I gave him a look. “See? It was harmless. She asked about the local ski trails, I gave her directions, and next thing I know, Melanie’s glaring like I kicked her puppy.”
“Maybe she just didn’t like the view.”
“What, me being friendly?”
He shrugged. “You beingyou.”
I snorted. “Thanks, brother. That’s helpful.”
“Anytime.”
We worked in silence for a while, pushing tables, lining up chairs, trying not to trip over the tinsel explosion Lydia had left in her wake. Snow dusted the windows, and the bar looked strangely cozy in the morning light, with soft, golden light like it had decided to take a break from being a bar and play nice for once.
“You talk to her after she left?” Callum asked.
I gave a humorless laugh. “She didn’t exactly stick around for a heart-to-heart and since she blocked me and doesn’t return my texts...”
“Got ya.”
“She looked at me like I’d ruined Christmas,” I said. “Wouldn’t even say goodnight.”
“Can’t say I blame her. You’ve got a talent for pushing her buttons.”
“Not on purpose.”
He gave me a look that saidreally?
I sighed. “Okay, sometimes on purpose. But last night? I swear I didn’t do anything.”
He chuckled, flipping a chair right side up. “Maybe that’s the problem.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
He grinned. “Melanie’s used to you chasing her. Teasing, poking, getting under her skin. You suddenly decide to call a truce, and she probably doesn’t know what to do with it.”
I frowned, trying to ignore the flicker of truth in that. “Shewantedme to leave her alone.”
“Sure,” Callum said. “But that doesn’t mean she meant it.”
I ran a hand through my hair, the exhaustion starting to catch up. “You’re saying she wants me to ignore what she says?”
“I’m saying she wants you to make her forget why she said it,” he said with a grin. “Big difference. And the blonde at the bar was probably just bad timing.”
“Right,” I said, shaking my head. “Because women love mixed signals.”
“Only from guys who mean them,” he said, voice softening. “And for what it’s worth, Lydia says Melanie is definitely pissed at you.”
“Shocking.”
He laughed. “But she also says the stories match up.”
I blinked. “What stories?”
“Yours. Hers.”
“You’ve been comparing notes?”
“Lydia told me Melanie said you were annoying, arrogant, and full of yourself,” he said, ticking the words off on his fingers.
