On Loverose Lane (Return to Dublin Street #1)

51. Callan

CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE

CALLAN

A few weeks passed. The end of November arrived. We were in the top four in the Pro League standings. Beth and I were better than ever. Things were progressing, slowly but surely, on the deal with Braden. And Gavin hadn’t been in touch since the ban.

It lulled me into a false sense of security.

The Friday before our next game with Perth, I’d joined Beth and her family at one of the restaurants Braden had invested in. It was a Scottish seasonal seafood place that had been around for as long as I could remember. Smart casual. Not too posh. But the food was amazing. Luke and his boyfriend couldn’t make it through from Glasgow, but Elle was there, along with Beth’s parents, grandparents, and her aunt Ellie and uncle Adam.

Adam had been the most difficult of Beth’s uncles to convince I was in it for the long game, and even then, I wasn’t sure I fully had.

We were enjoying ourselves, though.

Conversation flowed easily, and it didn’t surprise me the family got off on teasing one another because that’s how Beth was. If she was gently mocking you, it meant she really liked you.

“You can’t say that, Uncle Adam,” Elle cut into the conversation.

“Say what?”

“You can’t say master bedroom anymore. You should know that.”

He’d been talking about a house they were interested in buying in the Highlands as a holiday home.

“I can’t?” He cocked his head in bemusement.

“Nope. It’s primary bedroom now.”

“Did you know this?” Adam asked Braden.

“I did.”

“I can’t keep up with what I’m allowed to say anymore.” He made a face at his wife. “What am I not allowed to say?”

“Scrotum,” she offered blandly, making everyone choke on their food. Beth’s Aunt Ellie’s lips twitched at our reactions. “What? It’s a terrible word.”

“It’s just a part of the male anatomy.” Elle shrugged. “Scrotum. Scro tum.”

“Why?” Elodie gaped at Joss in despair. “Every time we have a family dinner. Every time.”

Joss looked like she was dying to laugh, and Beth and I shared a look and swallowed our laughter as her mum turned to her wee sister. “Don’t say scrotum at the table.”

“Aunt Ellie said it first.”

“ Moist is a terrible word too,” Beth added, saving her sister.

“Oh, I hate that word,” her aunt Ellie agreed.

“ Engorge . I’ve never liked that word,” Clark offered.

“Clark.” Elodie gaped.

“ Pustule ,” Braden suggested.

Elodie hissed, “We are eating.”

But everyone looked at me, and I realized they wanted a word. I considered it and then said, “ Smegma .”

“Ugh.” Beth made a vomiting sound.

Joss grinned. “Nice.”

“What does it mean?” Elle inquired, brows drawn together.

“We’ll tell you after we’ve eaten,” her dad replied.

“Or not.” Elodie glowered at him. “Maybe she doesn’t need to know.”

Elle shrugged. “I’ll google it.”

It was a silly conversation, but I couldn’t help but smile as the banter continued. When we were kids, I’d been so sure Beth’s family would be pretentious and uptight with all their money and privilege. Aye, they were definitely privileged, but what I liked about them was that they were aware of it. Beth had come to this dinner from her shift at the food bank, and I couldn’t say I’d ever volunteered a day in my life anywhere.

And Beth’s family were not pretentious.

I liked them.

A lot.

But it made sense someone as amazing as my girlfriend would come from a nice family.

Maybe that’s why what happened next hurt so fucking much.

It was Braden dropping his fork onto his plate and stiffening in his seat that made me pause mid chew. The table went quiet as all gazes moved to something behind me and Beth.

I glanced over my shoulder, my heart dropping into my stomach at the sight of Gavin standing at my back.

He was a scruffy mess.

He looked like he hadn’t shaved or washed in days, and his clothes were wrinkled like he’d been sleeping in them. He was also close enough for me to smell the beer and stench of body odor on him.

Fuck.

Beth’s hand landed on my thigh and she squeezed in reassurance.

Blood rushing in my ears, I turned a little more toward him. “What are you doing here?”

“Interrupting, am I?” He grinned, showing off teeth that had once been perfect and white, now stained and yellow. His gaze flickered to Joss. “Long time, no see.”

Beth’s mum didn’t reply.

“Go home, Gavin,” I told him calmly.

“Nah, nah.” He moved forward, leaning his elbow on my chair. I reared back from him. “Since I’ve been banned from the fucking grounds, I had to find another way to get to you.”

“You followed me?”

He straightened, shrugging. “Imagine havin’ to follow your son to get his attention. You ungrateful wee fuckin’ bastard for banning me. Who the fuck do you think you are? You’re scum. You’re a talentless wee pissant.”

Horror thrummed through me. Not only that he was here embarrassing me in front of Beth’s family, infiltrating their lives in a way Braden had warned me couldn’t happen, but because they were witnessing how he treated me.

And if your father thought you were scum …

“I need money.” He wiped a hand under his nose. “Give me a couple thousand or I go to the tabloids and tell them what an ungrateful wee fucker you are.”

I froze. Unable to speak. Think. Mortified. Bleeding inside.

“Go away, you piece of shit,” Beth gritted out.

Gavin turned on her. “Dinnae get me started on you, sweetheart.”

