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)
I’d had to phone my parents to tell them it was a lie and that Callan and I were just friends, and I’d texted back my cousins and friends, all asking about the article. Callan’s publicist had suggested we not respond, and Callan didn’t seem at all bothered by it. His only concern was that I was ruffled by the exposure.
The truth was, I hated lying to my family. But I also didn’t know how to explain to them that Callan and I were casual without that unleashing a maelstrom of concern and well-intended interference.
My fault, really, for having been so public about my desire to find Mr. Right.
Yet, I couldn’t help myself with Callan. The last few days were the first in a long time that I felt relaxed and destressed. Life seemed a little less overwhelming, and I was tackling work with renewed energy.
Mhairi, however, was impartial. We hadn’t known each other long, and she seemed cool and nonjudgmental. “We’re a no-strings kind of situation.”
“Oh, really?” Mum called out in her husky voice.
I looked back and realized she’d somehow overheard. “Bat ears, woman,” I huffed.
Mum grimaced and bridged the distance between us. She took hold of my elbow. “Excuse us, ladies.”
“Mum, we have to get this done.”
“This will only take a minute.” She led me away from our group until they were out of earshot. Mum searched my face. “You’re sleeping with this guy? You said you weren’t. Is that why you got a meeting for him with your dad?”
I shook my head. “That happened before. He’s … my friend.”
“That you’re having sex with?”
“Aye, but just sex.”
“When have you ever been a just sex kind of person?”
“I’ve had casual sex.”
She raised an eyebrow. “But it’s not what you want. You’ve made that clear. So I’m guessing he’s the one who doesn’t want a serious relationship.”
“You would be correct. He doesn’t ‘do’ relationships.”
“Beth—”
“Honestly, Mum, it’s working for me right now. I’m enjoying myself. So no harm, no foul, right?”
She considered this. “Your dad told you who he is.”
“He did. But he’s got no affiliation with Gavin beyond biological. Like I told Dad, Callan lost his mum and his stepdad, whom he considered his real dad, when he was a kid.”
Sympathy and compassion lightened Mum’s eyes. “Your dad didn’t tell me that.”
“You more than anyone can understand what it must have been like for him. And then he was dropped on Gavin’s doorstep and Gavin made it clear he wasn’t wanted. Callan has nothing to do with him now.”
“That’s good. Not the bad parenting part, but that Callan doesn’t have anything to do with Gavin.” Mum ducked her head to study me again. “Be careful, baby. You sound like you care about this guy.”
Panic threatened to ruin the good mood that had followed me around for days. “As a human being, of course I do. But Callan isn’t the kind of guy a girl settles down with. He doesn’t want that. I know what this is. Let me enjoy it without judgment.”
Mum sighed. “I am the last person to judge anyone, let alone my kid. But a long time ago, I tried to convince myself this one particular guy was only a convenient hookup and a lot of feelings got hurt.”
I tensed. “What happened to him?”
She smiled and waved her ring finger. “He was a stubborn asshole who wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Laughter bubbled on my lips. “You’re talking about Dad.”
“Yup.” She caressed my cheek, concern dimming her amusement. “I was lucky, Beth. I found someone willing to do a lot of hard work to pull my head out of my trauma. Your dad has thick skin. You have to be thick-skinned when you’re trying to get someone to admit they love you when they’re terrified of loving anyone. Grief either makes you hold on tight or push everyone away.”
She was talking about Callan.
And I realized with a pang of alarm that she might be right about him. When we were kids, he’d been way more open and vulnerable with me. His intentions back then had been serious.
Now it seemed like he didn’t want to be emotionally close to anyone, except for Baird and John. Maybe even then.
I nodded, letting Mum know I heard her. “I won’t catch feelings,” I promised. “And if I think I am, I’ll cut myself loose.”
“I didn’t say that.” Mum smiled mysteriously. “I’m just saying … if you start to catch feelings and you think he might be too, prepare yourself for a fight.”
“It’s only casual,” I insisted.
Maybe Mum and Dad’s love had started out as a battle, but Callan and I were not Mum and Dad. We were merely having the best sex of our lives for the next five weeks.
End of story.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CALLAN
John’s birthday was the perfect distraction. He liked to dance, so Baird and a few guys off the team took him out to a nightclub. This was usually the time in the season when we started to feel the need to decompress a bit.