“I know.” He shakes his head, and with a rueful sneer, he adds, “Neither one of us would win boyfriend of the year awards.”
“No, we wouldn’t. One of the reasons I don’t bother,” I shrug, ready to get the hell out of this conversation.
Nolan releases an exaggerated sigh. “Fine. Whatever. Just don’t string her along either, okay? She’s tough in a lot of ways, but when it comes to shit like this, I think she might be even more clueless than Felix.”
“You sure about that, Pot?” I taunt, a grin making its way across my lips.
“Shut up, Kettle,” he fires back.
We look at each other for a moment then bust up laughing.
I laugh all the way out to my truck, where I find my shit in the passenger seat, and a note from Kaleb saying it was dark enough that he decided to fly home.
Weird.
Chapter 8
Callie
Mr. Campbell thanks the young woman who serves us our main course. It’s a seafood hotpot that I think may have literally every type of seafaring creature out there. She smiles, bobs her head, and exits the room.
Mrs. Campbell dips her nose close to the dish, and after breathing in the heavenly smells, a dazzling smile crosses her face. “Alicia seems to outdo herself with every dish. We should give her a raise… perhaps offer to expand her and Margaret’s cottage, too. Anything to keep those two wonderful women happy.”
Her husband chuckles indulgently, tucking her long, white blonde hair behind her ear so that he can place a sweet kiss on her cheek. Her smile grows, shaping her pale blue eyes into small triangles with happiness webbing from the corners, and she brushes one hand along his cheek.
“I love you both,” Nolan groans with humor, “but could you tone it down a little. Callie and I would like to be able to keep down dinner.”
“Can’t be helped, son,” his father gloats while looking with open adoration at his wife. “Your mother is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me, and every day I can’t imagine that I could love her more, but I do.”
“I love you too,mi amor,” she replies with equal affection, then cups his face so that she may place a proper kiss on his lips.
“You’ll understand one day when you find that special person who brings you light even in the darkest times,” he tells Nolan while still looking into his wife’s eyes.
A mischievous smirk crosses Mrs. Campbell’s lips, and she winks at her son. “Unless you’ve already found them.” Her gaze shifts to me with a playful raised brow, in case we missed the hint.
A full body blush burns down my skin, and I nearly choke on a bite of calamari.
“For the hundredth time, we’re just friends,” Nolan sighs into his hands that scrub down his face.
I nod in agreement, because I’m finding it hard to breathe. My eyes flit across the room, not really knowing where to settle. This is apparently the ‘family’ dining room with a table that seats eight, a full mini bar on one wall, and a crystal chandelier that looks like it’d be right at home in any palace.
The dining room designated for dinner parties seats eighty.
The bizarre lives of really rich people,I mentally chuckle, then remember that technically, I’m one as well.Too weird.
Nolan’s mother releases a dramatic sigh, and I’m starting to see where he gets it. “Too bad. Callie, you seem delightful.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Campbell,” I murmur, not sure what else to say.
Whatever that was in the gym earlier flashes before my eyes, and I don’t know what it means. Nolan’s making it clear we’re just friends, but is that still true with Donovan? Nothing happened, but it felt like something was going to. Or it could be completely in my imagination, and this is simply another side to his personality.Ugh. Why is this so complicated?
“Please, call me Lillian,” Nolan’s mother insists with a sweep of her hand, bringing me back to the present. She taps one well-manicured finger against her lips. “Though a witch for a daughter-in-law would hamper our chances for grandchildren.”
My spoon clatters into my bowl, and I shoot Nolan a look that could very well sear skin off.How could he?
He gives me a meaningful look back, eyes wide in communication, and subtly shakes his head no-- which I’m banking means he didn’t fully tell his parents what I am.
Mr. Campbell gives me a kind smile. “Nolan mentioned that you lived most of your life as a human, but being a witch isn’t something you have to hide from us. There’re no secrets in our family, and also, no judgement. You’re safe here.”
