Chapter 28 - Zandra
TWENTY-EIGHT
Zandra
If you were really mine.
I couldn’t believe Callum had said that to me, then continued to saunter inside the brewery to meet the others like he hadn’t just opened up my ribcage. My heart was out of control. Something wild and hopeful unfurled its wings in my stomach.
How was I supposed to act normal around his family when the man had just said a thing like that?
He stopped as he held the door open, looking back at me. “Dane and Grace are here. Come on. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
I hurried to follow him.
The brewery was housed in a typical mountain-style building, but the interior had been renovated to be slick and modern. “Wow,” I said, glancing around and trying to steady my nerves. “This is impressive.”
“It is.” Callum’s hand found the small of my back as we walked deeper into the space. “But not as great as Hearthstone.”
“Definitely nothing compared to Hearthstone.”
Dane and Grace were already standing at the counter to order. They turned as we approached, and Grace’s face lit up with such genuine warmth that some of the tension in my chest eased.
“Zandra!” she said. “I’m so glad you could come. We’ve been dying to officially meet you.”
“Uh oh. What’s Callum been saying about me?”
“Only good things,” he murmured in my ear, “since you stopped hating me.” Callum was so close behind me that his chest brushed my back, and I felt his hand resting on my hip. And of course, Grace’s eyes tracked that immediately, widening slightly.
“He told us you’re running Hearthstone together,” Dane said, leaning against the counter. “That’s got to be interesting, working with this guy.”
“It has its moments. Though he’s actually not as impossible as he pretends to be.”
“Hey,” Callum protested before kissing the side of my face.
Okay. So we were diving right into the together stuff. He’d said he wasn’t hiding this—us—from his family, and Callum was being true to his word. He could’ve given me a bit more warning though.
Dane and Grace exchanged a curious glance. There was a definite sense of awkwardness, like they weren’t totally sure if I was with him with him. Made sense, since Callum had never even had a girlfriend before. I hardly knew what I was doing with him either. Or where this was going.
Yet I also realized how much I wanted them to like me.
Dane pointed at us. “What can I get you two?”
“You’re buying?” Callum asked.
“Unless you annoy me too much,” Dane shot back, but it was obvious he didn’t mean it. Dane handed me a menu. “Have you been here before?”
“No, this is my first time. Haven’t been to Pine Creek in years, and I had no idea they’d opened a gluten-free brewery.”
“Well then, you need the full experience. Grace and I just ordered a tasting flight.”
“That sounds perfect.”
While Dane and I chatted and waited for the beers, Callum stepped a couple feet away to murmur with his sister, and that just got my nerves going again. My heart kept thumping as I repeated the words Callum had said.
I’m trying to show you how great things could be.
It meant a lot that he was introducing me to his family. He’d told me plenty of times how important they were in his life. Knowing he wanted me to be a part of that made me happier than I could say.
But I’d been part of a group of friends in Chicago too. Until I broke up with Ian, and they all scattered.
“Have you thought about what I texted you the other day?” Grace said under her breath. “He would love to talk. If you’re willing.”
I glanced briefly over my shoulder and saw Callum’s expression change, his easy smile vanishing.
The server behind the counter handed me my tasting flight, and I turned back toward Callum and Grace, trying to look like I hadn’t been eavesdropping. I caught the tail end of what Callum was saying.
“I don’t know, G. I’ll think about it.”
“You’ll think about what?” I asked.
Callum’s smile returned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “About getting the next round if Dane can resist talking about Manhattan or Rolexes for a whole ten minutes.”
But nobody laughed. Dane gave Callum a skeptical look as he and Grace headed toward a table with their tasting paddle. I could practically feel the weight of the conversation I’d interrupted.
“Seems like that was about more than who should buy the next round of beers,” I said quietly.
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Apparently, everything’s going to be later.”
Callum tilted his head, a silent admission that yeah, I was right. His hand cupped the back of my neck as he kissed my cheek. “Forgive me?”
“Nothing to forgive. I’m not mad.” I leaned into his touch. “But you’ve been there for me with all my family stuff. I’m here for you too.”
“Thank you, baby,” he whispered against my temple, and the answering thump of my heart seemed to fill the whole room. I was still anxious about today, but I wanted so much to be here. With him.
It was terrifying.
Within a few minutes, Ashford had arrived with his wife Emma and daughter Maisie, followed by Piper and her son Ollie.
There was suddenly a lot of energy in the room.
