I chanced a glance at Cal, and saw him glaring at me, disgust erasing every other emotion I'd seen on hisface.
Awesome job,Ash.
“Listen, I shouldn't have snapped," I told Karen. "It's just been a long, tiring day, between the flight and running around doingerrands."
Karen sniffed dramatically. "Fine. It'll all be better after this wedding is over. None of us is at ourbest."
That was for damnsure.
"I'm uh, sorry?" I told Cal. I wasn't really sure what I was apologizing to him for, except maybe making him bear witness to my fucking family drama. I just wanted him to smile at me again, to maybe ask me out or even let me ask him out.Something.
Cal lifted his chin in my direction. "You don't owemeanything," he said. "But it seems to me like you owehera whole lotbetter."
I frowned. I had no fucking clue what he meant. I'd already apologized for snapping. It wasn't my best behavior,fine, but it wasn't a capitalcrime.
"Karen," he said, suddenly all sympathy and kindness. "Do you know what I think would be an even better idea than a cake decorated like a bottle of tequila? How about if I make you cupcakes - no, wait, hear me out! Tequila lime cupcakes, with lime zest and tequila baked right into the cake, a tequila buttercream, and limegarnishes."
"Oh my God!" Karen breathed. "You can dothat?"
"I definitely can," Cal said, gracingherwith his confidencenow.
What the hell? Did he have an issue with big guys losing their tempers? I couldn't help feeling wronged and judged for one tiny mistake, and I had no idea how to clear the air. It wasannoying.
"Oh, Cal, everyone was right when they said you were a genius!" She clasped her hands under her chin. "That's going to beamazing!"
He smiled at her. "We'll do everything we can to help you have a wonderful wedding." Then he tossed me a hard look, like I'd disappointed him somehow. "But you'll have to take care of the happy marriage on your own." His voice had a sardonic edge that Karen didn't hear, and I —– once again –— couldn'tfathom.
Whatever. Now I was getting angry. Was he pissed that I'd spoken sharply to my almost-sister-in-law? Was he judgingmebecause my brother was such a colossalfuckup?
It was a good thing, I told myself. Better to know the score before I really let myself start to obsess over the guy, and to remember why I stuck to hookups. People always, always wanted something from me, but at least when sex was the only thing on the table, I knew they didn't want more than I was willing togive.
Screw Cal the baker with his fiery hair and liquid-caramel eyes. I had a date tomorrow night with a guy who was aguaranteedmatch for me. And he would fuck this judgmental bastard out of my systemcompletely.
