Chapter 59 Callan
CALLAN
Hurt shuttles through me as Astrid’s words land painfully like a knife plunging straight through my heart.
Beside me, Dave almost chokes on his tongue. His eyes are bugging out of his head as he stares at me. “You had that woman, and you cheated on her?”
“I didn’t,” I grit out, grinding my teeth as familiar frustration builds.
He scratches the back of his head. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s beyond complicated, and the only one who deserves an explanation is Astrid.
” I’ve wanted to explain it to her for so long, but I promised her parents years ago that I’d let it go.
Her being here changes things though. She probably doesn’t care about those unanswered questions anymore, but she has a right to know, and I want to tell her.
I need to tell her. Even if all that happens is closure.
“She’s his fiancée, boss.”
“I’m well aware.” I lean my head back against the wall, still stunned and wondering what the fuck I’m going to do. I’ve already messaged Ma to keep Darcy tonight and told Travis we have a problem and I need to stop by his place later to discuss it.
I straighten up as the door opens and Astrid walks back inside alone. Fuck me. She’s so fucking sexy with curves she didn’t have the last time we were together. Every time I look at her, I’m remembering so many good times, and it’s killing me all over again.
I’ve never gotten over losing her.
I know I never will.
My fingers are twitching with the need to touch her because they haven’t gotten the memo that she’s no longer mine. She’s his. He drilled that point home, and it’s obvious he knows who I am.
“Could we talk in private?” I ask, pushing off the wall.
“No.” She cuts me down to size with a look that accompanies her sharp tone. “We all have a job to do, so let’s do it.”
I don’t push her, understanding how difficult this must be, and she’s right that we need to keep things strictly professional at work.
We spend another couple of hours walking the rest of the hotel, and I hang back, answering a few questions but mostly quietly observing as she speaks passionately about the signature design she’s created for the communal areas.
Confidence bleeds from her tone, and her face comes fully alive as she’s talking.
I’m happy she’s living her dream and pursuing her passion.
At least one of us got to do that, and I’m glad it was her.
It makes the things I had to do more bearable.
“If that’s all for tonight, I’ll head home,” Dave says, dragging me out of my head. He’s leaning against the old front desk in the lobby, facing Astrid. “It’s my wife’s sixtieth birthday tonight, and I’m taking her to a new steak restaurant in town.”
“It sounds like she’s a lucky woman.” Astrid smiles affectionately at him, and I’m glad they seem to have hit it off. “Have an enjoyable night, and I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early.”
“The same to you, Astrid.” He tips his head in my direction. “Night, boss. Reva says thanks again for the flowers.”
“It’s my pleasure. Have a good night.”
Astrid ignores me as she gathers up her things. I wait for Dave to disappear through the front doors before I clear my throat. “Could we talk now?” I softly ask, walking slowly toward her.
“Unless it’s work-related, there is nothing we need to talk about.” Her voice lacks all warmth, and she won’t even look at me.
“We both know that’s not true.”
She closes her briefcase before turning to me. Fire dances in her eyes, and she’s rolling her jaw like she’s biting and grinding her teeth. “Nothing has changed between us, Callan, just because we’re now forced to work together.”
“You need to know the truth.” I stand in front of her, letting everything show on my face.
“I already know the truth.”
“You don’t.”
“Whose fault is that? I tried talking to you, but you blocked me and then shut me down in the cruelest way.”
“I had no choice, Astrid. Everything I did was to protect you.”
She barks out a laugh. “Right, sure.” She shakes her head. “It doesn’t even matter now. I don’t care what the truth is. I have fought too hard to restore my self-worth after you shit all over it, and I have zero desire to revisit anything to do with the past. Just let it go.”
She turns to move, and I briefly touch her arm to stall her.
Delicious tremors shoot up my arm from the flesh-on-flesh contact, confirming our spark is still alive.
I’m not surprised. Our chemistry was electric, and it’s not like our love died.
It was forcefully terminated due to circumstances.
I’m not a fool. I know she loves him. She wouldn’t agree to marry him otherwise.
And she hates me. Of that, I’m sure. I am under no illusion.
She doesn’t love me anymore, and I don’t blame her for it. She had no other choice.
“Don’t touch me.”
“I’m sorry.” I shove my hands in my pockets to avoid the temptation. “That was out of order, but please, Astrid, just give me a few minutes of your time. There are things you need to know.”
“It’s ancient history, Callan.” She wraps her arms around herself. “It’s better for everyone if we leave the past in the past. We have to work together, and I don’t want to make it awkward for our colleagues. We’ve both moved on. Just tell that backstabbing bitch to stay the hell away from me.”
She still believes I’m with Gwen? “I can’t.
We’re not together. We never were. I haven’t seen Gwen since Darcy was one, and I found a way to get rid of her from our lives.
” Shock splays across her face, and I forge on while I seem to have claimed her attention.
“You don’t need to worry about her. She’s in jail in L.A. She can’t hurt you anymore.”
She audibly gulps. “In jail for what?”
“Drug trafficking and running a prostitution ring.”
Shock registers on her face again before she laughs. “Well, if that isn’t karma, I don’t know what is. I hope they lock her up for life and throw away the key.”
“They will if I have any say in it.” It’s been on my mind because she’s due for parole in five years, and I want to find a way to keep her behind bars indefinitely. Keeping her away from Darcy forever is the goal.
