Chapter 40
CALLUM
Survive - Lewis Capaldi
When Asma had called him at the crack of dawn, while he was blissfully sleeping next to Alejandra slightly snoring, and urged him to the office that morning for a quick meeting, he had been this close to tell her to fuck off.
He didn’t do it, but he had then received a message from Leif saying that he was sorry, that he had discussed with her about not calling him in but she hadn’t listened.
He needed to talk to her. Soon.
Alejandra’s therapist had her studio in Primrose Hill, and she had assured him she’d be fine taking the Tube there on her own. Since the office was close to his flat, it only took him a seven-minute walk to get exactly where he didn’t want to be.
The European Union had called again—apparently about another major research institute—and Asma wanted both him and Leif in the meeting. The persistent headache blooming at the base of his skull every time work came up probably needed medical attention.
The entire meeting had been pointless on his part. He had basically just been there to nod and fake smile, not once did Asma ask him something and he had to hold in the fucking rage he felt inside.
“I need to speak to you,” Callum said, following her out of the meeting room.
“Not now, Cal. I really need to answer a couple of emails, last night was wild with Omar,” and she literally slammed the door in front of his face.
“What the fuck,” he murmured, his jaw clenched.
“Are you taking my suggestion?” Leif appeared next to him, crisp in his suit, hands in his pockets.
“She’s not going to listen.”
“We’ll make her listen.”
“Clearly, now is not the right time.”
Leif sighed. “I’m sorry. Just go. If she says something, I’ll take the blame. We already fought this morning. I don’t see how our relationship can improve.”
“Are you okay, man?” Callum stopped to ask. “Between you and her…”
He took him to the side of the corridor, away from her door.
“No, I told her she’s a selfish bitch this morning, so I feel she’s pretty upset at me.”
Callum’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “What?”
Leif shrugged. “I don’t think she’s a bitch, but I do think she’s selfish and she doesn’t see you are drowning in this office and I’m in pain daily. She’s the only one happy here, and she doesn’t want to see when other people are not…”
“Tomorrow, I’ll put a meeting for us three in the calendar and we’ll meet somewhere to chat. We need to fix this, this is getting ridiculous."
Leif nodded. “Now go, enjoy your day with Ale.”
He nodded, patting Leif on the shoulder, and headed for the door, and texted Alejandra to let her know he was on his way after stopping at home to change. They were planning to grab a bite around Camden and walk a bit after.
Just as he got to the entrance of the Tube, his mam’s name flashed on the screen. He sighed, put in his earphones, and picked up, stopping before entering to avoid losing signal.
“Is now a good time to talk to my only son?” she asked, clearly joking.
“Yes, mam. I’m about to enter the Tube. How are you?”
“Good!” she chirped. “Very good. I was wondering... would you come home for Calan Mai?”
Wait. Was it really already the beginning of May?
Before he could reply, she kept going. “We’re slowly losing your taid, and it would be nice to have you around while he still remembers something.”
Callum exhaled slowly. Guilt. That was always the undercurrent of any conversation involving his taid.
But how could he live and work from Aberystwyth?
He had loved it growing up, but once he saw the world, every problem back home suddenly felt enormous.
Since breaking up with Vanessa, he hadn’t dared return for Calan Mai—not wanting to bump into her, not ready to deal with that shadow.
But now, this wasn’t about avoiding an ex.
His taid’s memory was slipping. Every phone call revealed a little less of the man he used to be.
Sometimes, he confused Callum with an old friend.
Sometimes, he thought Callum was still in high school.
“I don’t know, mam. I have... visitors.”
He scratched the back of his neck, unsure how much to say about Alejandra. What even were they? Friends with benefits? Emotional support crew with chemistry? Were they dating? He wasn’t sure, but he knew he wanted them to be something real. He just wasn’t sure if she was ready to want that too.
“Visitors?” his mam pressed, immediately suspicious.
“Why does that surprise you?”
“Because aside from me and your taid, your best friends all live in the same city. The only person I could think of is someone I sincerely hope you’re not seeing again, Callum Jeremy Evans.”
Not the full name.
“For fuck’s sake, mam. I’m not back with Vanessa.”
“So, there’s a girl,” she said, gleeful now.
He rolled his eyes. His mother wasn’t going to let this go unless he tossed her a few crumbs.
“I’m getting to know someone. We met last year at a wedding in Spain. We’ve stayed in touch.” Barely. “She had a doctor’s appointment here, and I’m just showing her around. It’s not a big deal.”
His mother let out a high-pitched squeal. “Please tell me her name. What does she do?”
He sighed. “Her name’s Alejandra. She’s Spanish. And she’s a surfer.”
Silence.
“A surfer?” she echoed.
“Yeah. A pro. She got injured on one of her tours.”
Another pause.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Sorry, I just... thought she’d have a more stable job. You know... lawyer, doctor, not surfer.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. “She went to the Olympics, mam. I’ve already dated a politician and it turned out shit. Alejandra’s a professional surfer. She earns her living, owns property in Spain, and works harder than most people I know. Don’t judge her without even knowing her.”
“You’re right,” she replied, a bit sheepish. “It’s just... I don’t really trust surfers.”
He blinked. “What does that even mean? Aberystwyth is full of surfers.”
“Yes,” she sighed. “But pro surfers are different.”
“How would you know?”
“I know,” she said, cryptically. Then: “So, are you coming for Calan Mai? You could bring Alejandra too.”
He rubbed his face. “I’ll think about it, alright?”
“It’d be nice. The bonfire, the maypole. It’s a tradition we are slowly losing but that taid loves. I bet Alejandra’s never celebrated Calan Mai the Aber way before.”
Callum took another breath. “Mam... Alejandra and I—we haven’t defined anything. I don’t want to pressure her by dragging her to meet my family.”
“Maybe it’ll help. Do you want her to be your girlfriend?”
“Yes. But she’s still dealing with the injury—”
“Well, that’s perfect. Calan Mai is all about health and good luck. She’d love it—”
“You don’t even know her—”
“Think about it, okay? I’ve got to go, your taid wants lunch.” And she hung up, as usual, without saying goodbye.
Callum sighed.
Going back to Aberystwyth with Alejandra might actually be good.
A road trip, a few days off from Lamina, time away from Asma’s meetings and the impending conversation they were going to have the following day.
He could show her the beach, take her up Constitution Hill, let her see what shaped him.
But was it selfish? She needed space to heal, to focus on rehab and therapy.
And then there was taid... fading a little more every week.
The headache returned, dull and pressing behind his eyes.
He could only hope the therapist was helping her, and that Alejandra would tell him if she wasn’t.