He squeezes my thighs. “Did you do anything other than work this morning?”
“I talked to Talia.”
“Yeah? And how did she react to the news of you staying here?”
I tip my head. “How did you know we talked about that? Is there a camera in here?” I look around, glancing at the empty corners. “Are you spying on me?”
He laughs. “No, I just know you, Clover.”
He’s not wrong. Callum has always understood me in a way that was almost scary. It was as if he saw right through me, down to my soul, and I felt safe with him in a way I’ve never felt with anyone else.
“I mean, you did tell her, didn’t you?” he asks when I don’t say anything.
“Yes.”
He grins smugly. “I knew it.”
“Shut up.” I glare at him, but all he does is continue to smile. “Anyway, she, uh, she actually suggested I ask the girls to go dress shopping with me. You know, for the wedding.”
“Okay, one: it’s really weird to hear you say ‘the girls.’”
I don’t even bother arguing. It is weird. I’ve only ever had one true friend in my life—Talia—so having a group of women whoactuallywantto hang out with me and that I want to hang out with is…odd.
“Two: I think that’s a great idea. I know how much you hate shopping.”
Talia said the same thing. It’s so nice having two people in my life who know me so well, but it’s strange because there are so many moments where I feel like I don’t even know myself. How can they and I don’t?
“You getting lost in that head of yours, Clover?” He taps my forehead lightly.
“Maybe a little.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, I’m good.” The response is automatic, and the second I say the words, I want to take them back, especially when Callum’s jaw tightens, like he was hoping I’d take him up on the offer.
I should have, but it’s too late now, and I hate that I just ruined the moment. I want it back. I want his smiles, his easygoing laugh. I want happy Callum, not the one frowning at me now.
“How long did you say until lunch gets here?”
“Uh, about twenty minutes now. Why?”
“Oh good. We have time.”
I slide my hands beneath his shirt, dragging my nails up over his hard abs, and he shudders under my touch.
“Time for what, exactly?” he asks, his words coming out in a hiss as I do it again.
I grin. “For you to show me where that other clover tattoo is…”
I took Talia’s advice and asked the girls if one of them could go shopping with me. Imagine my surprise when they all responded with averyenthusiastic yes, aside from Rory, who just sent a thumbs-up. According to Callum, that meant she was excited.
So, we made a plan to meet up that worked with everyone’s schedules, and now we’re shopping with just four days to go until the wedding. The guys are golfing, enjoying their All-Star break and time away from the rink. Callum left in the wee hours of the morning, and since there was no way I was getting up that early, I stayed in bed an extra hour before getting ready to meet the girls for brunch prior to hitting the shops.
But now I’m running late.
“Hey, I amsosorry to be bothering you on your Boy Date, but I think Percy might have stolen the key you left me, and now I can’t find it, and I’m going to be late for the dress shopping date with the girls.”
“First off, donotsay Boy Date. If Lawson hears that shit, he willneverlet it go. Second, I am still not used to hearing you say that.”
