Chapter 45 Astrid
ASTRID
“Don’t cry, baby.” Callan stops moving inside me to brush aside the silent tears rolling down my cheeks.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m just going to miss you so much.”
I’m being ridiculous because I will see him in six weeks for spring break, and then ten weeks later, I’ll be moving to London permanently.
My college applications are submitted, and I should hear back in a couple of months.
I just applied to the top three colleges on the advice of my adviser in the international office because she’s sure I won’t have a problem getting into one of them.
“The separation will go fast, and then we have the rest of our lives together.” Callan pulls out and thrusts back in slowly.
Pleasure flows through my limbs, and a whimper leaves my lips as I writhe on the bed. “I can’t wait,” I rasp, tightening my legs around his waist as he makes slow love to me.
We kiss and whisper loving words as we glide against one another, neither of us in a rush. My hands roam his muscular shoulders and back as he lowers his head, sucking my nipple into his mouth.
I close my eyes, focusing on my other senses, immersing myself in the moment, and pushing my lingering sadness away.
Committing the feel of his warm, smooth skin underneath my fingertips to my memory bank.
Cataloging the little grunts he makes when he pushes in deeper.
Inhaling the spicy, citrusy notes of his cologne every time he buries his face in my neck.
Memorizing the way his lips leave a fiery trail across my bare flesh as they travel a map of my body.
Hugging his cock with my inner muscles as he plunges in and out of my body, driving me wild with desire.
After, we lie wrapped around one another, the plush hotel sheets tangled between our limbs.
My head rests on his chest, and I’m soothed listening to the steady beats of his heart.
Callan weaves his fingers through my hair as music plays softly in the background.
I never want to get out of this bed, and I don’t want to go to sleep because when I wake it’ll be time to say goodbye to my man, and I’m not ready for it.
“You doing okay, beautiful?” He gently tips my chin up.
“Yes.” I sweep my fingers back and forth across his smooth jawline.
He shaved and got a haircut ahead of the press conference in a couple of days.
I had gotten used to the stylish layer of stubble he’s been sporting since the summer, but I love this look on him too.
Callan is so gorgeous he can get away with any look.
I prop up on one elbow, and waves of messy hair tumble around my shoulders.
“Thank you for today, tonight.” I glance around the hotel suite.
“For dinner and this. You have made it truly special.”
“I wanted it to be special.” He trails his fingers across my collarbone, igniting a flurry of shivers in his wake.
“Another memory for our collection book.” Leaning in, he feathers his lips across the swell of my breasts, and I throw my head back, moaning as renewed need flows through my veins.
“I’m not done with you, beautiful.” He tweaks my nipple, and my eyes pop open.
“I need more. Enough to keep me going until we can be together again.”
Pushing him down flat on his back, I climb over his body and straddle his hips, grinding against his cock as it hardens.
“It’s like you read my mind, soccer star.
” I rock back and forth against his erection before lifting and slowly lowering onto his shaft.
“Imprint yourself on me body, heart, and soul, Callan. Fill me up so I don’t miss you too much. ”
“No way did you buy this for me.” I stare at the brand-new black X3 parked outside my house with my eyes almost bugging out of my head.
“It’s yours.” Callan smirks as he opens my hand and drops the keys in my palm. Both our parents are hovering in the doorway of my house, watching this go down with matching smiles.
“Callan, this is too much. You don’t have to buy me expensive things.”
“Babe.” His arms snake around my waist and he pulls me in flush against his hard body. “You’re my girl, and I’ll spoil you if I like. You know I got a big signing-on fee, and you need a more reliable car to get to and from college. I won’t worry so much if I know you’re driving this.”
“My car only broke down twice.”
“In the space of seven weeks,” he reminds me, arching a brow. “Just say thank you and kiss me.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”
“But you love me, right?”
“Eternally,” I say before I squeal, fling my arms around him, and dot kisses across his handsome face.
Our families join us as I check out my new car, and after making tearful goodbyes, we set off for the airport. “Poor Roni.” I glance back at his mom through the mirror as I drive my new BMW for the first time. “She’s still crying.”
“She’s been a basket case since all this started, but I know it’s ’cause she’ll miss me and she worries about me being all by myself at nineteen in big bad London.” He chuckles, and I whack him in the chest.
