Chapter 43 Astrid
ASTRID
Ifollow Paige as she pushes her way through the crowd in the local sports bar, heading in the direction of the soccer team’s usual table.
The celebrations are in full swing after today’s win.
It was an away game, and I couldn’t attend as I was working at the bookstore downtown, where I have a part-time job.
I literally get paid to be around books all day.
How cool is that? I never miss any of Callan’s home games, but away games are not possible, which I hate because I detest missing any of his games.
As predicted, Callan is already making a name for himself, and he’s the first freshman in Bennington Turo’s history to start every single game. I’m so proud of him, and I just know he’s going to fulfill his childhood dream. He’s too talented for some team not to snatch him up.
“Gwen’s here,” Paige shouts when she looks back at me.
I inwardly groan, just knowing she’s going to be flirting with at least one of Callan’s teammates.
Scott and Gwen have been on-again, off-again at least four times in the three months since we started college.
During off periods, Gwen has been indulging in a slew of one-night stands, some of them with guys on Callan’s team, much to his disgust.
I shriek when someone pinches my ass, turning around to give the jerk a piece of my mind when my retort dies on my tongue.
Squealing, I jump on Callan, wrapping my legs around his waist. I haven’t seen him in two days, and I missed him.
His arms encircle my body, propping me up by my butt as his lips descend.
The revelry fades as we kiss, and I don’t even feel the bodies bumping into us as we get lost in one another.
“Damn, I needed that,” he says when we finally break apart. Carefully, he sets my feet down on the ground, keeping a protective arm around my waist.
“I watched the match on my cell at work. You were amazing, baby. That second goal was pure magic.”
“They made us work for our win, but it feels good.” His hand slides down to my ass. “Almost as good as being inside you,” he purrs in my ear, sending waves of shivers racing across the length of my body.
“Hey, Callan.” Paige materializes in front of us, and Callan leans down, kissing her cheek. Callan adores my college best friend. Paige and I share a dorm, and we hit it off from the get-go. She’s studying pre-law and is busy with classes and assignments, but she always makes time for fun.
“Paige. You look great. Where’s Tonya?” Callan asks.
“Working, unfortunately.” Paige’s long-term girlfriend is a bartender at the other sports bar in town.
That bar is strict about not serving alcohol to students under twenty-one, unlike this place, which turns a blind eye to fake IDs and underage drinking; hence why it’s so popular with the college crowd.
“We can drop by in a while,” Callan suggests. “It’s getting far too manic in here for my liking anyway.”
“Cool.” Paige tucks her brown bob behind her ears. “I’m getting drinks. Vodka cranberry?” she asks me, and I nod. “Callan?”
“I’m good. My beer is at the table.” This place serves a local nonalcoholic craft beer that Callan likes, but his preferred beverage of choice is still water.
His teammates often overindulge after a game, with only a handful mindful of their alcohol intake, like my boyfriend.
It’s not difficult to tell the guys who are going to make it from the ones who won’t.
“I’ll meet you over there,” Paige hollers as she walks off toward the bar.
Callan fights off well-wishers as we make our way to the team table.
Everyone knows who my boyfriend is, and I don’t miss the hostile looks sent in my direction from many of the girls we pass.
The female population is not happy the star striker is taken, and some girls make sure I know it.
Callan isn’t pleased, and if he’s around when it happens, he isn’t shy about putting them in their place.
“Fair warning,” he says in my ear as he takes my hand. “Gwen is here, and she’s locked.”
“Is she with anyone?” I don’t know if it’s on or off with Scott this week.
“Robbie.” Callan jerks his head, and I follow the motion, finding Gwen perched on Robbie’s lap with her legs straddling his waist, her arms around his neck, and her lips moving against his.
“Guess it’s off with Scott again.”
Callan snorts. “Does it really matter? I don’t think she cares anymore.”
“Gwen wouldn’t cheat.” I hope my voice doesn’t sound as feeble to his ears. The truth is, I don’t really know anymore. Gwen has been acting weird since we came to college. She’s been distant with me ever since we argued over Paige.
Paige and Gwen do not get along, and Gwen is angry that I won’t dump her.
I think she’s being unfair in her demands.
Paige is my roommate, and even if I didn’t love her to pieces, asking me to cut all ties with my roomie is not practical.
Gwen has her new college friend group, and I have mine.
It was bound to happen, seeing as we have different classes and don’t interact much.
