Callan cracks up laughing again. “Please tell me that means shit in Swedish.”
“It does.”
“You never told me whatfan ocksåmeans.”
“The literal translation is devil also, but when Mom uses it, it’s generally because she’s dropped something or messed something up, and she means damn it.Vafaanis another way to say damn it too.”
“That’s weird.”
“A lot of Swedish curse words are weird.Fanis a versatile curse word, and it can be used in many different ways. I spent summers with my grandma in Ystad, and everyone uses the wordfanthere when cursing. It’s the Swedish equivalent of fuck basically.”
“Cool. I might adopt that, and you’ll need to teach me some more.” Mischief glints in his eyes.
“I can do that.” MentioningMormoronly serves to remind me she’s gone, and it takes effort to sound blasé when I ask, “So, you gonna give me this tour or what?”
“Bossy and beautiful. I like it.”
My heart beats like crazy at the compliment, and I have no idea what expression is on my face right now.
“I believe you owe me a confession.” He arches a brow.
I glance all around me. “I used to come over here and peek through the windows, imagining all the ways I’d transform the house if I got my hands on it.”
“You seriously need to get out more, Astrid,” he teases, and I love how my name sounds rolling off his lyrical tongue.
“I’m aware I’m a geek, but I don’t care.”
“You’re so not. I think it’s cool you’re passionate about it. Most people our age don’t have a clue what they want to do with their lives, but you already have goals. I admire that a lot.”
Warmth blossoms in my chest. “The same way I admire you for your ambition.”
Delicious tension supercharges the space between us as we stare at one another. What even is this? What is happening? I’ve never had such a strong visceral reaction to a guy before.
Callan clears his throat, breaking the spell. His brow is furrowed as he straightens up. “Come on. I’ll show you the gross kitchen, dining room, and sitting room first.”
We chat casually as he shows me around, and though the place is in disrepair, it appears to be mostly cosmetic. Structurally, it seems sound, and the original wooden floors appear intact. Some of the boards might need bolstering, and they definitely need to be sanded and varnished, but I think they’ll look stunning when repaired.
I’m making notes on my phone as we move through the various rooms. I will need to come back when his mom is here to talk to her about her vision for each room and her budget, so I can come up with a mood board and a solid design plan. I also want to take pics and measurements of each room so I can create technical drawings. This will work perfectly as my end-of-year project.
“You really dig this stuff, huh?” he says, snapping me out of my inner monologue. “You haven’t heard a word I just said, have you?”
“No, sorry. When I’m in the zone, the outside world ceases to exist.”
“I’m like that when I’m on the pitch,” he says, walking up the stairs. “I have singular focus, and it’s all about putting the ball in the net.”
I try not to notice how great his ass looks in his jeans as he climbs the stairs, but I’m only human, and he’s got a fine ass. Every part of him is fine, and the more I get to know him, the more I like.
Callan stomps along the hallway, pausing in front of a room and swinging the door inward. “See, I wasn’t exaggerating.”
“Skit. You weren’t.” The entire room is green from the green and white patterned walls to the avocado bath, sink, toilet, and bidet. Even the tiles are a sickly yellow-green color. “This is…a lot.”
“A lot of fucking green.” He grimaces. “I want to puke every time I take a shower.”
I laugh. “This is what’s called an avocado bathroom,” I explain, “and believe it or not, it’s enjoying a revival now.”
His mouth drops open in horror. “Do not tell my mum, or she’ll insist on keeping it.”
I crack up laughing again. “Not like this. Interior design trends tend to be cyclical, revived every forty to fifty years. This kind of bathroom was originally popular in the 1960s and 1970s, so it’s no surprise it’s becoming popular again. Mostly with younger homeowners, but it’s an updated version of the trend. A modern take on a green bathroom often combines the warmth of green with the neutrality of beige and cream. Green is a symbol of nature and harmony, and it’s tranquil and calming, which is perfect for a bathroom.”
