Page 10 of Scoring Grey

“Have you talked to Callum about it?”

I blow out a breath of annoyance. “No, I don’t want to bring it up until I know if it’s worth mentioning.”

I don’t bother bringing up the fact that Callum’s father threatened me with dirt on my parents years ago. My desire to dig it up went out the window the second I saw his son throw our relationship down the toilet. I no longer cared. The only person I cared for didn’t want the same things when he let another woman sit on his lap in a barely there dress, but now… now I wish I had dug sooner. Just to know why Lucas hated me so much if for nothing else. His hate for me was one of the reasons Cal and I were always off and on again. This goes back to my motto: if he wanted to, he would.

The first time Cal brought me home, Lucas walked into the kitchen while we were grabbing a snack, and if it wasn’t clear by the way his eyes dragged down my form that I repulsed him, his words confirmed whatever uncertainty his glare left behind when he said, “Did the wrong girl climb in your car after school? This isn’t Blair Wyndham.” There were several acceptable defenses Cal could have chosen, but he didn’t say anything.

Instead, he waited until his dad walked out to say, “Don’t let him bother you. There’s nothing between me and Blair.” That day set the tone for us. You see, in my mind, the silence was acceptance. Callum may not have said the words, but allowing someone to speak ugly to me felt equally bad. In hindsight, I should have said something right after his father left the room, but we were in high school. He was my first real relationship, and I was young. I was still trying to figure out who I was. Add in raging hormones, and it was a recipe for disaster. That was the first of many missteps that got us where we are today.

“Quinn and I went over for dinner Friday night when you left. I figured a family dinner that night instead of waiting for Sunday would be best for Adler to help take his mind off the fact that you wouldn’t be there. He’s a champ, by the way. I think he’s taking care of Dad rather than the other way around.” He pauses, and I hear Zeus bark. He’s probably dropping a ball at his feet for him to toss. “When I brought up the Balfours, I asked why he and Mom stopped hanging out with them. It didn’t seem out of place given that you had just left to spend time alone with Cal.” There’s another pause, and I hear him rub the stubble on his jaw. “You’re not going to like my answer. I don’t think it gives you much, but here it is. He said, ‘Your mother and Keely were friends, and then they weren’t. Lucas and I were mere acquaintances who tolerated each other’s company for the women we loved.’”

I sit up in bed and lean against the tufted headboard. “That’s strange. I didn’t realize Mom was close with Keely. I thought her feud was with Lucas since they went to school together back in the day.” Keely Balfour didn’t grow up on Nantucket. She’s technically not even Callum’s real mom. His biological mom unfortunately died from postpartum complications shortly after giving birth.

“Yeah, I thought the same thing. He didn’t say any more on the subject after that, but, Lou… He had that faraway look in his eye. You know, the one he gets when he thinks about Mom. It felt like he had something on the tip of his tongue. His body language said as much, but then he got up and used Adler as a scapegoat, claiming he needed to check on him, which was bullshit since Quinn was inside with him.”

I pull at a loose thread on the blanket and mull over this new information. Callum thinks I delayed coming up here because of the holiday and Adler. When Thanksgiving rolled around, and I still hadn’t made my way to Toronto, he knew I wouldn’t be leaving before Christmas. I was only partially stalling by that time. Adler and I have our holiday traditions, yes, but I was also looking into Lucas’s threats from all those years ago and trying to find merit. Now I believe I may have been looking in the wrong direction. I thought he was the connection, but maybe it was Keely.

“Do you have a new assignment for me given this information?”

“Not at the moment,” I say, somewhat defeated.

“Lou, was it really that bad? I thought you and Cal had growing pains, typical teenager-type shit. Why didn’t you ever tell me? Even after Adler was born. All this time, you’ve stayed quiet. Why?”

“Was it bad? Not in the way you think. Lucas Balfour was an ass, and he didn’t make dating his son easy, but as for why…I’ve kept it this long, and I feel like when I give it, I owe it to Cal first.” I want things to work out. I’ve always wanted that, which is why I want to enter this next chapter with Cal with eyes wide open. I want all the facts.

“Lou, I’m going to let this go because I’m trusting your word, but if I find out that fucker did something reprehensible, I can’t promise I won’t go after him. I don’t want to mess things up for you, Lou, but you’re my family too.”

“Iverson—” I’m cut off when a text comes through.

Callum: Are you awake yet?

“Hey, I need to jump off. Thank you for volunteering to be my knight in shining armor, but for now, I’m good. I’ll call if I need anything.”

“Or text,” he draws out the T, ensuring I get the hint.

“Yeah, yeah… I’ll text next time. Bye,” I say as I click off the phone and open the text strand from Cal.

Eloise: Aren’t you supposed to be at practice?

Callum: They have these things called water breaks.

Eloise: Then you should probably drink water.

Callum: I’d rather see if my girl found her surprise.

The way my heartbeat quickens when he calls me his girl is stupidly unfair. Last night, he was a gentleman walking me to my door. He didn’t press for that kiss he teased about at dinner, though I know he wanted it. What he doesn’t know is I wanted to give it to him so badly. The problem is kissing Callum Balfour is like a gateway drug. It always leads to more, and when his mouth is on mine, I know my resolve will shatter, and I can’t let that happen. Not yet. I just need a little more time.

Eloise: I’m awake, but I’m still in bed.

Callum: Stop teasing me and go find your surprise.

Eloise: So bossy. First I need to eat the breakfast sandwich this man who likes to break into my room at night left.

Callum: Ticktock, blondie. I’m going to wear you down this time. You’re mine, and when you finally let me have you, you’ll pay for that mouth.

I bite my lip and squeeze my thighs together as a flashback of him making me pay in the locker room quickly flicks through my mind. When he doesn’t send another text, I toss the covers off, grab the sandwich he left me, and go to the shower.

“Time to find that surprise, Lou.”

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