22. Callum
Okay, quick update. I loved drunk Ivy. She had no filter and giggled a lot. She told me how her biggest fear was a snake coming out of the toilet while she was on it. Weird, but now I knew. It was good intel on my future wife. I wanted to know her fears, dreams, hopes, and wishes. I also learned that she refused to send important emails on her phone out of fear she’d include a dumb photo. That I understood a little. I had photos that if they ever got out I’d never recover from the damage.
She also had strong opinions on her neighbor’s doormats. I stanned a strong woman with an opinion. Who was I to argue with her?
She hummed to herself while drunk too. It was horribly off-key and held no rhythm, yet I couldn’t stop smiling as she swayed her trim hips. Again, no rhythm.
Yet she rode you with rhythm.
Yeah, she did!
I shut off the voice and appreciated how she crawled onto her bed with a little sigh. Would this ever get old? Probably, but I couldn’t see that happening for years. Every sound or small expression made me want to keep her forever.
Ivy changed into little cotton shorts and a bright orange tank top with a football on it. Her tattoo peeked out as her thin shorts slid down her thighs, and her hair was down. She sat crisscrossed on top of her bed and patted the spot next to her as she took a bite of pretzel. “Sit. Sit by me.”
“With food? In your bed?” I arched a brow. “A guy has standards.”
“Yes in my bed. Are you still a neat freak about beds?”
“I don’t like to mix my snacks with my sleep. Just a rule. Probably stems from my mom being obsessive about cleaning. Which, we later found out, was working out stress from my dad. But that’s cool. No need to dive into that today.”
“We can dissect that later. I love a middle-of-the-night trauma dump.” She leaned against her wall and closed her eyes, her glasses sliding down her nose. Her face turned serious, and I tensed.
I never knew what the hell she was gonna say, but a furrowed brow look meant business.
“You know I don’t care about your past right? You became so tense.” She opened her moss-colored eyes and smiled. “If anything, your scandalous past has really benefited me.”
I tilted my head. “How is that?”
“You’re very talented.”
“That’s all you.” I leaned onto the bed, kissing her neck before nipping her ear. “Thank you for saying that. I can’t change my past, but I can change my future, and that’s all you.”
She shuddered, and I breathed in the sweet scent of her skin. Jasmine, vanilla, and coffee. “It makes me feel so weird when you talk about high school and have different viewpoints of everything. When you shared that at the bar…it changes things.”
“What does it change?” I slid next to her and discreetly brushed the pretzel crumbs off the sheet. She fell against me so her head rested in my lap.
“Are you sure you’re okay being here? I have so many questions.” She smiled to herself, her eyes closing as she hugged my thigh.
I did what I thought about a million times. I ran my fingers through her hair. It was strange to live out a fantasy, for it to be better than a dream. “Ask your questions, woman.”
“Why did you like me as kid?”
“Same reason I do now.” I fought a smile. “You have this ability to make people feel important and like they matter and not in a hollow way. As a kid who charmed his way through life, had three sisters and a mom, I was always babied. Life was easy for me. I can admit that and not be ashamed. I’m lucky. But nothing, not a thing, made me feel more like I was invincible than you smiling at me or you knowing what I’d need after a bad game. Everyone wanted a piece of me except you. You with your glasses and fierce attitude and grit. I wanted to be better to impress you.”
She sighed, a deep contented hum leaving her chest. “That was nice. I always wondered. I gravitated toward you because you were so authentically yourself. I love that so much about you. You’re just… you. It’s inspiring. I always felt like I couldn’t be my real self because showing weakness of any kind was a no-no. I couldn’t talk about my injury or how it changed my path. And you are so loud and charismatic and kind and can talk to a stranger without worrying about what they think.”
She made me feel like I could fly. Even now. But she didn’t give me a chance to respond before she opened her eyes. “Callum. Do you remember the bet we made at fourteen?”
Drunk Ivy was like a puppy. Changed topics as fast as she blinked. “Ah, no. I love a good bet, but I don’t. I’m assuming you do.”
She bolted up, eyes wide, and grinned at me and shook my arm. “We made a pact that when we were seniors in college, we’d go back to visit during homecoming and check out our old places. Oh my gosh. We have to go. We must!”
Flashes of our childhood hit me.
The top bleachers.
The trail behind the high school that led to a lake.
The drive-in.
The corn fields and silos.
The movie theater parking lot where we’d watch storms roll in.
The 24-hour diner.
I avoided all those spots the last three years because it was heartbreaking. Because Ivy wasn’t there.
“We could do a day trip! Hit the top five places, heck, maybe even visit our old teachers.” She adjusted her glasses and grinned at me, but her smile fell. “You hateit. We don’t go. Silly, silly idea.”
“Hold up, girl.” I cupped her face. “I didn’t say any of that.”
“Your face did!”
“My face sometimes expresses things that aren’t true. It’s a character flaw.”
“You were frowning. I know your frowns, O’Toole.” She poked the spot between my eyebrows. “You despise the idea.”
“Ivy Lee, you gonna let me explain?”
She nodded as she crawled into my lap. I liked her there. I’d prefer she lived there to be honest. “I kinda wanna kiss you.”
She weaved her hands in my hair and leaned forward, brushing her soft lips against mine. Every time she initiated something with me, I felt like a million bucks. She tasted like beer and cherry lip stuff, and I deepened the kiss, sliding my tongue into her mouth.
