“You should leave your truck here and come home with us,” Roni says. “We can come get it tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with Astrid,” he says.
“Okay, honey.” Roni kisses his cheek. “Let me know if the headache gets worse or if you feel sick. You should take it easy tonight.”
“Stop fussing, Ma. I’ll see you in a bit.”
We walk out with his parents, waving them goodbye in the parking lot. Callan takes my hand as we go to his truck to grab his things. “How bad is your headache?” I ask.
“I’ve had worse.” He shrugs, downplaying it as he hands me a bakery box.
I look away to hide my smile. “More cupcakes for the girls?”
He tweaks my nose before locking the truck and slinging his arm over my shoulders. “Can’t be falling short on my boyfriend duties.”
“So this is a regular Friday thing?” I snake my arm around his back.
“Absolutely.”
We stash our stuff in the trunk of my car, and then I climb behind the wheel, and he gets into the passenger seat. “I presume we’re skipping the party,” I say.
“Yeah. Do you mind?”
I shake my head as I back out of the parking space. “Not even a bit.” I glance at him as I drive off. “If you like, I can give you a head and neck massage? I have peppermint and rosemary essential oils at home.Mormoralways used those when she had a headache. She never liked taking pills.”
“I don’t either, and that sounds great.”
“We’ll have to do it at your place.” As predicted, Dad will not let Callan up to my bedroom. Whenever he comes over, we’re only allowed downstairs. It’s so freaking embarrassing. Mom tried talking to him, but he’s old school.
“Naturally.” Callan cracks a grin. He thinks it’s hilarious because, of course, Dad doesn’t know Callan regularly climbs through my window after everyone has gone to sleep. “We could watch a movie. Order pizza?”
“Eat pizza on aFridaynight?” I mock gasp.
“I’m depressed. We lost the match because Coach wouldn’t let me back on the pitch.”
“Rightly so.” I take the turn toward our cul-de-sac. “Head injuries are no joke. He was right to take precautions. Besides, you’re not the only player on the field. The team needs to pull their weight too. Thor certainly believes so.”
“I hate missing any game time,” he admits, reaching out to twirl his finger in my hair. He’s always playing with it, and I love it.
“There’ll be other games and another opportunity to beat the Bulldogs. You’ll have your revenge.” I pull into my drive and kill the engine.
Callan unlocks his seat belt and leans forward, gently clasping my face. “Stop being so perfect.” His eyes radiate adoration as he stares at me. “You’re making it hard to resist you.”
“Then don’t,” I say in a breathy tone as he lowers his face toward mine.
“You make everything better, Astrid,” he whispers just before his lips descend.
My eyes close, and I give myself over to sensation as Callan kisses me like I’m precious to him.
Am I stupid to think it might be real? Because, in this moment, it sure feels like it.
24
CALLAN
“Freja! Alma!” Astrid hollers the second we enter her house, and I smother a wince as pain pummels my skull at the sound. “Callan has something for you!” she adds in a singsong voice.
Her sisters are on top of us in the blink of an eye, and I chuckle. What is with the Nevan women and cake? “For you,” I say, producing the box and bowing.
