Chapter 19
CALLUM
“Have you texted Alejandra again?” Asma asked as Callum handed her a beer. And for a second, he thought to bring the beer back to where he found it. Why did she always have to ask the most annoying questions after a terrible day?
Leif and her had come to his apartment after work.
A late-night call with the States had been scheduled—to his utter annoyance—and they were still in their office clothes.
Asma wanted to decompress with her best friends, and because he didn’t feel it in himself to say that he just wanted to stay alone, he had agreed, and Leif had followed.
Callum had just untied his tie, taken off his jacket, and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt.
“Nope. No contact. We were pretty clear about it,” he replied, trying to mask the annoyance in his voice.
He didn’t know if he was more annoyed that Asma asked, or that Alejandra didn’t contact him. He had seen her stories on Instagram—he had given up to that curiosity. She seemed happy, recovering, and so why didn't she want to contact him?
She’d been the one to set the no contact rule, saying that what was going on between them would only make things harder for her career.
And yet, not even a date with a gorgeous, model-looking woman had managed to shake loose the wild surfer he’d spent one unforgettable night with four months earlier.
God, he was such an idiot.
“Do we have to stage another intervention? Do I have to call all my single friends to help you forget her?” Asma asked. He didn’t know if she was joking or not. “By the way, it’s a pity it didn’t work. You and Ale looked good together. And you were smiling. That hasn’t happened much lately.”
“I’m always smiling.”
“Yeah, but not really,” Leif cut in, cracking his neck as he checked his phone.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means you smile, but only with your face. Not with your eyes. You’re clearly not happy. At the wedding with Ale, you were. Like, genuinely. Sure, the booze probably helped but still. You were glowing. Look, I snatched a photo.”
He shook his head. “And you’re showing me now? Months later?”
“You two weren’t talking. I staged an intervention. I didn’t want to make it worse.”
“And why are you showing me now?”
“Because you are a lost cause,” Leif interjected.
Asma nodded. “Here’s the picture.”
He took the phone and his heart clenched.
He was smiling. No, beaming.
They were seated at the round table, mid-conversation.
Alejandra was stunning in that green dress that matched her eyes.
Her black waves fell down her back, her golden jewelry shimmered in the low light.
She was laughing, her whole face lit up, looking at him like he was the only person in the room.
He had his arm slung over the back of her chair, leaning in, laughing too.
Fuck, Alejandra, why?
Was a chance at love less important than medals?
Just then, Sofia’s name popped up on Asma’s phone interrupting his self-pity spiral.
“Sofi’s calling.”
Asma frowned, grabbed the phone, and put her on speaker. “Hola, Sofia. Weird time to call. You’re on speaker—Leif and Callum are here too.”
“Hey, guys.” Her Spanish-Italian accent came through just slightly. Sofia’s English was nearly perfect, just like Alejandra’s. “Sorry for the timing. I’m working from home and checking on some things. I have a proposal for you.”
“Shoot,” Asma said, after everyone greeted her.
“In the beginning of April, the USL Championship will be here in Ericeira. It’s always a great opportunity for Salacia to find new sponsors, new clients, and basically reach more people.
This year, they’ve offered us a stand in the market near the Athlete Zone.
It’s the only European tour stop, and they also asked us to lead a few workshops.
I was thinking… Why not invite Lamina? You could promote your work, highlight the partnership, and show how aligned we are in terms of values. ”
Before Asma could interrupt, she added quickly, “I know it’s not exactly your target audience, but maybe you three could use a break from grey London.
The surf world’s more connected than you think.
USL partners with a lot of associations.
The more visibility you have, the more partnerships you might land. ”
Then she paused. “Also… Callum?”
“Yes?”
“Alejandra will be there,” she said, her tone mischievous.
“Why should that matter?”
Fucking hell, it mattered. He was already thinking about booking a flight if it meant seeing her in less than two months.
Sofia sighed. “You two are such idiots. You sent her a care package after Pipeline. You clearly care. She’s been in a shitty mood since the accident, and she won’t shut up about the books you sent her.
So just come. Talk to her. Break the no contact bullshit.