I wanted to kiss the hell out of her, but she’d drunk too much, and that was a no for me. “Baby.” I stilled her, getting a little groan from her. “You drink the water I left for you?”
“Nope. Didn’t wanna.” She leaned against me, sliding down my chest until she lay completely flat against me. “You are the best pillow. I thought you’d be too hard cause you’re all muscles, but no, you’re warm and soft and safe and comfy. Can I sleep on you?”
“Yes.” My lips twitched. “Having your body all over me is such a hardship.”
She squeezed me as I lay onto my back. We were plastered together, our legs intertwined, and I couldn’t imagine a better moment in my life.
“Thanks for staying with me tonight.”
“I’m gonna make you drink water in a bit. I won’t be nice.”
“That’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here.” She snuggled deeper as she yawned. Her breathing deepened. She always used to pass out, and I was jealous. My mind wouldn’t shut the fuck up while Ivy’s was like a light switch. On and off with one second between.
“I’m so close to loving you,” she whispered, her voice groggy between awake and sleep. “Almost there. Still a little afraid.”
“That’s okay,” I said, kissing her forehead. I wasn’t sure if she heard me or meant to say anything in her almost-dream state, but her words replayed in my mind, this time taking root. It didn’t matter that she was a little drunk. The truth came out.
She was still a little afraid of me. Not in a physical way but to protect her heart. I fucking hated hearing that, but I wasn’t a quitter.
That meant I had more work to do, and fuck, I’d do it.
“Hi, yes this is Ivy.”
I woke to my girl’s voice too far away from me. Opening one eye, I found her on the other side of the room, pacing with her phone to her ear. It was barely eight am. Why was she up? She didn’t have class.
Yeah, I knew her class schedule. I memorized it by accident.
It’s not creepy. It’s romantic.
Only a creep would say that.
I shook the voices out and stretched, trying to decipher her mood. Her tone sounded professional. Formal too.
“Yes. Oh, absolutely. That would be wonderful. Thank you for the opportunity. Sure, yes, will do. Thank you.”
She ended the call and stared at me with wide eyes. “Oh my god! Callum!”
“What is it?” My pulse raced at every possibility.
She was interning at a new team…. She was leaving the school… okay, stop assuming the fucking worst. She’s so happy. Be happy for her!
“Callum! The internship coordinator for the Chicago Panthers is going to call me! To interview me! Oh my god!”
“Hell yes, baby.” I jumped from the bed and pulled her into my arms. “This is what you want, yeah?”
“Yes.” She sniffed. “I have to tell Esme! And Abe! And her brother!”
Mm, don’t love that list.
“Esme!” Ivy broke out of my embrace and squealed once she left the door. “I have an interview! Ah! For Chicago! It’s happening!”
“Girl!”
She and Esme danced in a circle, and any irritation lingering, unwarranted obviously, left.
This wasn’t about my own insecurities. This was about Ivy. She could get over my past, so I could get over the fact she also had other people in her life that celebrated with her. I snuck a shot of her and Esme, a smile on my lips. They were both so happy.
“Okay, tell me everything. When is it? Is it online or in person? When would it start? Is it AT route?”
“Two weeks, in person. Henry is meeting with him after our next home game for a more formal chat, but they ran into each other at a convention. I just… this is what I worked so hard for.”
Pride filled my chest. She worked her ass of for this, and damn, I was happy for her.
“We’ll practice. Loverboy will help too, eh?”
“Whatever you need, I’m in.” I held up my hands in the air. “I’m yours to boss around.”
“Pretty and smart. You’re making your way off the shit list, Callum.” Esme winked. “Keep it up.”
“Stop. He’s… Esme, he’s being perfect.” Ivy’s face reddened, but her lips did curve up. “He can be off your list.”
“Not yet. Still more things I need to see. Him begging for you, on his knees…”
“I’ve gotten on my knees for Ivy. Just ask her.”
“Hoo boy.” Esme laughed. “I deserved that. Anyway, congrats Ivy. Seriously. Enjoy the moment.”
“I think I will.” Ivy beamed at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before. My best friends in the same room after I get the call I’ve been dreaming of? This is a top five moment.” She closed her eyes and hummed.
I couldn’t stop my face from smiling. Ivy was radiating joy, and I quickly snapped a photo of her like this. Smiling, content, proud. I saw a text from my dad sitting there unanswered, but nothing was gonna pull me from this moment for her. I’d worry about him later, or never.
“I hate to break the top five moment, but my study partner is coming over in five minutes.” Esme winced. “Sorry.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Callum and I will head into my room. Unless you have to leave?”
“Nope.”
She walked back toward me, her lips curving up. “You can stay?”
“I have to show you how proud I am, don’t I? Get on my knees again? You haven’t been drinking this morning, right?” I shut her bedroom door and pushed her against it. Her face had a lingering redness from her blush, and her eyes fucking sparkled with joy. I cupped her chin and pretended to examine her.
“No intoxication?”
She shook her head and grinned wider. “Just drunk on you.”
“Ohhh, cheesy but effective. I love it.” I picked her up and tossed her on the bed. I’d show her without words how much I cared for her and how proud I was. Then, we could get some lunch.
Yeah, I didn’t know how I lived before her. This was the fucking dream. It didn’t even cross my mind that my future was also imbalanced, and I had no idea if I’d be playing football somewhere or not. The idea of not being around her all the time physically hurt me, but I’d worry about that later.
Right now was just about her and us, and that was enough for me.