Yeah. This was where I belonged.
Inside, the tavern was already half full with the usual mix of locals thawing out after errands, a few early diners, and one guy at the bar trying to convince Callum that his chili was rigged in the festival vote. The fire was going, the lights were low, and Christmas songs crooned faintly from the old jukebox in the corner.
It was perfect. Familiar.
Exactly what I needed.
Callum looked up when the door shut behind me.
“Well, well,” he said, setting down the dish towel and giving me the kind of grin that only older brothers and devils wear. “Look what the mistletoe dragged in.”
“Don’t start,” I warned, brushing the rain off my sleeves.
“I’m not saying anything.” He folded his arms, the picture of innocence. “I’m just noting the timing. One night away, and you come back looking like a man who either found religion or lost his wallet.”
I laughed and slid onto the nearest stool. “Neither. Though I’d argue you could use a little religion around here.”
“You’re avoiding the subject,” he said, pouring me a beer before I could protest. “So. How was Seattle?”
“Busy,” I said. “Loud. Gray.”
“And Melanie?”
I took a sip before answering. “She’s good.”
“Uh-huh. That’s a loaded good. Elaborate.”
I smirked. “She’s coming up this weekend.”
That made him pause. One brow lifted. “Really?”
“Really,” I said, trying to sound sure. “She said she’d be here Friday.”
He leaned his elbows on the bar, grin spreading. “Well, I’ll be damned. Look at you, Mr. Commitment. You drive down there, sweep her off her feet, and now she’s making weekend trips. Lydia’s gonna lose her mind.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “It’s not like that.”
“It’s exactly like that,” he said. “You’ve got that look.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you’re pretending not to be in love when everyone can see you already are.”
I groaned, dragging a hand over my face. “Don’t start, man.”
“I’m not judging,” he said, hands raised. “I’m impressed. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
I tried to ignore the warmth creeping up my neck. “She’s not moving here, Callum.”
“Didn’t say she was.”
“She’s got her life in Seattle.”
“Didn’t say she didn’t.”
“So what are you saying?”
He gave me that calm, irritating smile that he always did when he knew something I didn’t. “I’m saying maybe you stop worrying about where she is and focus on the fact that she said yes to this weekend.”
