Chapter 45 #2
The waitress arrived with their drinks and fries, setting them down on the table, and somehow it felt like the right moment to begin.
Knowing Alejandra wanted to understand him—really understand him—warmed something deep in his chest. She was interested.
In him. And she was self-aware enough to call herself out, something he respected more than she probably realized.
He had been an athlete too, and he knew exactly how it worked—like horses with blinders on, only seeing the next medal, the next goal. Nothing else.
“After the accident, I wasn’t at my best,” he began, his tone more serious now. “When the doctor told me that if I kept swimming at that level, I would destroy my knee, I understood it was something I couldn’t lose.”
He paused briefly, fingers tightening around his glass.
“I was young, in my early twenties, a life ahead of me… and somehow, losing medals felt way easier than losing the chance to walk.”
Alejandra nodded vigorously, her expression tightening with understanding.
“Pressed by Vanessa, my ex, I finished my degree in Economics at Harvard, and with Leif and Asma we started talking about Lamina. It was Asma’s idea, she wanted to make the world a better place, environmentally speaking.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“And using my accounting degree, her expertise as a lawyer, and Leif’s obsession with robotics and marine biology, it was the perfect combo.”
He leaned back slightly.
“It took us a while to figure out if we wanted to stay in the States, but the visa situation was a nightmare, so we all decided to come back to Europe and use London as a base. Asma had contacts here because of her father, and it was close to Wales and Sweden. At the beginning, we all stayed at Asma’s apartment, the one her family owns in Nottingham.
A very good apartment for the four of us.
Vanessa stayed with us while she started her journey into politics. ”
Alejandra nodded as he paused to sip his beer and grab a fry.
“Thanks to Asma’s father, we got our first clients, and things started to work pretty well.
We were very thankful, his connections helped us start, and I’ll never take that for granted.
” He exhaled slowly. “And then, slowly, Lamina took traction. After years working for other businesses, I could work for mine. Five years in the making, and we got offices near Victoria Park, international clients… even the European Union. Sofia’s case was the first big one, and we didn’t want to screw it up. ”
A small huff of a laugh escaped him.
“We basically spent all-nighters trying to understand Neptune—”
“So, you ambushed her in Ericeira?” Alejandra smirked.
“We told her we were in Cascais for a holiday. Lie,” he admitted easily. “We were there because we planned to go to Ericeira to speak with Sofia. Leif had found her through social media and dug into her past until Neptune came up. We knew she was Thomas’ ex, so we needed to talk to her.”
“You truly helped her,” Alejandra said softly. “Now she’s getting her research back after he stole it.”
“It feels good helping others,” Callum admitted. “But that’s just a small part of what we do.”
His tone shifted again, heavier now.
“The majority of the time, we’re stuck in that office.
Fluorescent lights. Bad air. And the walls feel like they’re closing in on me every time I walk in.
” He looked down at his drink. “I know I’m privileged.
I know I have a great job. That our startup is now a successful business. But I feel like I’m dying there.”
Alejandra squeezed his hand.
“It started before Cascais. Before Sofia. I was already on the verge of burnout. But that case reminded me why we started, why it mattered.” He sighed.
“But then the headaches started. I became grumpy. Exhausted all the time.” A faint, almost ironic smile.
“And in Tarifa… I realized I was actually happy. Asma and Leif noticed it too. I was smiling again.” His fingers traced the rim of his glass.
“Then we came back. And the routine hit again. And I felt like I was suffocating.”
He looked at her.
“When Sofia invited me to Ericeira, it felt like a way to work and breathe at the same time. And you…” he smiled softly, “you showed me there’s more to life than an office in London.”
“Me?” she frowned. “With my crying and self-pity?”
He chuckled.
“Yes. Because even when you were panicking, you kept looking for a way forward. You love surfing. I see you fighting for it.” His voice softened. “And I asked myself if I could fight like that for Lamina… and I can’t.”
That truth sat between them.
“I realized it’s not my future. But I don’t even know what is… work-wise.”
Because love-wise… he already had an idea. Green eyes. A peachy mouth. Long black hair.
“Maybe this road trip,” she said gently, “going back to your hometown… maybe it’ll help you figure it out. And even if it doesn’t… you have time.”
He nodded slowly.
“I’m in a position where I can take a sabbatical without worrying about money. I could rent my apartment… travel.” A small smile. “I like that idea.”
Her face lit up. “I can help with that. I mean—if my shoulder and my mind get fixed, I’ll be back competing… and I basically live on planes anyway.”
“That sounds like an amazing plan,” he grinned. “I’d love to carry your boards for the rest of my life.”
Alejandra laughed, tipping her head back, the sound bright and effortless. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life saying sweet things just to make you laugh like that.”
Her smile softened, lips pressing together as her hand squeezed his. “I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself.”
“I’m glad too,” he admitted. “But we should thank Leif for that.”
“Well,” she smirked slightly, “hopefully I returned the favor.”
He chuckled, leaning over the table to kiss her. And as their lips met, warm and familiar, something settled inside him. He hadn’t felt this happy in a long time. He let himself wonder if this wasn’t temporary. If maybe life had finally decided he deserved this.
To be happy.
To be in love.