Chapter 35
ASHA
I shepherd the group back into the chalet for fondue night.
It’s my favorite group dinner of the trip, because bread and cheese, but instead of my mind filled with visions of gooey, warm cheese and buttery bread, I can’t stop thinking about Callum.
Wondering if we’re going to continue with this after the tour.
Or even continue it after we leave Lauterbrunnen.
We’re so different. I can’t imagine living like Callum does, constantly refusing to see the good in people. But it’s not exhausting being around him; his negativity isn’t toxic like I thought it would be.
It’s interesting to see his approach to life, especially because it differs from mine so much.
And the ways he bends and goes against his own grumpy instincts by doing something sweet.
Or when I realize his grumpiness is mostly a facade and behind it is someone who genuinely loves history and loves sharing it with others.
And it is kind of entertaining. Seriously, who is so bothered by laughter?
No, I don’t mind being around him at all.
But even with my endless optimism, I don’t know how we’re going to get past one of us taking the other’s job. That would put a damper on any relationship.
I don’t even know how I would react if I was the one who lost the job. Would I be able to get past it? Maybe if I could find another job quickly it wouldn’t be so bad. If I couldn’t pay rent, I might get a little bitter about Callum still working.
But it wouldn’t be his fault. It’s Rob and his poor management style. Still, I can’t say with confidence how I’ll feel about it until it happens.
For now, I can choose to enjoy where we are and worry about the rest later.
I distract myself from thoughts of the future by getting everyone ready for the meal.
Dinner is served on tables with checkered tablecloths and an amazing view of the soaring, verdant mountains outside, surrounding the small town.
Flickering candles on the table light the darkening room as the sun sets outside.
It would be more romantic if I wasn’t working, rushing around to make sure everyone is happy.
Then I see Callum walk across the room in his white henley, muscles clearly outlined, and maybe it still is pretty romantic anyway.
The soft light is emphasizing the sharp planes of his face, his mouth unsmiling even with the prospect of cheese for dinner.
But being an expert in Callum’s expressions now, I know this is his happy.
Or close to it. Maybe his deeply content.
He didn’t have to deal with the group for most of the day, and when they returned to us, we got to eat a lot of cheese.
And he got to spend the day with me, which I hope makes him veer from unhappy to content, at the very least. Since he makes me very content.
Plus, him not being content with me would make what we did last night awkward. Awkward, hot hate sex, I guess.
Callum snags my hand as I’m making sure the wine and appetizers are coming.
“Sit down and enjoy. You know Leon’s service is impeccable.”
“Except when he overbooks the rooms.”
“Especially when he overbooks the rooms.” His eyes are intense, boring into mine, and his hand is hot on my arm, fingers moving in small circles on my skin.
I sit down. “I can concede that did turn out for the best.” Most everyone here is an adult, and the children have their parents with them.
I can relax with Callum. Until someone actively needs me, at least. “This light is very good for you.” I punctuate the compliment by taking a picture of him before he can block my camera.
“I should start charging for all these photos. Maybe that’ll restrain you.”
I ignore him, walking to his side of the table and take some selfies of the both of us, with the beautiful background. Then I stay on his side of the table, closer to him. “Maybe stop being so photogenic.” I show him the evidence of our photos.
“You’re the only one who thinks so.”
“I sincerely doubt that. I might be the only one who tells you because you growl at everyone who dares to smile at you, but I can assure you people are thinking it.”
Callum twists his mouth in disgust at the idea that people are lusting after him from afar and gets his own phone out, snapping a picture while I’m laughing at his response.
“Hey! I didn’t even get to pose for that.”
“Not everything has to be posed. You look good candid, too.” He turns the phone around to show me the screen.
I do look happy. And not just at the impending cheese.
But because of the man next to me, doing things like taking photos of me even though he thinks that many vacation photos are excessive.
“Hmm. Maybe I should keep you around.” I say it jokingly, but I want to see his response to the idea. Instead of sitting here obsessing about something that he might not even want.
