7. Callum
Callum
“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” — George Burns
I drum my fingers on the steering wheel of my car, eyeing my childhood home with a narrowed gaze. The overflowing flowers of all colors spilling from the flowerboxes along with the ever-growing mint and the million handmade chimes adding an air of innocence and sweetness to the place.
If only …I snort. There are devious, meddling, and supremely cunning minds living behind those yellow walls.
Mom had about seven hours…was that enough time for her to plan my wedding or do I dare hope she was occupied elsewhere and only had time to plan for a mere date?
Sighing for the millionth time, I finally open my door and get out of the car.
I prolonged this for as long as I could as it is, and if I don’t head inside, Mom is definitely going to come looking for me and then it will all be ten times worse.
I can only imagine how hard it’s been for her not to call me the whole day and start the inquisition.
Impeccable showmanship of restrain, Mother.
Because Lily Lovinski would never waste a chance in setting up her kids. Look at my sister! Mother had practically arranged her pairing with Griffin from early on. They think I don’t remember, but I do. I remember them planning Julie’s wedding to Griff when we were, like, eight and ten!
That’s how far gone my family and this whole town is.
It used to never bother me, and sometimes I wish for those days to be back but then I wake up from the nightmare and thank the heavens I’m older, wiser, and more beat up by life to believe in miracles, nonsense, and worst of all…happily ever after.
I’ll just have to endure her questions about Sophie, her broken door, and how many kids we are planning to have for the maximum time of thirty minutes it’ll take me to eat dinner, and that’s it.
Fuck my life. That little menace just had to open her mouth and tell all the worst gossips about last night. I wouldn’t be surprised if Grace, or even my own sister, were posting about it live style onto the Love Hive chat.
Thankfully, Luke didn’t give me too much shit for it after I explained that I was there because of a 911 call and nothing more.
You’d think she was his little sister with the way he glared at me the whole time.
At least she didn’t seem to go into all the details, like the fact that the shape of her ass in those pink panties is permanently imprinted in my head, so I should be thankful for that or else Luke might’ve had my head.
But fucking hell, it was the most perfect ass I’ve ever seen…anddd now I’m walking into my childhood home to greet my mother with a boner.
Perfect. Just perfect.
Trying to think of anything other than the firecracker with no filter on her mouth, I take the wooden steps to the front porch, inhaling the minty air mixed with the salty breeze of the cold ocean behind.
This is how home always smelled to me. That, and Mom’s and Julie’s baked goods.
I pull the front door handle—of course it’s unlocked, despite me asking my parents to lock up—and step inside.
This time the sugar scent is mixed in with savory notes of Mom’s famous bell peppers and Portobello mushroom lasagna.
“Clover, honey, there you are.” My mom’s sweet voice welcomes me as she steps out of the kitchen to greet me. One of her favorite kitchen towels tucked into her apron.
“Mom,” I groan out. “Please don’t.”
“It’s your middle name, Callum, stop being fussy about it.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Seriously, Mom, what were you on when you came up with it?”
“Oh stop, you silly boy.” She laughs, slapping my shoulder playfully. “Come give me a hug.”
She sounds happy, and on any other day I’d be happy she’s happy, but I know better. This is not her normal happy. This is too happy. This is “I know something you don’t” kind of happy and my hackles rise ten times higher.
But I pull her small frame into a hug. Her size is the only thing I didn’t inherit from her. Because the darker blond shade of my hair, the slight curl to it, and the green eyes all came from Mom. “It smells really good in here.”
“Mm-hmm, just like it did yesterday, but you weren’t here to enjoy it.” There. There’s the first slight dig into what happened yesterday with Sophie, because no, I didn’t come home last night.
I spent it on Sophie’s couch that apparently wasn’t colorful enough.
“Sorry, Mom, I had to work.”
“I know, honey.” She pats my face affectionately. “I hope you had some dinner last night,” Mom adds, and I blink, confused for a second.
