“It’s fine. Don’t worry—”
“Don’t lie to me, Alejandra.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Oof. Bossy.” She bumped her shoulder lightly into his side. “I like it.”
“Oh, don’t I know that,” he grinned.
She slipped her hand into his as they made their way through the terminal and out to the parking lot. He stopped in front of his car—a grey Volvo XC40 Recharge. He hauled her bags into the back and opened the door for her.
“You don’t have to,” she said, cheeks flushing.
“I know. But you were about to get in on the wrong side. So technically, it was necessary,” he teased, sneaking another kiss. She gave him a warning look, but her smile betrayed her.
She slid into the passenger seat, and he rounded to the driver’s side.
“How was the flight?” he asked as he pulled into traffic.
“Fine, mostly. Except for the crying baby beside me. I really hope Sofia’s baby isn’t going to cry like that.”
He chuckled. “Highly unlikely, Alejandra.”
She shrugged, wincing again. His eyes flicked over to her shoulder.
“Still bothering you?”
“Yeah. I need to find a good physio and a recovery clinic—”
“I already found five,” he said, eyes still on the road. “Asked Sebastian and Omar. They recommended the best places in the city.”
She smirked, then added, “Thanks for the clinics. That’s really… thoughtful.”
“Anything for you,” he said, reaching over and squeezing her knee.
She covered his hand with hers, holding it there. In her eyes, there was a flicker of something deep. Gratitude, maybe. Or something heavier.
“I’m taking care of you, Alejandra.”
She exhaled slowly and leaned back into her seat. And her shoulders dropped just slightly.
37
ALEJANDRA
End of the World - Miley Cyrus
London was justas she remembered. She had been there a couple of times in the past—for events, galas, appearances. And even though it was Edward’s hometown, she had never been there with him. Which, honestly, was for the best. At least his ghost wouldn’t be lingering on every corner. Not that he haunted her, not really, it just annoyed her that she’d ever felt sad over that idiot cheating on her.
Now Callum… Callum was somehow showing her what actually taking care of someone looked like. Someone you liked—because love still felt like a strong word. Not that they were a couple, they hadn’t talked about it. But still, he was acting like the best boyfriend she could’ve asked for. Showing up. Thinking ahead. Making space.
About an hour after he picked her up from Gatwick, they parked in an underground garage somewhere in East London. Outside, the sky was heavy with clouds, that typical London grey that pressed down gently on the city. It weirdly matched how she felt inside.
She really hoped this trip would help her heal. Maybe she just needed distance. A break from everything that reminded her of surfing. A chance to focus on recovery—physical and emotional. Because yeah, she’d been traumatized by Pipeline, and it had taken her months to even admit it to herself. She’d pushed it all down, hidden behind the sling, telling herself it was just physical, that it wasn’t emotional damage.
But now that the sling was gone and the pain still lingered—now that she woke up in the middle of the night gasping for breath, heart racing with the memory of being dragged under—there was no pretending anymore. And then she cried, because how could she be scared of the ocean? She loved it. It had always been her sanctuary, her adrenaline, her rhythm. She couldn’t be afraid of it. Couldn’t be afraid to surf.
Callum had insisted on carrying all her bags. For someone used to hauling board bags and oversized luggage through international terminals by herself, this felt like a quiet luxury. Over the years, she’d developed her own tricks to carry everything, built calluses on her hands and her patience. But now, walking behind him while he casually shouldered her backpack and wheeled her suitcase, it felt warm. Easy.
Her eyes drifted to how his jersey pulled across his broad shoulders, down the stretch of his back, and—yep—straight to his ass in those jeans. She was definitely staring when he turned around near the elevator and caught her, an eyebrow raised.