“You’re lucky you have a family who loves you enough to worry.
” If Gwen’d had that, maybe she wouldn’t have fallen off the rails.
At least she seems to be on the right track now.
She is attending an outpatient rehab clinic around her classes, ditched the booze and stopped taking drugs, and she’s back with Scott, remorseful and grateful he’s so forgiving.
I’m glad my talk with her helped to steer her along the right path.
“I’m only joking. I promised I’d call or message every day.”
“It’ll be challenging with the time difference.”
He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my fingers. “I’ll find the time.”
After parking my car, we walk hand in hand into the terminal, and I stay with him while he drops off his bags.
When we reach security, Callan pulls me off to one side and kisses me passionately.
I cling to him, willing myself to be brave so I don’t break down and embarrass myself and him in public.
Separations are a normal part of life with a footballer, and I have to get used to them.
Callan is insisting I drop the soccer references because he’s playing football in England and he’s a footballer, not a soccer player. His words, not mine. But if it makes him happy, I’ll go with the flow.
“I love you,” he whispers across my lips, holding my face in his hands like I’m a precious treasure. “I love you so much.” He plants his lips on mine again.
“I love you too.” I pant when our lips part.
“You’d better go.” He’s cutting it close as it is.
“Message me when you’re boarding and when you land, and send me pics of your apartment.
” The club has organized a two-bed apartment for him close to Riverside Arena, the stadium where he’ll play home games, and the training center, where all practice sessions will take place.
It’s in an affluent part of the city, close to the Thames and not too far from Central London.
“Yes, boss.” He waggles his brows. “Message me when you get back to campus.”
I’m going straight from the airport to college after we say our goodbyes. “Good luck, babe. I’ll be watching on Friday and rooting for you.” He’s confessed he’s excited but nervous, and I hope it all goes okay for him. I’m sure it will. The club has massive resources on hand to help him settle in.
He kisses me one final time before dipping down to grab his backpack. “This feels surreal. I still can’t believe it.”
I cup his beautiful face. “Believe it, babe, because it’s happening. You’re living your dream. Lots of little boys’ dreams. You were born to do this, and you’re going to be amazing.”
“Fuck.” He drops his bag, lifts me up, and kisses me again. “I hate leaving you behind.”
“It’s only temporary,” I remind him as he lowers my feet to the ground.
“I’m there with you in spirit. Your biggest cheerleader, shouting for you from the sidelines.
” I wrap my arms around him, squeezing my eyes shut and relishing the feel of him against me, before I let him go.
“Go, baby. Go do your thing, and I’ll do mine.
We’ll talk soon, and I’ll see you in a few weeks. ”
“Love you.” He presses a lingering kiss to my forehead, swipes his bag, and then strides off through security, carrying the entirety of my heart with him.
“Woo-hoo!” Gwen barrels through the door of my dorm carrying a large pizza, a bottle of bubbly, and a stack of plastic glasses. “We’ve got to celebrate. Your man is famous, and you are too!” She slides the pizza box on top of my desk and flops down on my bed with the bottle and the glasses.
“You do know it’s only lunchtime? And one TikTok does not make me famous. Besides, I really wish that girl hadn’t posted it.” Some college student and her boyfriend spotted Callan and me at BTV and secretly filmed us kissing. Unfortunately, it’s gone viral, and I’m publicly outed as his girlfriend.
“Oh, come on. I know you secretly love it.”
Eh, nope. I really don’t.
“I didn’t know you were stopping by.” I switch the subject on purpose.
Paige hasn’t stopped scowling since she opened the door to Gwen, and tension tightens my shoulders into knots.
We were all together at the sports bar Tonya works at this morning to watch the press conference, but I made my exit shortly after, wanting to speak to Callan in private.
Paige came with me as she has a big assignment due Monday, and Gwen stopping by unannounced is not ideal.
But I don’t want to discourage her because she’s talking to me again, and she needs me.
It sucks when your two best friends don’t like one another.
“The press conference was a couple of hours ago. I presume you’ve already spoken with Callan,” Gwen says, removing two plastic cups from her stack and placing them on my bedstand.