“Yeah, I did. ”
“Good. Go wash your hands, we’re about ready to eat. Julie and Griffin should be here in a minute or two,” she says, walking back into the kitchen.
Wait, that’s it? She won’t add any other comment about it? I stand there in the entryway, surrounded by Mom’s happy floral wallpaper and our family pictures, not understanding if I’m dreaming or this is just an elaborate set up.
“Callum?” Mom asks when she sees I haven’t moved. “Hands?”
“Uh, yeah, yeah, I’m going.” I start toward the bathroom down the hall.
“Dad’s in the living room,” Mom calls after me, and I nod.
What the fuck is going on? What’s her angle? There’s no way she’d miss that kind of golden opportunity. Dare I hope, she didn’t hear about it yet?
Quickly, I wash my hands and head to find Dad. Now, where I took after Mom, my little sister did after our father with his flaming red hair and insane brains. They are both too smart for their own good, I swear.
But thankfully, none of us took after his clumsiness. The guy could break a vase just by looking at it wrong.
No, we won’t mention my fuck up yesterday. That doesn’t count as clumsy.
There’s a hockey game playing on the TV as I walk inside the room, making me halt in my tracks. The fuck? Since when does Dad watch hockey?
Where is Sophie watching it? The thought enters my mind unbidden. I didn’t have the chance to fix her TV today because the town was going bonkers like usual. At least I was able to swing by with a new door to replace the broken one.
The little menace wasn’t home when I stopped by, probably creating havoc elsewhere, so I just left the keys with Fifi to pass along when she shows up.
“Hey, son.” Dad smiles when he sees me, pulling me into a hug. “How’s it going?” Dean Lovinski is a simple man. Simple, kind, brilliant, and with angelic patience for Mom’s brand of crazy. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him raise his voice or say anything other than “Yes, dear” to her.
“Like it always does in Loverly Cave.”
“Ah.” He chuckles. “They’re keeping you busy.”
“They sure are. Hey, since when are you a fan?” I point to the TV.
“Oh, I just turned it on. Never watched it before.”
Uh-huh…okay…
Is it the same team Sophie was watching last night? I squint at the TV, trying I get a better look at the fast-moving figures on ice.
Damn, they are actually really fast! Is that why she likes it? And why the hell do I still care? Yet I find myself being pulled into the intense game and barely register the new voices coming from the front door. Why the fuck am I watching this shit?
Frowning I walk out of there and a few minutes later Mom, Dad, Julie, me, and that fucker, Griffin are taking our spots at the table.
“Hey, sister stealer,” I greet my best friend, taking in that face-splitting smile he has on when looking at Julie. Secretly, I love them together, but I’ll carry it into the grave.
“Hey, grumpy pants.”
“Wow, so original.” I roll my eyes at him.
“Heard you had fun without me today.”
“Oh yeah. So much fun,” I tell him with zero enthusiasm. "Mind telling me why you didn't offer me your old place? I thought it wasn't available."
"Oh, it was. Just not for you."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I narrow my eyes at him.
"Dude, it's common knowledge that you're not to be rented out to."
"What?" I shout.
"Hey," Griffin raises his arms in surrender. "Don't kill the messenger." He gives me a look like I'm an idiot for not figuring it out sooner, and now I actually feel like one.
"Let me guess…Love Hive?"
"Who else?"
"Fuck my life." I slap a hand over my face, running it down .
“I’m so happy Sophie moved here,” Julie pips up out of nowhere, interrupting us and Griff gives me the look to shut up now. “She’s so sweet and fun!”
“Sophie? That’s Gracie’s friend?” Mom asks, as if she has no clue who Sophie is, and I pause pouring lemonade into my glass.
What the fuck is going on? There’s no way Mom doesn’t know who Sophie is, despite my hopeless hopes.
“Yep,” my sister answers brightly. “She’s also quite brilliant! She’s created a whole new online ordering system for me in half a day.”
