Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Fix your face, freak,” Callum says, smirking.
He takes my hand and tugs me out of the bathroom. My stomach is in knots with anticipation of dinner with his entire family, but with him by my side, I feel confident we can handle this together.
Gemma’s house is modern and gorgeous. Where Callum’s house appears to be more lived in, Gemma’s is showroom ready. I feel underdressed and like if I sit on the pristine light gray sofa, I’ll somehow leave a mark. Callum walks us toward the sound of voices and Gemma struts ahead of us. We eventually make our way into a cavernous dining room with far more seats at the table than guests. I breathe a sigh of relief at seeing Dempsey. Hugo bailed him out of jail the same day he got arrested, which was great, but I still haven’t had an opportunity to thank him for taking the heat rather than letting Callum take the fall.
“‘Sup,” Dempsey says, grinning at me. “I guess this really is a thing.”
This being me and Callum.
“We really are,” I admit, my voice breathy and slightly high. “Are you okay after…”
“Dad handled it,” Spencer assures me. “He’s fine.”
“Where is your dad anyway?” Callum asks.
Spencer gestures down the hall. “Study.”
Gemma disappears into a door that must lead to the kitchen. Seconds later, she reappears with a woman of her same height and build. At first glance, they could be the twins, not her and Dempsey.
“You must be Callum’s girlfriend. Willa is it? Gemma has such great things to say about you.” She offers a dainty hand. “I’m Jamie.”
Callum is stiff beside me. On principle, I want to deny the handshake for what she did to him all those years ago. However, their family dynamic won’t allow for it. She’s still Dempsey and Gemma’s mother. I can’t be rude to her.
“Nice to meet you,” I say, though I don’t necessarily mean it.
“Dinner is about ready to come out of the oven,” Jamie chirps, smile bright and welcoming. “I hope you like Italian food. I’ve made baked ziti. It’s a family favorite around here.”
Hugo enters the dining room and commands all eyes with his presence. Like Callum, he’s tall and muscular, but there’s also something authoritative about him.
“Hugo,” he says, smiling at me. “Nice to officially meet you.”
“Willa Reyes.”
Hugo darts his gaze between me and Callum for a couple of beats as if he’s trying to understand our relationship before launching into friendly chatter. I let out a gush of breath, relieved to have passed whatever test he just gave me. The atmosphere is an easy one. Everyone seems nice, though I’ve yet to meet Jude or Callum’s father.
“We have a guest, Dad,” Gemma says, drawing everyone’s attention to the older man who’s quietly crept into the dining room unnoticed. “This is my friend, Willa.”
The man isn’t quite as big as Callum or Hugo, but there’s a formidable nature about him. Callum doesn’t stiffen like he did with Jamie. Instead, his chest bows slightly and his arm finds its way around me.
He’s taunting him. Or provoking him. I’m not sure which. It should irritate me that I’m being used in this performance, but it doesn’t. Callum’s father did him dirty and Callum still carries the pain from the betrayal. If I can help Callum stick it to his father in any way possible, I absolutely will.
“Dad,” Callum rumbles, arrogance dripping from his words. “Meet my girl, Willa. Willa, this is my father, Nathan.”
Girl. Not woman. I notice his word choice as another stab at his father, so I don’t take offense.
“Kind of young, don’t you think?”
Dempsey snorts, earning a sharp look from Gemma. Spencer smirks, clearly entertained by the turn of conversation.
“What can I say,” Callum says, chuckling in a dark tone. “Like father, like son.”
Nathan’s nostrils flare. He avoids his son’s stare and instead sweeps a dismissive look over me. “Tell me she’s not a student.”
“He’s my statistics teacher,” I state, batting my lashes at him. “We met in class.”
Spencer smothers a laugh and Hugo shakes his head. Gemma’s eyes are wide with shock.
“Callum,” Nathan growls. “Do you have any idea how this will look when word gets out?”
Callum drops a kiss to the top of my head. “Hmm. I suppose it will be rather humiliating to our family. It feels kind of familiar, though. Tell me, Dad, how did you handle it when the whole town shamed you for fucking a teenager?”
Nathan’s features harden and his cheeks turn crimson. “That’s enough, Son.”
“At least she’s legal, right? That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about, unlike you.”
“Are you doing this to punish me?” Nathan seethes. “For…” He can’t even finish the sentence. For stealing your underage girlfriend all those years ago.
“Not everything’s about you, Dad. I assure you. This thing between me and Willa is far from anything that has to do with you.”