But his response is an even more advanced level of Callum-speak than where I’m at, and I can’t read his face. Or his grunt in response. Damn it, how could my powers fail me now in my time of need?
The dinner passes quickly and the service is impeccable. Virginia and her family take the rest of the seats at our table, and the parents proceed to embarrass their daughter with every story they tell and question they ask. Her face cringed so much that her face muscles must be getting sore.
Ah, I remember that age. Mom never missed an opportunity to tell all the strangers about my latest accomplishments and also my latest endearing mistakes. I don’t know which ones were more embarrassing.
People start to disperse at their own speed, and I hear the music from the bar get louder.
Some of the single travelers, who have formed a lovely mini-group these past eleven days because traveling is a crash course in getting close to someone fast, walk up to us and ask if we’re going to the bar, and before I can say yes, Callum does for the both of us.
I keep the surprise off my face. “We’ll meet you there in a sec.”
“Socializing is a part of the job, Asha,” Callum says before I can express my surprise to him.
“Look at you.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice your history-filled speech about Strasbourg. Very educational. Very responsible. I even heard one snore.”
I laugh and swat him on his arm. “You’re the worst. Now let’s go do your favorite part of the job.”
The bar is already packed by the time we make sure no one needs anything else at the restaurant and everyone knows the leaving time for tomorrow. We go straight to the bartender and enjoy some of the perks of the tour leader life, which in this particular bar is free drinks.
We find a corner, and I’m as antisocial as I’ve ever been on tour. I’ve never had someone I’d rather spend my time with before, though. Even with the impending job issue, I can’t deny how happy he makes me.
Members of the group come and go, stopping to chat for a bit then leaving. It must be Callum’s glower every time we’re interrupted that eventually wears down even the most drunk tourist. Even though I try to soften his one-word responses, I want them to leave us alone, too.
The moments we do get alone, the heat builds between us, then we get interrupted, and the heat recedes slightly, only to rise the next time we’re alone. My body is in a constant state of confusion and low-grade arousal.
“I think we’ve been here for long enough to say we did our job,” I say, surprising both of us by being the one to cut the workday short.
We get up from our seats and walk out of the bar and into the lobby, stopping when we run into Charlotte. “Hey, Charlotte. I hope you’re enjoying your trip?” I ask.
“I am! I was hoping you could take care of my laundry for me? I heard you helped Jennifer before.”
Callum puffs up like he’s about to unload, but I step in front of him. “You know, I would love to help you. And I can direct you to the nearest places you can get that done, including on site at the chalet. But I can’t take it anywhere.”
“But you did it before.” Charlotte looks miffed at me and I have to stop myself from giving in. But taking laundry to a dry cleaner is not in my job description, and it cuts into what little rest time I have in a job where I already work long hours.
“That was a one-time exception I made early in the trip since everyone was getting used to traveling. But my job is really to facilitate helping you guys, and letting you know where and how you can get things done. If I keep doing it, I won’t be able to do some of my other duties, and that won’t be fair to the others in the group.
” I might be whispering the denial, but it’s out in the world.
“That is not cool.” Charlotte is three seconds from stomping her foot in anger. “And we’re not even going to get to spend enough time in Milan to do any decent shopping.” She stalks off to the bar.
“Look at you, standing up for yourself. Must be my good influence.” Callum preens.
“That was hard. And I don’t think Charlotte thinks you’re a good influence.” I get out my phone.
“What are you doing now?”
“If Charlotte wants and has the funds to, she can spend more time in Milan and meet up with us later. I can look up all the train and hotel information and give it to her as a peace offering.”
“Still soft Asha, under all that standing up for yourself.”
“Well, coordinating stuff is our job. But Charlotte’s reaction to this is tomorrow morning’s problem.”
“Is it?”
We stop in front of our joint room’s door. “Yup. I have other things to occupy my time tonight.”
“Reading a nice book?”
“Nope.” I open the door and raise up on my toes to drop small kisses around his mouth.
“Getting some exercise?”
I pause in kissing him. “In a manner of speaking, yes, actually.”
And then neither of us talks for a while.