“Gavin.” Braden’s warning voice cut through the whooshing in my ears.

Gavin ignored him, turning back to me, bending down to peer in my face. “Give me money. You owe me for taking you in when that bitch died.”

I shot out of my chair, lunging for him. Beth grabbed me, holding me back with surprising strength.

And suddenly, Braden and Adam rounded the table and had Gavin by both arms. The restaurant fell silent as they dragged him, cursing the whole way out.

I trembled as I watched through the window as Braden shoved Gavin. He stumbled, falling on his arse. Braden said something, his entire body bristling with threat. Whatever he said, it was enough to shut Gavin up. Then he and Adam strode back into the restaurant. “Sorry, folks,” he announced calmly to the restaurant. “Please accept a complimentary drink on me.” He nodded to the ma?tre d’ as if to say “Make it happen.”

It wasn’t until he and Adam were back at the table that the noise level rose again. But I could still feel eyes on us.

And I felt like they were peeling back my layers, trying to figure out if what Gavin said was true.

“Forget him,” Beth whispered in my ear, rubbing a hand down my thigh. She pressed gentle kisses along my jaw until I began to feel them. Feel her. Emotion was thick in my throat as I turned to her.

Beth looked deep in my eyes. “I love you.”

She did.

She loved me.

“I’m sorry.”

Her eyes filled with sorrow. “You never have to be sorry for him.”

It was difficult to return to the easy conversation we’d had earlier, and sensing it, Braden hurried the rest of the meal so I could get out of there. I was thankful.

After we’d paid up (or Braden had and wouldn’t let anybody else chip in), we stood outside the restaurant, waiting for a couple of cabs. The family seemed to know to give me some space, so I stood there, locked in my own head, while Beth tucked her arm in mine and stayed close.

Adam and Braden, however, joined us after a minute or so.

“I’m sorry,” I said before they could say anything.

Adam scowled. “Son, you’ve nothing to be sorry for. We went to school with Gavin. I’ve always hated him because he’s always coveted everything that everyone else has but never wanted to work to get it for himself. It took Braden a wee bit longer to see what he was about, but we all know. We know he’s scum.”

I flinched but nodded, looking at my feet.

“Son?” Braden this time.

I looked up.

Braden’s expression was hard. “Does he talk to you like that all the time?”

“Dad …,” Beth warned.

“Aye.” I shrugged because there was no hiding it. He’d fucking humiliated me in front of them all.

“Then you’re a miracle.” Braden patted my shoulder. “Respect the fuck out of you for what you’ve done with your life, considering you had that shit spewed at you. And you know it’s bullshit, right?”

I stared, stunned.

“You have to know it’s bullshit.”

“Aye, don’t listen to that crap.” Adam shook his head, expression twisted in anger. “Doesn’t surprise me Gavin would even be jealous of his own son. Just sorry you have to deal with that.”

“Not anymore.” Braden’s tone was final.

I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”

“I know a lot of people. People that can cause a great deal of problems for Gavin if he comes anywhere near my family. I’ve told him that, and he knows I can cause him a world of pain. He won’t be bothering you again, Callan.”

I sat on the end of my bed, elbows to knees, head bowed, staring unseeing at the floor.

There was movement in the room. And then Beth was on her knees before me, gently lifting my chin to force me to look at her.

She smoothed her hands down my forearms. “Talk to me.”

Love, so much love filled me, it was overwhelming. “Your dad took my back tonight.”

“He did.” She smiled, eyes shiny with tears for me but also pride for her dad.

“I thought he’d think I was scum … after seeing Gavin like that.”

“The only person he thinks is scum is Gavin.”

I nodded because I believed that. “I haven’t … I forgot. What it was like to have a dad give a shit.”

She blinked rapidly, the tears escaping down her cheeks. “My family is your family now, Captain … Does that frighten you?”

“No.” I exhaled slowly, curling my hand around one of hers. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”

“I know you have Baird and John and the team … but you have me now too. And you have the entire Carmichael clan and all our cousins. You basically nearly have another football team at your back.”

Reaching out, I wiped the tears off her face. “I love you, Beth Carmichael. So fucking much.”

“Even though you tried to kill me with curry, I love you so freaking much too.”

I chuckled, pulling her between my legs to cuddle her. I kissed the top of her head as she wound her arms around my back. “I really am never going to live that down, am I?”

“I tell you what … you reupholster that ugly sofa, and I’ll never mention the curry again.”

Laughing harder, I tightened my hold. Because only she could make me smile after a night like tonight. Beth Carmichael was pure fucking magic. “If it means that much to you …”

“Really?”

“Really.”

After a while, she whispered, “You can keep the floral travesty as it is.”

“Why?”

“Because it makes you happy.”

“Stop it.” My words were gruff.

“Stop what?”

“Making me love you more. I can’t handle it.”

I felt her smile against my chest. “Aye, you can. Just deal with it, buddy. If I can deal with that sofa, you can deal with how bloody awesome I am.”

Shaking with laughter, I kissed the top of her head again and thanked whatever fate was out there who decided to bring me to this flat on Loverose Lane.

To bring me back to Beth.