That’s not to say I wish to cut Gwen out of my life.
She’s been my bestie for years, and she needs me now more than ever.
But I can’t do anything if she’s determined to avoid me out of petty rivalry.
Sometimes, Gwen makes it so hard to love her.
“Come on, babe. I doubt Gwen has been faithful to Scott from the minute she showed up here.”
“You’re being mean.”
“And you’re being na?ve.”
I wrench my hand from his grip, pissed at his comment. “Sticking up for my friend is not na?ve, and if you’re in a shitty mood, I might as well go home.”
“Stop overreacting.” He folds his arms and fixes me with a stern expression. “And I’m only in a shitty mood because we’re talking about Gwen again.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I shout, regretting it when several heads turn in our direction.
Callan notices too, taking my hand and leading me outside the bar, where it’s less noisy and nosy.
“I don’t want to fight.” He pulls me into his arms. “And I really don’t want to talk about Gwen.
I know you’re worried about her, but I’m sick of her name coming up in conversation.
She’s a grown woman, responsible for her own actions.
She is choosing to ice you out when you’ve done nothing wrong. Let her be.”
“You don’t get it, Callan. You don’t know the horrible things done to her as a child and how it’s traumatized her. Mara’s passing has sent her spiraling, and if I don’t care about her, who will?”
Callan sighs while dragging his hand through his hair. “You have the kindest heart, Astrid. I know it’s not as black or white as I see it, but you can’t expect me to support Gwen when she’s not being nice to you. Did she even tell you she came to the match today?”
“She did?”
He nuzzles my neck. “She’s been after Robbie for weeks. I warned him, but it seems it went in one ear and out the other.”
“I don’t understand her.”
“I doubt anyone does.” He dusts little kisses along my jawline, and my shitty mood lifts.
“I don’t want to fight with you either.” I drag my fingers through his hair. “I have hardly seen you this week, and I’ve been looking forward to tonight all day.”
“It’s fine.” Taking my hand, he kisses my ring finger. “We knew college would test us.”
“At least we have Christmas coming up. I’m looking forward to going home and spending time with you and my family.”
“Same, and I could use a rest before the team flies out to the UK in January.”
I cup his face. “I wish I could be there for it.”
“I know you do.” He brushes his lips against mine. “But I won’t have much free time, and I wouldn’t want you to be all alone. Dara and my granddad are going to fly over for a couple of days to watch a few of my matches.”
“Awesome. I’ll message Dara, make sure he sends me videos of your games.”
“Are we good now?” A shiver visibly works its way through him. “I’m freezing my balls off out here.”
“We’re good, and I’m sure Paige is wondering where the fuck we went to.” I loop my arm in his, and we walk back inside the bar together.
I’m woken way too early the following morning by boisterous knocking on my door.
“Who the fuck is that?” Callan complains in a sleep-heavy voice.
“Maybe Paige forgot her key or something,” I say over a yawn, but it’s unusual for her to come back this early on a Sunday.
Tonya works full-time at the bar, and it comes with a small studio apartment over the premises. Paige stays there most weekends, meaning Callan and I have the dorm all to ourselves. It’s a bit of a squish in the bed, but it’s an excuse to go to sleep all tangled up together.
“I’m coming,” I call out when more knocking ensues.
Picking my way over the discarded clothing on the floor, I grin to myself as I remember last night.
We barely made it to the bed before I was impaled on Callan’s cock.
Catching up on lost time this week, we went a few rounds, falling into an exhausted sleep in the early hours of the morning.
Grabbing my fluffy robe from the back of the bathroom door, I tie it around my waist and head to the door. When I open it, I’m surprised to find Scott outside. “Scott. What are you doing here?”
Scott winces when he glances over my head, spotting Callan. “I’m sorry to interrupt. I shouldn’t have come so early, but I didn’t know where else to turn.”
Dark circles underline his eyes, and it looks like he hasn’t shaved in days.
If I had to guess, he didn’t get much sleep before he hopped in his car and drove the almost three-hour journey from the University of Vermont to here.
The poor guy looks exhausted and heartbroken, and I hurt for him.
He’s bent over backward for Gwen, and what she’s doing now is not fair.
If she’s not into him anymore, she should just make it a clean break for his sake as much as her own. “I’m assuming this is about Gwen?”
He nods. “I really need to speak to you.”
“What’s going on?”
