Page 4 of Untamed Reunion

We pull in and park, waiting a moment for the dust to settle. I pull down the visor to check my lipstick and try to smooth the flyaways. I’m leaving everything but my phone in here, I don’t want to have to carry anything. Jumping out of the car, the fresh scent of the woods overtakes me. A wide smile stretches across my face. I take Daphne’s hand as we jog toward the front gate. I pull out my phone so the attendant can scan our passes and we’re given wristbands.

As we enter the venue, my eyes scan all around. There’s a clearing in the middle that holds a big fire pit. The logs are stacked for later, but there are logs to sit on surrounding it. There are also flannel blankets laid out for people to snuggle up with in the cooler weather. Multiple stations are spread out holding different goodies, and since it’s early, there are kids running around all hopped up on sugar. Daphne pulls my hand and I follow her.

“There they are!” She calls, pointing at the group of guys.

“Who isthat?” I question. A flannel shirt is wrapped tight around the back of the man standing there. I check out his assas he shifts, he fills out the jeans he’s wearing like it’s his fucking job.

We walk up to the group and everyone starts to say their hellos only for me to turn and realize it’shim.

Chapter 4

Callum

“Hello again,” I growl at her. She’s staring at me like she didn’t see me earlier, like I didn’t buy her coffee as she stared at my chest. I try to keep my cool and focus on her outfit. She’s adorned with fairy wings and all, and I feel my heart constrict inside my chest. I can’t help but let my eyes travel further south, taking in her large breasts spilling out the top of her dress. I just want to take in every aspect of her. All I want is to drape an arm around her shoulders and pull her body close to mine. I want to feel her warmth and smell her familiar coconut scent.

“What are you supposed to be?” she quirks at me.

“I’m a lumberjack, can’t you tell?” I say, puffing my chest out and putting my hands on my hips. She laughs, covering her mouth to contain herself. If making myself look stupid makes her laugh then I’ll continue to do it. Her laugh lights up the entire space.

“Yeah, if I really look at you then I guess I see it. You’re just mixing your axe.” Daphne leans over and whispers something about wielding a different type of axe and I feel the blush creep over my cheeks. Hazel giggles at the comment and I just act like I didn’t hear them.

“Should we go get some cider?” I offer, nudging a shoulder towards the booth next to us. “There won’t be any spiked yet, but it’s still good.”

“Yeah! Come on!” she grabs my hand and it’s like there’s an automatic spark.

We both jolt away from the contact, “Oh, sorry.”

“No, no it’s okay.” I scratch the back of my neck and follow behind her. There’s a decent height difference between us so I slow my stride to stay behind her. We walk a few steps, lining up to put our order in.

“I’ll take one cider, please,” her voice higher pitched than normal due to her excitement.

“Make that two,” I say over her shoulder. She turns around and beams up at me before stepping aside. I already have my card ready so I tap it to the card reader and step beside her to let the next set of people order. I like buying her these little things, I like seeing her happy. The last time we were together for any significant amount of time, she wasn’t, and I would’ve done whatever I could to change that. I wanted nothing more than to take all of her pain away, but grief doesn’t work like that.

“So, how have you been?” I ask her. What am I doing, making small talk now?

“I’ve been good,” she beams at me. “The business is doing well and I’m really happy doing it. It’s just been an adaptation, you know?”

“Yeah. It’s good to see you so happy, kitten.”

Her smile falls as the pink hue travels up her beautiful face. What did I just do? I just used her pet name, and it flowed right off my tongue. I guess habits do die hard.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I start.

“No, don’t be. Don’t worry about it. Oh, I think our drinks are ready.” She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and turns to get our beverages. I turn to Johnathan, he’s pointing at me and cracking up laughing. I wish I could punch his smug face, but for one, I’m no fighter, and two, we just got reacquainted. I’d hate to ruin that now.

I sip my drink, wishing it was spiked now more than ever, and head over to Jonathan.

“Smooth,” he whispers at me as he snickers to himself.

“Thanks, man,” I snark back. I really have lost my ability to talk to her, but every time I’m around her I can’t help but feel like there’s still a spark between us. There’s this undeniable tug that makes me feel like I need to be by her side, that I need to just be with her.

Jonathan and I follow after the rest of the group as the girls start directing people where to go for pictures. It was always tradition that we take big group pictures, and it seems that hasn’t changed one bit.

I stand back as everyone groups together and wait to be passed a phone to take the picture until Hazel starts yelling at me.

“What are you doing? Come on!”

“I’m going to take the picture,” I call back. I don’t want to intrude, especially since I’m basically the new guy again.

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