Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65156 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 326(@200wpm)___ 261(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“Holy shit,” Callum mutters as I emerge from behind the bush, pulling my hair into a messy bun.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, stepping next to him, concerned by the sudden change in his tone.
“This was a setup,” he says, shaking his head in disbelief, a small smirk forming on his lips.
“A setup? What do you mean?” I blink, genuinely confused by what he’s talking about.
“They didn’t show up because they wanted it to just be us.” He’s still shaking his head, though now there’s a mix of amusement in his voice.
I can’t help but giggle. “You think they’re trying to play matchmaker or something?”
“Think about it,” he says, turning toward me, his smirk growing. “Last night, when we agreed to come here, Anya was way too excited. She kept giving Willow and Hartford these looks, like they were in on some secret plan. And now, poof… they’re nowhere to be found.”
“Like Parent Trap,” I say, laughing at the absurdity of it.
“Exactly like that.” He chuckles too, shaking his head in amusement. “I bet they’re off somewhere, waiting for us to ‘accidentally’ fall in love by the waterfall.”
“Well, I think their plan might be working,” I tease, bumping my shoulder against his playfully, and Callum’s grin widens.
He reaches out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear once again, his fingers lingering against my skin just a little too long. “Yeah,” he says, his voice low and thoughtful. “It just might be.”
We stand there, laughter fading into something quieter, softer. Maybe they were trying to set us up, but I can’t help thinking that we don’t need anyone’s help anymore.
After a long, scenic hike back, we finally reach the campsite. Callum might have been onto something because everyone is lounging around, talking and laughing like they’ve been waiting for us. It’s kind of sweet, in a way, that they’re trying to get us together. I remember talking with Millie about how close-knit the Atwoods are, always deeply involved in each other's lives. And now, this whole setup makes me feel like they want me to be part of that, in their own peculiar way.
“Oh, was there a change in plans?” Callum calls out, breaking into their conversation. Suddenly, a hush falls over the group, and all eyes shift toward us.
“Callum, we tried to call you,” Anya says, darting her eyes around, almost as if she’s looking for someone to back her up.
“Weird,” Callum replies, his tone dry but sharp, “because I had my phone on me the entire time. No call. No text. I had signal the whole time too. So, try again.”
Before Anya can respond, Griffin jumps in, obviously hoping to change the subject. “You guys hungry?”
But Callum’s not letting it go. He turns to Griffin with a raised brow. “Remember when you used to be my best friend? You know, the guy who’d let me know when people were plotting behind my back? I guess that doesn’t apply when it’s my sister coming up with wild ideas, huh?”
Griffin opens his mouth, but Callum doesn’t wait for him to respond. Instead, he pivots toward Brock and Paxton, eyes narrowing. “And my own brothers, too? I thought you two always had my back.”
I can’t help but feel a bit confused by Callum’s frustration. We had an amazing day—magical even. Shouldn’t we be thanking them for giving us that time together, not making them feel guilty?
“Cal, come on, brother,” Paxton says, a grin tugging at his lips. “It was all in good fun. I know you’re not exactly known for your sense of humor, but you’ve gotta admit, this was a good one.”
“Yeah,” Brock chimes in, his arms crossing over his chest. “Are you really saying you had a shitty day?”
For a moment, Callum glances down at me, and his lips curl into a small grin, softening his expression. “No,” he finally admits. “It was definitely not a shitty day.”
“There you go!” Anya says, throwing her hands up. “So stop bitching, sit down, and let’s enjoy the rest of the night.”
I squeeze Callum’s hand, gently pulling him toward the two empty chairs by the fire. “Come on,” I say, urging him to sit down with me. He follows, still shaking his head but clearly amused by the whole thing now.
“So,” I ask, looking at the group, “what exactly did you guys end up doing while we were gone?”
Laughter erupts around the fire, and Callum chuckles, though that mischievous smirk remains on his face.
“We hid just outta sight until you guys left,” Willow says, grinning. “And then, we sat around here and waited.”
I glance over at Callum, my eyes sparkling with humor. “Well,” I say, my voice playful, “we definitely had the better day.”
And it’s true. I can’t help but feel grateful for how things are unfolding between Callum and me, and the thought of our upcoming date makes my heart flutter with excitement.