When Emma said she’d brought her dog Stella, everyone jumped up, grabbing pints and tasting paddles, then headed outside to the brewery’s patio. There was a grassy area just beyond, with lawn games set up. Maisie and Ollie ran out to play.
At the new table, Callum wrapped his arm around my shoulders again. Like we were just as much a couple as Emma and Ashford or Dane and Grace.
It was obvious he had no idea how much I was freaking the hell out inside.
Luckily, Stella and the kids provided something else to focus on. Stella came over, all friendly, wanting to give me a sniff and a greeting. But that didn’t last long. She backed away, dashing off to visit Grace instead.
“Sorry,” Emma said, leaning her elbow on the table. “I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”
“Stella probably smells my cat on me. Chloe.”
Callum planted yet another kiss on me, then said, “Stella will warm up to you in no time. It’s impossible for her not to make friends.”
“Sounds like someone else we know,” Emma said. “You and Stella have a lot in common, Callum.”
I snapped my fingers. “Stole the words right out of my mouth.”
Emma laughed, but Callum was unruffled. “If either of you ladies think I’m going to take offense at that, you’re wrong. Uh oh. Looks like Stella’s running off with the cornhole beanbags.”
Emma jumped up, but that just made Stella run circles even faster.
“Are you going to rescue them?” I asked. “Seems like a job for a firefighter. Running headlong into the thick of danger.” Also, I’d get to admire his butt in his jeans when he bent over.
“Will you survive without me?”
“I’ll manage somehow.”
Callum aimed his dazzling grin at me and jogged over to rescue a beanbag from Stella’s jaws.
I really had to get my heartbeat under control, because this could not be healthy.
A soft chuckle came from across the table.
Like me, Ashford was watching the antics.
Maisie and Ollie dissolved into giggles as Callum wrestled the bright-red beanbag away from Stella.
He tossed it back toward the cornhole boards, then scooped up Maisie and spun her around, making her shriek with laughter.
“Maisie’s cute,” I said.
Ashford grunted in the affirmative. “Thanks. Growing up faster than I’m ready for.”
“I hear kids do that.”
He glanced over at me. “She loves her Uncle Callum. My brother’s a kid at heart sometimes. Probably explains why he has so little filter when he’s talking.”
“That aspect of Callum’s personality is growing on me. He usually lets me know where I stand. Or more often, tells me.”
Ashford laughed again, giving me a wry look from the corner of his eye. “You’re pretty blunt too, from what I hear. You didn’t make any secret of how you didn’t like my brother. Believe me, he was obsessing over it.”
“That changed once I got to know him.”
“Funny how that happens.” Ashford looked over at his wife. Then he shifted around in his seat. “Uh, I have a confession.”
“Oh?”
“When Callum said he wasn’t getting along with you at work, I may have told him to get rid of you. Just by reminding you of how small-town life isn’t always the idyllic stereotype, that’s all,” he rushed to add.
“Wow.” At least the guy was being honest. Also, it was kind of funny, since I would’ve loved to get rid of Callum at that point too. “That’s cold, O’Neal.”
“But clearly I was wrong.” Ashford side-eyed me again. “Callum might drive me nuts sometimes, but he’s really fucking loyal. In case you had any doubts.”
After a while, Ashford got up and went to join the game, and Piper slid back into her seat beside me. “Having a good time?” she asked.
“I am,” I said with a sigh. “Mostly.”
“Oh, no! What happened? Who do I need to lecture about politeness, and does his name rhyme with Smashford?”
“No, the opposite. Ashford was really kind.”
“Phew, that’s a relief.”
I knew Piper already from Silver Linings. My addiction to pistachio lattes had been an easy way to start up a conversation with her on my first few visits to the coffee shop with Callum.
Piper could be intimidating, what with her height and gorgeous looks, but she was one of the most welcoming people I’d ever encountered. Which was a perfect fit for the fact that she owned a cozy coffee shop.
But she still felt like Callum’s friend, not mine. He’d told me she was like a sister to him.
She sipped her half-empty glass of beer.
“I’ve been wanting to get to know you better, so I’m thrilled Callum brought you today.
But I have to admit, we were all a little surprised at him having a plus one.
Well, I wasn’t that surprised. Because it’s so stinking obvious whenever you come into Silver Linings how much Callum likes you. ” She bumped her shoulder into mine.
I traced the edge of one of my taster glasses. “I like him too.”
“Okay, I’m not trying to pry, but I might perish of curiosity if it don’t find out whether you two are dating.”