Hugo darts his gaze between me and Callum for a couple of beats as if he’s trying to understand our relationship before launching into friendly chatter. I let out a gush of breath, relieved to have passed whatever test he just gave me. The atmosphere is an easy one. Everyone seems nice, though I’ve yet to meet Jude or Callum’s father.

“We have a guest, Dad,” Gemma says, drawing everyone’s attention to the older man who’s quietly crept into the dining room unnoticed. “This is my friend, Willa.”

The man isn’t quite as big as Callum or Hugo, but there’s a formidable nature about him. Callum doesn’t stiffen like he did with Jamie. Instead, his chest bows slightly and his arm finds its way around me.

He’s taunting him. Or provoking him. I’m not sure which. It should irritate me that I’m being used in this performance, but it doesn’t. Callum’s father did him dirty and Callum still carries the pain from the betrayal. If I can help Callum stick it to his father in any way possible, I absolutely will.

“Dad,” Callum rumbles, arrogance dripping from his words. “Meet my girl, Willa. Willa, this is my father, Nathan.”

Girl. Not woman. I notice his word choice as another stab at his father, so I don’t take offense.

“Kind of young, don’t you think?”

Dempsey snorts, earning a sharp look from Gemma. Spencer smirks, clearly entertained by the turn of conversation.

“What can I say,” Callum says, chuckling in a dark tone. “Like father, like son.”

Nathan’s nostrils flare. He avoids his son’s stare and instead sweeps a dismissive look over me. “Tell me she’s not a student.”

“He’s my statistics teacher,” I state, batting my lashes at him. “We met in class.”

Spencer smothers a laugh and Hugo shakes his head. Gemma’s eyes are wide with shock.

“Callum,” Nathan growls. “Do you have any idea how this will look when word gets out?”

Callum drops a kiss to the top of my head. “Hmm. I suppose it will be rather humiliating to our family. It feels kind of familiar, though. Tell me, Dad, how did you handle it when the whole town shamed you for fucking a teenager?”

Nathan’s features harden and his cheeks turn crimson. “That’s enough, Son.”

“At least she’s legal, right? That’s one thing I don’t have to worry about, unlike you.”

“Are you doing this to punish me?” Nathan seethes. “For…” He can’t even finish the sentence. For stealing your underage girlfriend all those years ago.

“Not everything’s about you, Dad. I assure you. This thing between me and Willa is far from anything that has to do with you.”