, sucking my nipple into his mouth.
