Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Embarrassment crept hotly through me because I’d never really thought about what the house was worth. Or about money really in general.
And Callan was on a sports scholarship.
“None of that matters to me,” I assured him.
“That’s because you don’t know anything about me.”
“Then tell me. Please.”
“Well, for a start, money doesn’t matter to you because you have it.” He gave me a gently chiding look. “But it matters, Beth. You’ve no idea how fucking hard it is when you don’t have it.”
I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not …” He nudged me with his shoulder. “I’m not getting at you for having money. I just … some of the lads on the team treat me differently because they’ve worked out I don’t come from money.”
Anger flushed through me. “Differently how?”
“Like, they’re happy I’m moving the team up the league, but they don’t invite me to do stuff with them outside of training and games.”
“Arseholes.”
Callan grinned. “Look, it’s fine. I’ve got my mates from home that I hang out with. But there can only be one reason the lads here don’t want to … the fact that I don’t have money makes them uncomfortable.”
“Like I said, arseholes.”
“It doesn’t bother you?”
“Why would it bother me?” I scowled. “It has nothing to do with who you are. In fact, correction—it does. Clearly. Because you’re more driven than any of those idiots at school.”
“Even Ryan Preston?”
Surprise made me draw to a halt. Callan stopped too, looking back at me with a carefully neutral expression. “What does that mean?”
Callan shrugged. “I know he’s desperate to get in your knickers, along with half of the bloody school.”
My eyes narrowed. “And you think I’m interested in Ryan Preston?”
“Millionaire’s son. Drives to school in a Porsche.”
Ew. “Aye, because his parents are morons.” I started marching across the street, suddenly incredibly annoyed with Callan Keen.
“Beth!” I heard him hurrying after me.
I couldn’t look at him.
“Beth.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop as his gaze searched my face in confusion.
Confusion?
“Is that who you think I am? Why are you even giving me your time if you think I’m some spoiled princess who is impressed by money and sports cars?” I whirled, my strides eating up the pavement.
“Beth, wait.” Callan fell into step beside me, turning to walk backward so he could face me. His expression was tight and remorseful. “I don’t think that. I’m being a prick.”
“Why?”
“Because …” He stopped, shaking his head. “I … Preston said you went on a date last weekend. I heard him in the locker room.”
Ryan Preston really was an arsehole. “We were at the same stupid party because our dads know each other through work, and it was his dad’s birthday. Believe me, none of us wanted to go, but Dad said it was a networking thing, so we went. It was not a date with Ryan Preston. I barely spoke to him the whole night. I don’t want to date Ryan Preston.” He thought he was God’s gift to humanity. Amanda agreed he was awful. Ryan was the one guy we would never fight over.
Tension seemed to ease from Callan’s shoulders. Is that why he hadn’t made a move on me yet? He thought I wouldn’t be interested?
“Callan … I like you, if you hadn’t noticed.”
His lips twitched like he was desperate to smile and trying to remain cool. “You just come out and say it, don’t you?”
“What’s the worst that could happen? You’re an idiot who doesn’t like me in return?”
Callan threw his head back in laughter. I grinned, delighted, watching him until his laugh gentled to a smile. His expression was tender as our eyes met. “I would be a fucking idiot, wouldn’t I?”
“You would.” I smiled, but it wilted at the reminder I should not be doing this. “Amanda likes you.”
His eyebrows rose. “Likes me, likes me?”
I nodded.
Callan sighed. “I don’t like Amanda. Not like that. I like you, Beth.”
Elation flooded me. And concern. “I’d have to discuss this with her … we kind of made a pact neither of us would ask you out.”
Something like hurt flickered across his face. “So, why are you here, flirting with me?”
“Because I can’t seem to not flirt with you.”
He considered me as we neared the bus stop. “First … I know it’s probably gotten round the school that I live in Leith with my mum and dad …”
I nodded because that’s what I had heard.
“I live in Sighthill with my dad and stepmum.” Callan swallowed hard, looking away. I recognized the pain in his eyes before he did, though, and understood it when he continued, “My mum and dad—well, my dad was really my stepdad, but I called him Dad—they died when I was twelve. I was at football practice and they were killed in a traffic accident.”