I whip my head around at the sound of Callan’s voice just behind me. He’s wearing a bed sheet, gripping it at the waist to hold it up.
“I’m sorry to butt into your personal time, man, but I need to talk to Astrid.”
Callan purses his lips before slowly nodding.
His gaze swings to mine, and he pins me with a pointed look.
I know he wants me to tell him to go, so we can have more sexy time in bed, but he’s leaving the decision up to me.
Another few rounds with Callan is so fucking tempting, but I can’t turn my back on Scott. Not when he looks so wretched.
“I’ll meet you downstairs in five,” I tell Scott. “We can grab coffee and talk at the coffee shop.”
“Thanks, Astrid. Sorry again, Callan.”
“It’s okay, mate.”
Scott walks off, and I close the door, leaning back against it. “I’m sorry. He looks awful, and I can’t not talk to him.”
Callan palms my face. “Your bleeding heart is part of the reason why I love you. It’s not in your nature to turn anyone down when they need your help.” He cradles me in his arms, and I press my cheek to his bare chest. “It’s fine. Just don’t take too long.”
“You’re the best.” I stretch up on my tiptoes and kiss him gently.
“I’ll bring back breakfast, and we can spend the rest of the day in bed.
” NCAA rules dictate that college athletes must have one day off a week during the season, and I’m grateful for it, as it means Sundays are the one day of the week we get to spend together.
“I hate eating into our private time, but I won’t be long. I promise.”
“Don’t be.” He grabs my ass. “Or I’ll come to the coffee shop and carry you out over my shoulder like a caveman.”
“Don’t tempt a girl with a good time,” I tease, reluctantly easing out of his embrace.
“I’ll try talking to her,” I tell Scott an hour later as we exit the coffee shop.
He poured his heart out to me. Callan was right.
Gwen has cheated on him, and I’m so disappointed in her.
How could she do that to him? It’s mostly the reason why they keep breaking up.
Scott is as worried about her mental health as I am.
He loves her, and he keeps forgiving her because he knows she’s in a bad place.
She’s abusing alcohol and drugs, and it’s so much worse than I realized.
I’m not sure I could be so understanding in his shoes or that anyone else would be, but I adore him for caring about her so much.
“Thanks, Astrid. If anyone can get through to her, it’s you.”
“Don’t get your hopes up too much. I told you how she’s been with me. She might not appreciate the intervention.”
“We’ve got to try though, right?”
“Yes, for sure. I wouldn’t forgive myself if anything happened to her and I hadn’t tried to help.”
“You’re a great friend to her.” Scott pulls me into a hug.
I break our embrace, holding up the takeout bag. “I’d better go before this gets cold.”
“I’m glad you guys are doing good.”
I squeeze his hand. “You and Gwen can find your way back to one another.”
“If she’ll agree to get help, then hopefully. It’s all I want.”
“I didn’t realize the situation was that bad,” Callan says after I’ve updated him in between eating. Sunday is Callan’s cheat day, and I’ve converted him to the wonders of Bennie’s breakfast burritos from a local diner that has become a regular go-to.
“I didn’t either.” I chew my last bite and crumple the paper, tossing it into the trash can under my desk. “I’m not sure how to approach this with her, but I can’t do nothing.”
“I wouldn’t bother contacting her today. She’s likely with Robbie and nursing the mother of all hangovers. Maybe reach out tomorrow and see if she wants to meet up after class? It’s best to try and catch her when she’s sober. Then I think you should just lay it all out and see how she reacts.”
“I was thinking of asking Renee to come with, but I don’t think Gwen would appreciate that.
She might see it as us ganging up on her.
” Renee, Thor, and Travis are all here, while Scott, Nikki, Riley, and Simone are going to school at the University of Vermont.
Lyn is at Texas A&M, but we rarely hear from her anymore, and all suggestions of visiting her over the summer were instantly dismissed.
“I’m worried she’s going down the same path as her mom.” I drain the last of my coffee, and the cup joins the paper in the trash. “What if I can’t get through to her?”
Callan hauls me onto his lap. “She’s not your responsibility, Astrid.” His features soften to match his tone. “All you can do is try. The hard work is up to Gwen.”
I shriek when he throws me over his shoulder and slaps my ass hard. “What are you doing?”
“Giving you a good time.” He stalks toward the bed and tosses me on it. Looming over me, he grabs his junk through his sweatpants as a wicked grin spreads over his mouth. “Now be a good girl and take your clothes off.”