Chapter 16

Callum

I don’t know what came over me when I told Violet she’d be sleeping in my tent. The words just slipped out, but now that it's out there, I can’t very well take it back. It wasn’t even a conscious decision. It was like some deep, primal possessiveness took over, something I’ve never felt before. Odd, considering this is a marriage of convenience. But the thought of my wife sleeping anywhere other than beside me, even on a camping trip, didn’t sit right with me. The idea gnawed at me until the words spilled out.

I can already imagine the raised eyebrows from my family. They’ll have a field day with this one, probably exchanging knowing glances over the campfire while pretending to be subtle. Let them jump to their conclusions, speculate all they want.

It’s nothing more than me wanting to protect her—from bears or, you know, whatever else might be lurking out there in the woods. At least, that’s what I’ll keep telling myself.

As I stand over the stove, cooking breakfast for her, I keep thinking about last night. The way she looked, the warmth between us, that magnetic pull. I shake the thought from my head and focus on scrambling eggs, pushing the memory aside. My phone vibrates on the counter, snapping me back to the present. I spot a text from a vendor, and immediately reply. Then I pull up the group chat with Anya in it, because of course she’s the mastermind behind the camping trip. My sister’s always been the one to organize, to plan every little detail with the precision of a military strategist.

Hey, what do we need to bring for the trip?

Yeah, maybe I want to keep her close on this trip. Maybe it’s not just about the bears.

Anya: Just the regular camping stuff. Can you bring a couple bags of marshmallows with you?

Brock: Yes, don’t forget the marshmallows.

Willow: Your brother obviously loves s’mores.

Will do.

I glance up from my phone and see Violet watching me, a soft smile tugging at her lips. Her eyes are warm, and there’s a sparkle there, as if she’s amused by something. “So, that chat has all your siblings and their respective partners in there?” she asks, her voice light.

I nod, placing my phone down on the counter. “Yeah, it’s a family thing. We all keep each other updated; trips, plans, that sort of thing.” A thought crosses my mind, a sudden realization that feels so obvious, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before. “Wait,” I say, grinning at her, “you’re not in here. You need to be.”

Her eyebrows arch slightly, and I can tell she’s intrigued. “Oh, do I?”

Without missing a beat, I pull up her contact info on my phone and add her into the family thread. “There,” I say, hitting send with a flourish. I glance up at her, feeling oddly proud of myself, like I’ve just unlocked some secret level of our relationship. “Now you’re officially part of the group.”

Callum has added Violet to the Atwood Family Chat

Violet, welcome to the Atwood family chat.

Violet: Hello *waves*

Hartford: Hey, Violet! Welcome to the craziness.

Anya: Aww Callum, we love you! Hi Violet.

Millie: YAY!! My bestie is here!

Tripp: Welcome, Violet. Don’t believe anything you read in here.

Brock: Welcome, Vi. Believe it all.

Willow: Hi Violet, promise we’re not all crazy! Like I’m not.

Hartford: She’s the craziest.

Tripp: See, don’t believe anything, Violet.

Violet: *laughs*

Violet chuckles softly, shaking her head. “Wow, I feel honored.” Her tone is playful, but there’s a warmth behind her words. She hops off the counter, her messy hair falling over her shoulders. “So, what’s the next step of this initiation? Do I have to bring my own marshmallows too?”

I laugh, enjoying the easy banter between us. “No, I’ve got you covered. Marshmallows are my department.”

She tilts her head, studying me for a moment. “You’re really into this whole camping trip, aren’t you?”

I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Maybe. It’s been a while since I’ve done something like this with the family. Plus, you know… it’ll be nice to get away for a bit.”

“Under the stars,” she teases, her smile widening. “Just you, me, and a bunch of bears.”

I smirk, shaking my head at her joke, though a small part of me latches onto the idea of being out there with her—away from everything else, just the two of us. It’s a fleeting thought, but one that lingers longer than I expect.

“We’ve been driving for what feels like days,” Violet says, her voice tinged with mild frustration as she shifts in the front seat of my truck. She’s been fidgeting with the hem of her shirt for the last few miles, a clear sign she’s starting to feel restless.

I glance over at her, giving her a quick smile. “Yeah, the campsite’s a bit tucked into the mountains. Off the beaten path, but trust me, it’s worth it.” I grip the steering wheel a little tighter as the road narrows, winding through the thick trees and rugged terrain. The mountains rise up on either side of us, casting long shadows across the road as the sun begins its slow descent.

