55. CALLUM
55
CALLUM
“Hey, I love you,” Chloe whispers in my ear.
We stop on the stoop outside, turning to face each other.
“I love you, too.”
“Whatever happens in there, it doesn’t change anything between us or how much I love you.” She leans in for a kiss. “I see you, Callum.”
Interlocking my hand with Chloe’s, I feel more at ease walking into my parent’s dining room.
This isn’t the house we grew up in. Years ago, after becoming empty nesters, they sold that and moved to this home in Covington. It's smaller than the eight bedrooms we used to have, but far more luxe.
The double doors open up to an elegant set table with family-style platters. I warned them about Chloe’s dietary restriction. As I scan the table, the only potential issue item is the bread.
Dinner starts smoothly before snowballing. For once, it felt as if there was interest in me, everyone asking about the hotel and our relationship. It took one comment from Harrison for everything to implode.
Smacking her lips, Mom chimes into the conversation for the first time. “It’s quite pathetic to be hired by his friend. Couldn’t even make it on his own.”
Everyone in the room goes silent. Including myself.
Freezing from the inside out, I try to lock my attention on Chloe. Steady myself with her, replaying her words from earlier.
I see you, Callum .
Chloe’s head swivels how a lazy Susan does. “No one is going to say anything?” She pointedly looks at each of my brothers, then Audrey, then my dad. Finally, she reaches Mom.
Gray eyes sharpen. Daggers tipped and aimed.
Chloe blinks. Blinks again and lets out all the air from her lungs. If her protectiveness was physical, magical, I’d be casted into a bubble.
“No? Fuck this.” Taking off her jacket, her sleeveless sweater showing off her tattoos. She stands, bracing both palms on the table. “You don’t get to talk to your son like that. No mother should ever think their child is pathetic. Callum is the most incredible person I know. He’s intelligent. He’s hardworking. He’s driven and more successful than any of you are combined.” Chloe quickly looks at Audrey. “Sorry, Auds.”
“None taken.”
Chloe continues, “You continuously put him down for what? There’s no joy in berating your child, making them feel unloved and unsupported.
“I don’t care what you think about me. You not liking me doesn’t ruin my day, but what does is your unwillingness to realize that he,”—she points at me—“is the best thing that’ll ever happen to you. Your ego and expectations have allowed you to miss out on Cal graduating top of his class twice . He was captain of his college’s rugby team. Becoming a CFO at a global company, or being named one of London’s most eligible bachelors.” She refills her lungs. “Besides the accolades that you apparently don’t care about as much as you think, you missed out on the tender-hearted, observant, patient, meticulous, ambitious, and protective person he is. I could go on, but you haven’t cared enough about him until now, so what makes you deserving now?” Chloe turns her attention to Dad. “Thank you for dinner. It was good to see you again. Let’s go, Pretty Boy.”
I stand, dropping the napkin from my lap onto the table .
Pushing my chair in, I walk to the door before I realize Chloe isn’t following me. I spin to see her giving my mother two middle fingers.
“This is for thinking your son needed to be with a vanilla puppet. I think I might get his name tattooed above my butt, or better on my ass.”
She walks away, the biggest grin on her face. Behind her, Dad and Audrey’s faces match. I bet they’d give her a standing ovation if it wouldn’t cause more issues. Mom and my brother’s jaws are on the table.
We take a car back to the Hayes Hotel in Kensington.
I put my place on the market in December, deciding that anywhere Chloe is, is where I’ll be. Coulda been quite stupid if she didn’t have the same feelings for me, but she does. I haven’t told her, but she didn’t question me when I had Liam drop us off here after he picked us up from Heathrow.
In the car, I couldn’t keep my hands off her.
No one has ever stood up for me like that. No one has ever seen me in the way that Chloe does.
I tip my head, greeting Oliver working the front desk—he just started. Tugging Chloe into the elevator, I spin her into the wall. My hand hitting the material name above her.
My chest is heaving. “Did you give my mom two middle fingers?”
She smirks, eyes sparkling like our stars. “I did and if I had more hands, I’d given her more. No one speaks about you or to you that way.”
I barely let her finish the sentence before claiming her words with my mouth. Mindlessly slow at first, she shivers as if she can feel the current of desire running through me. My free hand cups her neck, tilting her head further back and deepening our connection.
Chloe whimpers when I bite her bottom lip, dragging the fullness between my teeth. I release it with a pop , searing the flushed skin of her neck with my lips .
“ Callum. ” It comes out breathy.
Bunching up her floral skirt, I kiss her center over her tights before tearing them in half. She sucks in a big breath.
“I’ll replace them.” I spot the increasing wet spot on the light pink lace. I pull her underwear to the side, licking her. “Always so wet for me.” Pulling away, I look up at her. “Tell me to stop and I’ll try my best to wait but I need you right now, Dais.”
She shakes her head no, hands coming to the back of my head and hips lifting to me. “You better be efficient, there’s only ten floors.”
Slipping my hand from the knob resuming the elevator, my tongue slips inside her.
Chloe comes all over my tongue as we hit floor ten.
***
Chloe forgot her purse at my parent’s house last night.
I wait outside. The air chilly and skies as gray as Chloe’s eyes.
She’s with Audrey and Beatrix, getting something ready for this afternoon. I was tasked with bringing her purse. Chloe offered to come with me, not wanting me to go unprotected, but I told her I’m fine.
Which I am.
Dad opens the door which I’m grateful for.
“Morning.” He holds the door open for me.
“Morning, Dad. Chloe forgot her purse last night.”
“It’s in the kitchen.” I follow, walking next to him. “I like her a lot.”
“Mom know that?”
“Yes. Deep down, she’s happy for you.”
“Is she?” He gives me a look. “She has a funny way of showing it.”
We stop in the kitchen .
“Callum, she is. We both are.”
“Stop making excuses for her. I have. She isn’t—”
“I’m not what?” Mom’s Australian accent—she never lost it—echoes behind me.
Turning to lean against the counter, I take in my mom.
Light brown hair in cascades of curls that I know she got up early this morning to do. High cheekbones that used to have smile lines before Botox. Hazel eyes and a skinny nose that mirrors my siblings. Petite, hourglass figure, that she slaved over by time spent on a stair-stepper and counting calories.
I remember being five and thinking she was the most beautiful woman in the world. And she is beautiful, but now I see how much of a facade that beauty is.
Despite everything, I believe she’s a good person. That underneath the layers of clothing and insanely high expectations is the person my dad fell in love with. He wouldn’t be with her if it weren’t true.
Despite everything, I do love her. I just need to know why she could never love me.
Dad steps in. “Callum came to pick up Chloe’s purse. I was telling him that we like her.”
She nods. “I do. Not a fan of the tattoo comment or them in general, but Chloe loves you, and that is all that matters.”
“Did you rehearse that?” I close my eyes. Then without thinking, I blurt, “Why don’t you love me?”
Mom opens her mouth.
“Sienna, don’t,” Dad warns.
“It’s about time he knows the truth, Tripp.”
“Know what?” My blue eyes bounce between them.
“I never could love you because you aren’t mine.” Her lips purse. My dad covers his face. “Your dad had an affair, and while you are a Sullivan, I’m not your mother.”