I’d love to see my best friend in a better mental state. ”
“So, just to be clear,” Leif grinned, “is this about Lamina or Alejandra?”
“Both. I really think it’s a great opportunity for Lamina, but it could also help Ale. She’s my best friend. And in thirty-three years, I’ve never seen her like this. I’m trying everything I can to pull her out of it.”
“You’re a good friend, Sofi,” Callum said, his chest tightening. “But we still need to think about it. We can’t all just drop everything and go to Ericeira.”
“Maybe you can go,” Asma suggested. “Leif and I stay here, keep things running in London, and you handle the surf town charm in Portugal. You grew up by the ocean. You’ll fit in.”
“I mean, surf people aren’t aliens,” Sofia joked.
“No, but he’s got that laid-back energy when he’s not in a tux,” Asma teased. “He’ll attract people to the stand. Plus, maybe that’ll help him and Ale get closer.”
“Oh my god. Are you on Team Cale?” Sofia squealed, dropping all professionalism.
“Team what?” Callum frowned.
“Team Cale. Callum and Ale.” Sofia was clearly grinning. “Ilias came up with it and he’s been recruiting everyone since.”
“I didn’t realize we had a fanbase,” Callum muttered, scratching his stubble.
“Oh, please. We’ve seen you two. Ale had a hickey on her neck for five days, and she was glowing.
Then she dropped the no contact bomb, and we’ve been scheming ever since.
Because when she says no contact, she means it.
” She paused, her voice quieter. “But after Pipeline…
She's not okay. And I think you could help her feel better.”
Callum didn’t answer, as Asma and Leif checked on his reaction.
“Just talk to her in Ericeira,” Sofia continued. “She clearly likes you, Callum.”
His heart clenched.
“Who said I’m going?” he replied, trying, and failing, to sound indifferent.
“I do,” Asma said brightly. “You’re going. Have fun. Break that stupid no contact rule.”
Callum bit his lip, but smiled. Portugal wasn’t such a bad idea. Not if it meant seeing Alejandra again. Even if it meant waiting another couple of months.
“Good,” Sofia said. “Ale helped me meet Ilias two years ago. Now it’s my turn to return the favor. Even if she’s too stubborn to ask for help.”
Team Cale. People actually believed they could be a couple.
Sofia, Alejandra’s best friend, thought they could make it work.
Maybe it wasn’t just him and his spiraling thoughts anymore, maybe that could be real if he just could crack Alejandra’s armor.
She had opened up to him in Tarifa, but maybe that was different.
Maybe she was more of a one night stand girl than a relationship one, maybe she hadn’t actually opened up to him and he was just fooling himself.
Asma interrupted his thoughts. “She couldn’t resist you back in Spain. I doubt she’s going to do it now, knowing how good you are in that department.”
“How do you know?” he asked, cheeks slightly burning. He hated talking about those things with his friends.
“Vanessa always said you were pretty good,” Asma grimaced, and he did the same.
With Vanessa, he had tried to be what he had been for Alejandra in just that night. His ex always shot him off—no hand necklace, no hard, nothing out of the usual missionary.
“Please, let’s not put Vanessa and sex in the same sentence ever again.”
“Yeah, agree,” Leif interjected.
“Who are you texting to?” Asma asked, staring at Leif, his head bent on the phone. “You’ve been distracted tonight.”
Leif raised his blue eyes to meet hers. He shrugged, “I met a girl and I’m talking to her.”
Watching that interaction had been interesting because if he hadn’t known both of them like the back of his hand, Asma may have looked like she didn’t care. But his friend did a micro expression she always did when she was negatively surprised—she scrunched her nose.
Leif, on the other hand, resumed his texting.
“Who is she?” Callum asked, curious.
“I’ll tell you when I know if she’s the right person,” he just declared, pragmatic as always.
Asma groaned. “It’s horrible being friends with two dudes. Like, you don’t share any tea.”
Callum chuckled.
Maybe that was the push he needed to start to change his life.
Accepting to go to Ericeira, it could give his life the meaning he had been searching for years.
Going to Ericeira meant more than just meeting Alejandra, it meant escaping London’s grey buildings and meeting rooms and immersing himself in a world he had belonged, and that he had been too long far away from.