Page 113 of Love Me Stalk Me
He chuckles. "I feel like that applies to a lot of our conversations."
I laugh, shaking my head. "God, that's actually true."
"So, what do you do for the holidays?" he asks, shifting the conversation.
I shrug. "The usual. Big family gatherings. My parents are very Catholic, so tomorrow, I have to go to Palm Sunday Mass."
His brow lifts slightly. "You sound thrilled."
I groan. "Look, I don't hate church, but when you grow up with three overprotective brothers and a mom who still calls to remind you that Jesus is watching, it gets...exhausting."
Callahan chuckles. "And after Mass?"
I roll my eyes dramatically. "Big family dinner. Loud. Chaotic. My Nonna asks when I’m getting married, my mom criticizes my outift, my brothers attempt to grill me about my love life, and my dad just sits there looking mildly disappointed in all of us."
Callahan shakes his head. "Sounds fun."
I raise a brow. "Fun?"
He shrugs. "Better than spending it alone."
I pause, tilting my head. His words carry a weight that suggests experience.
"Is Evan going with you?" he asks.
I scoff. "No. He and my family don't get along."
Callahan’s mouth curves in a wry half-smile. "Gee, I wonder why."
I roll my eyes, but I don't argue. Because he's right. My family hates Evan. And honestly? They have a point. My brothers saw through him from day one, a fact I've been ignoring for far too long.
Before I can think too much about that, I shift the conversation. "What about you?"
He shrugs. "It's just me and my dad."
Something about the way he says it feels heavy.
I pause. "And your mom?"
"She died when I was a kid." His voice is flat, matter-of-fact.
I frown, my chest tightening. "Oh. I'm so sorry."
He shakes his head. "Alcohol took her. It was her demon and she didn't try and fightit."
I don't know what to say to that. The rawness of the admission makes me wish I hadn't asked.
Instead, I clear my throat. "Where does your dad live?"
"Pennsylvania," he says. "Owns a wood shop out there. He likes to keep busy."
I nod. "Do you see him often?"
Callahan shrugs. "Not as often as I should."
"Is he religious?" I ask after a beat.
"Yeah," Callahan says. "Not Catholic, though."