She chews on the corner of her mouth, and I see the debate raging in her eyes.
“Ask me.” I run a hand through my hair. “Whatever it is, you can ask me.”
“Why aren’t you playing football, Callan?”
“I had a career-ending injury after a tackle went wrong. The sum of my professional football career was the eighteen months I played for Thamesford.”
Sympathy softens her features for a split second before she disguises it. Her mouth opens and closes, but she doesn’t say anything. She just stares at me.
“It was widely reported in the media. I was sure you’d have known.”
“Why would you think I’d want to see anything written about you?
You took a machete to my heart, and the only way I could protect myself was to pretend you were dead.
I know nothing about your life, Callan, and that’s the way I want it to stay.
” She lifts her shoulders and grabs her briefcase from the counter.
“I think it’s fair to say karma caught up to you too. ”
That hurts, but I’m guessing that’s the intention.
“Please let me tell you everything.”
“No.” Steel glints in her gaze as she stares at me. “That’s as much as I needed to know. We’re not stupid kids anymore. We’re adults now, and we need to keep things strictly professional. If you don’t want to lose this contract, you’ll forget we ever shared a past.”
I arch a brow. “Are you threatening me?”
“I’m not the one you have to worry about.”
Her heels click on the marble floor as she walks off, and I watch her leave, wondering if any of the girl I knew exists in the woman she is today.
When I exit the hotel, I find Astrid standing outside, looking around and nibbling on her lip. I can guess the issue. “I can give you a lift if you need one.”
She snorts. “As if.” She pulls out her cell. “I’ll call an Uber.”
I chuckle. “You’ve spent too long in the city. You don’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of getting an Uber this time of night. Not without a long wait. There aren’t many cars that service this area.”
I click my fob to unlock my Range Rover. “My car is right there.” I point to where it’s parked. “I’ll drop you home. It’s no bother.”
“I’m not getting in a car with you.”
“I promise I won’t say a word. I’m sure you’re tired, and your fiancé wouldn’t want you hanging around waiting for an Uber.”
“Seán organized a car, but it hasn’t shown up, and I don’t want to bug him when he’s dealing with an accident on-site.”
“So, let me drive you home.”
“Trust me, my fiancé would not want me accepting a ride from you.” She snatches her briefcase. “I’ll walk.”
“Astrid, stop being so pigheaded. You’re wearing heels, and we’re miles outside of town.” I don’t know where she’s staying, but there are only a handful of houses in this vicinity, and I’m pretty sure none of them are rentals.
“News flash, Irish. Women can walk in high heels!” She storms off to prove her point, and I chase after her.
“Astrid, come on. It’s dark out, and it’s not safe.” I keep pace with her strides. “Surely your fiancé would prefer you to get home safely even if it is in my car.”
She slams to a halt. “I’m not your responsibility, Hunt.” She jabs her finger in my chest. “Go away and leave me alone.”
“You just said we were adults. Me driving you home means nothing.”
“Goodbye, Callan!” She strides down the driveway, and I shake my head. Still fiercely independent and stubborn. Perhaps there is more of the girl I knew in the woman after all.
I trail Astrid along the driveway in my car.
I don’t give a fuck what she says. I’m not driving off and leaving her alone until I know she’s safe.
I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.
I have my window down and the radio on low, fighting a relentless stream of memories as they surge to the forefront of my mind.
Seeing her again has opened the floodgates.
Remembering a time when I was blissfully happy and so in love is bittersweet.
If I could go back, there are so many things I would do differently.
The usual conflicting thoughts twist in my gut because, if things were different, Darcy would not exist, and I can’t imagine a world without my daughter in it.
Didn’t think I’d have to imagine a world without the love of my life either, but those are the cards fate dealt me.
“Just stop this!” She finally snaps, stalking over to my car with a face like thunder. She’s looking a little hot and bothered under her expensive skirt suit, and her feet have got to be killing her, yet we’re only halfway down the winding driveway.
I put the car in park and look at her. “Get in the fucking car, Astrid. I won’t touch you or speak to you. I’ll just drive you home, and then you can curse me out as much as you like. But if you think I’m driving away and leaving you like this, you clearly never knew me.”
“I already know that, jackass.”
My lips twitch. “You’re not acting very adult-like.”
“Insulting me is hardly mature.”
I cleave out a sigh. “Please, Astrid. Please, just get in the car so I can ensure you get home safe. I have no ulterior motive. I swear.”
“Fuck off.” She turns around and stomps off, and I sigh.
I start the engine and resume trailing her.
Ten minutes later, when she almost takes a tumble over a patch of gravel, I decide that’s it.
I’m debating getting out and tossing her over my shoulder when a crack of thunder rumbles overhead.
She lifts her head as I pull up to the curb and kill the engine.
I get out of the car and stand in front of her.
“Come on, stubborn. Just get in.” I expect more protesting, but it seems she’s run out of steam.
Astrid remains silent as I open the passenger door, waiting for her to situate herself before I take her briefcase.
“I’ll put it in the back,” I confirm before closing her door.
Rain falls in thick sheets as I deposit her briefcase on the back seat and run around to the driver’s side.
Wet splotches decorate my white shirt as I slide behind the wheel, close my window, and drive off.