He chuckles, completely unfazed. “I’ve already survived you, Sunshine. I’ve got this.”
twenty-six
BREE
“You ready?” Callan asks, his voice even and calm. As in, everything I’m not right now.
I blow out a long breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
We’re about to head to my parents’ house for dinner, and I’m a bundle of nerves. I surrender my keys to Callan and slide into the passenger seat of my sedan. He climbs in with an ease that’s almost unsettling, his confidence radiating as he pulls out of the driveway. Meanwhile, my palms are practically glued to my thighs from sweat.
What really gets me, though, is his grin. It’shuge. A full-blown, dimple-showing, can’t-wait-for-this kind of smile. He’s actually looking forward to this, and frankly, it’s weirding me out.
“You’re humming,” I blurt.
He shoots me a quick, amused glance, his hand tapping lightly on my thigh in time with the rhythm of his tune. “Am I? Didn’t notice.”
“Well, you are,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him. “And you’re…happy. Like suspiciously happy.”
He laughs, his thumb brushing a lazy circle on my leg before returning to the beat. “You make it sound like a crime to be in a good mood.”
“No, it’s just… You’re about to meet my parents, Callan. My dad’s a bit protective. Shouldn’t you be at least a little nervous?”
He just shrugs. “Bree, I’m Scottish. You think I can’t charm my way past an intimidating father? I’ve got whisky, a firm handshake, and an accent that practically does the work for me. What more could the man want? Besides, I’ve got the best reason to win him over. You.”
I’ve never had to do the wholeboyfriend meets the parentsroutine as an adult, and it feels like I’m walking into a pressure cooker. For him, though? This is just another chapter in his ongoing adventure, and he’s handling it with the same effortless confidence he brings to everything.
He reaches over, his calloused hand wrapping around mine, giving it a gentle, reassuring squeeze. “Hey, it’s going to be fine.”
“They might grill you like a steak,” I warn. I’m only half joking.
He lets out a lighthearted chuckle, and it immediately makes me feel better. “Sunshine, I’ve faced far worse.”
“Mmhmm. You’ve never seen my dad during football season.”
“Ah, American football. That’s the one where they don’t really use their feet and stop every five seconds to have a chat, right?”
I let out a laugh and smack his arm lightly. “Iknowyou’re screwing with me. Not that you’re wrong.”
The knot of nerves in my stomach loosens. It’s stupid, really, but this easy banter, this back-and-forth that feels sonatural, is exactly what I need. With him, I’m never nervous for long.
He glances at me again, this time his expression more serious. “Seriously, though. You’re all I see. That’s all that matters.”
My heart does a little flip at his words, and more of the tension leaves my shoulders. “You’re the best,” I say, squeezing his hand.
As we pull up to my parents’ house, though, the nerves start to creep back in. My mom’s flowerbeds are in full bloom, vibrant and alive with color, but right now, they’re more intimidating than welcoming.
Callan’s smile hasn’t left his face, and when he turns to me, it’s like he’s about to embark on a grand adventure, not walk into a potentially terrifying situation.
“Ready?” he asks.
I glance at the house, then back at him, my hand hovering over the door handle. “I guess,” I mutter, though it comes out more as a question than an answer.
He leans over, brushing a quick kiss to my temple. “Don’t worry, Sunshine. I’ve got this.”
“Famous last words.”
As we reach the front door, I steal one last glance at him. He’s still completely at ease, his posture relaxed, his expression confident. Before I can reach for the doorknob, the door swings open to reveal my mom with a warm smile on her face as she takes us in. “Bree! Callan! Come in, come in.”
