Chapter 48 Callan
CALLAN
“What the fuck?” I blurt as Astrid’s mouth hangs open. This cannot be happening. While I’ve been dreading saying goodbye to my girlfriend, I have been dying to see the back of her annoying best friend. If this is true, I’m going to be seeing a lot of her at work, and I don’t think I can handle it.
“I know. It’s great, isn’t it?” Gwen shrills, grabbing me into a hug and completely misreading the room as usual.
I shuck out of her embrace fast and stare at my girlfriend in complete shock.
“Gwen, what the fuck is going on?” Astrid slides off her stool and crosses her arms. “What do you mean you’re the new social liaison officer. How did this happen?”
Gwen nibbles on her lip. “Don’t be mad, but I saw the job online a couple of weeks ago and applied for it.”
“Why would you do that? What about college?”
Gwen fixes puppy-dog eyes on Astrid. I’ve seen her do this to Astrid before, and it’s calculating.
I’m instantly on guard and primed not to believe a word out of her mouth.
“You know how depressed I’ve been. I told you I’m not liking college, and when you said you were moving here, it got me thinking.
” She links her fingers through Astrid’s.
“I need to change up my life. I didn’t tell you I’d decided to drop out of college because I wanted to have a plan in place first. I know you’ll only worry about me otherwise.
I started applying for any jobs I could do.
This job requires strong social media skills, which is something I have. ”
I won’t deny Gwen is adept at social media because she’s constantly posting about herself online, but surely, the job requires more than that? I wonder if it’s not too late to talk to the HR team and see if they can rescind the offer.
“I got talking to Diego’s wife at the game, and she mentioned her cousin works in HR for the club. She spoke with her and got my application pushed up the list.”
“You didn’t say a word about any of this.” Astrid’s lips pinch, and I’m glad she’s as pissed off about this as me.
“Because I wanted it to be a surprise!” Gwen squeezes a frozen Astrid. “Now we won’t be separated. We’re going to have so much fun in London together.”
Astrid steps away from her friend and rubs her temples. “Gwen, this is a bit much. What about the house and your friends?”
“I’ve put the house up for sale.”
“You did that behind my back too?”
“Jeez, Azzie. You’re acting like I’ve done something wrong. I told you I wanted it to be a surprise! I didn’t know if I could pull it off, and I didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
A bitter laugh rips from my lips. Is she for fucking real?
“You’re acting like you don’t want me here.
” Her lower lip wobbles and tears well in her eyes.
“I thought you’d be excited.” She sniffles, and Astrid’s features soften.
“There is nothing for me back in Vermont, Azzie,” she softly says.
“Everyone in Ryemont thinks I’m shady now.
They all point and whisper whenever I’m around town, and I can’t stand it.
College isn’t for me, and I just need a fresh start in a place where no one is judging me.
The club is offering a great package and fantastic career opportunities.
” Gwen closes the distance between them, grabbing Astrid’s hand again.
“I need this, babe, and you’ll need me too.
Cal will be away a lot, and I can keep you company.
I thought you’d be over the moon.” Silent tears roll down her face.
“If you really hate the idea, I’ll turn the job down and return to the US and try to find something else.
” She sniffles. “Doubt I’ll find anything as great as this, but you’re the only family I’ve got, Azzie, and I don’t want to upset you. If you don’t want this, just say so.”
Astrid looks conflicted, but I’m guessing that’s the point. I already know what my bleeding heart is going to say before the words leave her lips. “I’m just in shock, but of course, you shouldn’t turn it down. It sounds like an incredible opportunity.”
Gwen’s face brightens. “Do you mean it? You’re okay with me moving here?”
Astrid glances at me, and I narrow my eyes, making my feelings abundantly clear.
My girlfriend runs a hand through her hair. “Um, where are you gonna stay? Is the club providing accommodation?”
“No. I’m not important enough for that.” Her gaze swings in my direction, and I turn rigid with apprehension. “I was hoping I could stay here for a few weeks until I can find my own place.”
“No,” I snap because it’s out of the question.
“I promise you won’t even know I’m here.” Gwen turns her doe eyes on me, but I’m not Astrid, and it won’t work on me. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”
I drill a look at my girlfriend. “Can I talk to you in private, please?”
“Please don’t kick me out, Cal. I have nowhere to go, and I can’t afford a hotel until the house sale goes through.” Fresh tears pool in her eyes. “I’ll clean the house, do the laundry, and cook all the meals. I’ll even run errands for you.”