Violet leans forward slightly, gazing out the window with a soft sigh. “It’s beautiful out here.” Her voice is quieter now, filled with awe as her eyes trace the outline of the mountains. The way the sunlight filters through the trees catches her hair and makes it shimmer like molten copper.

I steal another glance at her, and I swear she looks even more breathtaking than she did five minutes ago. Her hair, illuminated by the sun’s rays, makes her look like some kind of forest goddess. Wild and untouchable. It’s almost unnerving how stunning she is, how with each passing moment, she seems to glow brighter. I can’t figure out how it’s possible, but every time I look at her, she just gets more beautiful. And it’s not just her looks—it’s the way she’s soaking in the scenery like it’s the first time she’s ever been outside, her excitement mingling with that gentle calm she has.

“How do you keep doing that?” I murmur before I even realize the words have left my mouth.

She turns to me, eyebrow raised. “Doing what?”

“Getting prettier every time I look at you,” I say, half-joking but half-serious.

Violet rolls her eyes with a laugh, shaking her head as a blush creeps up her cheeks. “Oh please, you’re just saying that because you’re trapped in a vehicle with me for hours. It’s the ‘too much time in the same space’ effect.”

“No, it’s definitely not that,” I reply, my tone more sincere than I intended.

She gives me a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a playful smile. “Well, if you keep flattering me like that, I might just have to let you carry all the camping gear by yourself as payback.”

I chuckle, focusing back on the road. “Deal.”

We pull into the gravel parking lot of the campsite, the crunch of the tires echoing in the quiet mountain air. I scan the row of vehicles and quickly realize we’re the last ones to arrive. Great. Of course, my family is already settled in, probably halfway through the setup by now.

“Better late than never,” I say, flashing Violet a quick grin as I cut the engine. We climb out of the truck, the crisp scent of pine and campfire smoke instantly filling the air around us. Violet stretches, her fingers brushing the top of the door before she pulls her hair into a messy bun. She’s a natural in the outdoors, even if she pretends not to be.

We grab our gear from the bed of the truck—tents, sleeping bags, and way too many bags of marshmallows—hauling it toward the campsite. As we approach, I spot the familiar faces of my family gathered around the fire. Paxton’s got a tent half-pitched, Hartford’s sorting through camping gear, and Griffin’s crouched by the fire, adding more kindling. The warm glow of the flames flickers across their faces, giving the whole scene a postcard-perfect feel.

“Hey,” I call out, making our presence known as we step into the clearing. “Where should we set up?”

Paxton glances up, smirking as he drives the final stake into the ground. “Ah, look who decided to show up. The party’s officially here.” He points to a cleared patch of grass on the far side of the campsite. “You can pitch both your tents over there.”

I shoot him a look, but before I can correct him, Violet beats me to it. She tucks a loose strand of red hair behind her ear, her voice casual yet firm. “We’re actually sleeping in one tent.”

It’s like someone hit pause on the entire campsite. The look that passes between Hartford, Anya, and Willow is so obvious, you’d think we just announced our engagement or something. Their eyebrows shoot up simultaneously, and I can practically hear the gears turning in their heads. Anya, ever the romantic, smirks while Hartford tries to hide her knowing grin behind the pretense of organizing gear. Willow, on the other hand, just outright snickers, folding her arms as if she’s waiting for more details.

“Well, well, well,” Brock drawls, clearly amused by the sudden revelation. “One tent, huh?”

I roll my eyes, but my pulse quickens as I glance at Violet. She’s handling it better than I am, standing tall and unfazed by the sudden scrutiny. Her eyes meet mine for a brief moment, and there’s something unspoken between us. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re married, or maybe it’s the fact that I’m still trying to process what that even means. Either way, I can’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness—no, claim —that rises in my chest.

“Yeah,” I say, clearing my throat. “Just one tent.”

Anya’s grin widens, but she says nothing, instead exchanging a pointed look with Willow. They don’t need to say anything. The teasing is there, loud and clear.

“All right, lovebirds,” Paxton says, clapping his hands together. “Get to pitching that tent, and then we can start roasting some marshmallows. You did remember to bring them, right?”

I nod, grabbing the bag of marshmallows from the pile of gear. “Wouldn’t forget something as important as that.”

Violet chuckles beside me, and as we move to set up our tent, I can’t shake the feeling that this camping trip just got a lot more interesting.