Huh…just how many sides are there to this girl? Not that I care?
“You don’t say? That’s wonderful, sweetie,” Mom says with such genuine surprise that I think I must really be dreaming.
And I’d believe it if I didn’t chance a glance at my best friend who mouths to me, What the fuck?
See? Even Griffin who was on shift at the fire station all day knows all about my meeting with the girl last night, yet my mother is ignoring it wholeheartedly.
Dad goes to get some food onto his plate, but Mom stops him. “Wait a moment, Dean, we’re expecting another guest for dinner.”
My spine shoots up. “Who?”
Mom smiles sweetly. “Just a friend.”
Griff and I exchange a look that says we don’t buy it for a second, and a moment later our suspicions are confirmed when there’s a knock on the front door and Mom rushes to open it.
“Olivia, honey, I’m so glad you could join us tonight.” She walks the newcomer into the kitchen who happens to be a very young, respectively beautiful girl with long brown hair and sweet, na?ve eyes.
“Oh, the pleasure is all mine, Mrs. Lovinski.”
“No, no, please, call me Lily.” Mom smiles sweetly at Olivia and then whispers loud enough for everyone—specifically me—to hear. “But I’m hoping you can call me Mom one day soon.”
I run my tongue over my teeth. Ladies and gentlemen…I give you a fucking angle.
“I’m not in a fucking mood, Fanny,” I tell the waiting grandma in green track suit as I walk into the station the next morning, seeing Fanny already seated in her spot at my desk, cake pops waiting for me.
“I take it it’s a no for Oliva?” she asks, tsking.
I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. “It’s a fucking no to Oliva or anyone else you send my way! Jesus Christ!” I lose my cool toward the end of it.
Last night was a shit show. A complete shit-fucking-show where mom played the most ridiculous matchmaker, listing all of Olivia’s attributes to me like she was reading off a list and then proceeded to do the same about me to her.
No wonder she couldn’t care any less about my weird meeting with Sophie when she already had her perfect match lined up for me and Oliva was all too eager to make this work.
“Okay, hakuna your tatas, Cake pop. What was wrong with Olivia?” She snatches a sticky note and a pen from my desk and looks at me expectantly, ready to take damn notes.
I snatch the note and the pen back, pursing my lips as Fanny rolls her eyes and digs out her own pen and paper from her bag.
“She’s a beautiful girl and seems perfectly nice but how many times do I have to repeat that I don’t want any girlfriends, wives, or even dates!”
“A boyfriend then?”
“No! Jesus…” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Why can’t you all just leave me alone?”
“Because you’re unhappy and we want you to be happy, so suck it up and enjoy the ride.”
“You do realize this will never work, right? I’m perfectly fine as I am.”
“Callum.” Fanny closes her notebook and levels me with a look I rarely see on her face. It’s serious and a little bit in pain, and I already know what she’s going to say next. “You haven’t been happy or even fine for over sixteen years now. Ever since—”
I cut her off. “Don’t,” I snap .
I don’t want to hear, talk about it, or even remember the worst day of my entire life. The day that changed me forever.
Fanny sighs, “Okay, I won’t bring it up.”
“Thank you.”
“If…”
“There we go.” I slump into my seat. “I knew it was too good to be true that you’d just drop it.”
Ignoring my comment, she prowls on. “If you look through these pictures…I picked a whole new set for you.”
“Fucking hell,” I cry out, throwing my arms up. “This torture will never end.”
“Sure it will, Cake pop.” She pats my arm, smiling that innocent but devious smile.
“As soon as you are happily married. So, look through the pictures and holler if you like anyone. I’ll leave you to it.
” She gets up with a pep in her step. “Eat your cake pop.” She points to the bag she left for me.
“Same time, same place tomorrow morning.” Fanny salutes me.
“I’m expecting coffee with the cake pops tomorrow!”
Since I’m in this hell for the foreseeable future, might as well get something out of it.