“Astrid,” I clip out, spinning on my heel and stalking toward my bedroom.
As soon as Astrid sets foot in our room, I slam the door shut and grab handfuls of my hair. “Please tell me this is a fucking prank. You’re both pranking me, right?”
Astrid leans back against the door and sighs. “It’s not a prank.”
“She’s not staying here. I’ll be up on a murder charge within twenty-four hours.”
“I’m still in shock.”
“I know she’s your best friend, baby, but I don’t trust her. I don’t trust this at all.”
Astrid pushes off the door. “I know you’re not happy, but don’t start conjuring villainous theories. She has explained her reasoning, and I understand why she’d want to do this. I’m pissed she kept it all a big secret. Springing it on us like this is not cool.”
“I don’t want her here, and I’m not just talking about my place.”
Astrid pulls my hands from my hair. “We don’t get to tell her she can’t move to London.”
“She’s going to ruin everything.”
“No, she’s not.”
“Her job is to work with the players to curate and manage our online content. She’s going to be around a lot, and then she’ll want to hang out with us every night and on the weekends. I’ll never get you alone.”
“I’ll run intervention.” Astrid strokes my arms. “She’ll make new friends and most likely have a new boyfriend within a month. It will be nice to have company at times when you’re away so I don’t feel too lonely.”
“Tamara is going to introduce you to all her friends, and you’ll meet people through work over the summer. You won’t need Gwen.”
Astrid sighs. “I know this isn’t ideal, but—”
A bitter laugh shreds my throat. “This is the very furthest from ideal. Can’t you put her off? If you tell her out straight that we don’t want this, she’ll turn the job down and fuck off back to America.”
“You really want me to do that to her? I know she’s a lot, Callan, but she’s my best friend. I can’t do that to her. Please don’t ask it of me.”
“And if I asked you to choose between her and me?”
“I’d choose you!” Astrid shouts before lowering her voice. “Of course, I’d choose you, but you’re not the kind of guy who would force me to make such a choice, or don’t I know you at all?”
I pull her into my arms and rest my chin on her head. “I won’t make you choose, but I want it noted I don’t like this, and I think it’s a bad idea.”
Astrid rubs soothing circles on my back through my shirt, and we’re both quiet for a few minutes. When her head tips back and she stares deep into my eyes, I know what she’s thinking. “Don’t ask that of me,” I snap. “I can’t stop her from moving to London, but I can stop her from staying here.”
“One week. Just let her stay for one week. I’ll talk to her and ensure she stays out of your way. She’s going to be busy with her new job, and she’ll probably be exhausted every night.”
“No. She can go to a hotel.”
“She doesn’t have money for a hotel.”
“I’ll pay for it.”
“I hate this,” Astrid cries. “I hate that you don’t like my best friend.” She breaks down, sobbing into my shirt, and my resolve wavers with every tear.
“Please, baby. Don’t cry.” I hold her close, hoping I don’t come to regret these words. “She can stay here. For one week. After that, she’s on her own.”
“How’s life?” Dara asks when I answer his call from my car.
“Well, I’ve been parked in the car park of my apartment building for fifteen minutes, trying to pluck up the courage to go upstairs, so you tell me,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Crazy is still living with you?”
Leaning my head back against the headrest, I cleave out a heavy sigh. “Yep. One week has become three, and at this stage, I’m tempted to go rent her a fucking flat myself.”
“I know the rental market is competitive in London, but surely she can find somewhere to live?”
“You’d think, right? She keeps missing out. I asked the housing liaison officer at the club if she’d help, and she’s trying, but she says Gwen’s budget is limited and demand outstrips supply.”
“Can’t Astrid do anything?”
“She’s talking to Gwen about it regularly. Gwen cries and says she’s trying her best, and I come out of it looking like a prick. Astrid and I had a massive row on Monday night, and I’m sick of arguing over Gwen fucking Wright.”
“It’s a shite situation. Maybe you could set her up with one of the single players on the team. If she falls for someone, she can move in with him, and she’s no longer your problem.”
“I would not inflict her on any of my teammates, and she’s told me outright how important the job is to her, and I’m not to do anything to mess it up for her.”
“What’d you say?”
“That I wouldn’t have to do or say anything for her to mess it up.”
Dara cracks up laughing. “Damn, bro. Bet she didn’t like that.”
“She pouted and sniveled and told me I was mean. Then she ratted me out to Astrid, and we got into it on the phone that night. Astrid knows I hate this, but she’s begging me to be patient for a little longer, and I struggle to say no to my girl.”