Page 12 of Finding His Fox

I debated breaking it for the first time, but I didn’t.

I told myself to remember how my dad was in the end, before he passed. Holding the glass as a prop instead, I lifted it to my lips. I pretended to drink, so I didn’t have to say anything more.

In the corner of my eye, I saw Rory and Josie approaching us. Thank goodness.

I noticed Cal looked concerned and was almost reaching out to me, but quickly pulled back his hand when they were near.

Why was The Grump being a gentleman all of a sudden?

“Just wanted to tell you we were leaving,” Rory said. He looked between me and Cal. As if he sensed the tension between us, he asked, “Everything ok over here?”

“We’re good. Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a ride home,” I assured Rory.

Rory nodded, his gaze not leaving Cal while he and Josie walked towards the parking lot. I chuckled.

Rory had been like a big brother to me ever since I had to move in with them all those years ago.

Sometimes, he couldn’t help but feel overprotective of me.

“So, since I haven’t been here in a while, what’s new in the food scene here? Anything exciting opened up?” I asked Cal, quickly changing the subject.

“Uh, I usually cook for myself,” Cal replied.

“Just for yourself, huh?” I asked teasingly. I continued, “Listen, why don’t I give you my number and we could grab a bite to eat sometime? You could show me around town, show me what’s new here.”

I didn’t know where I got the courage to suddenly be so bold. Maybe it was the one glass of champagne I had earlier.

I wasn’t used to drinking, and I knew my tolerance for alcohol was low.

It could also be my attraction to this mysterious Mr. Grump that was loosening me up. Whatever it was, I whipped out my phone, ready to key in Cal’s number.

If I could, I would also take a picture of him. Because right now, he looked like he was at a loss for words.

Who’s speechless now?

Cal mumbled his phone number. I rang him up, so he could save mine.

Running out of things to say, I asked, “Can you give me a ride home later?”

“Fine,” he said with a grunt.

Chapter 5

Cal

My thoughts drifted back to the past as I drove Nate home.

I would never forget the day when that horrifying creature, which I now knew to be a wendigo, tore my best friend Shawn to pieces.

A human boy suddenly appeared, his eyes wild, gripping a hunting rifle in one hand.

That boy turned out to be Nate, and he ended up saving my life. In a way, I saved him too when I jumped into the river to keep him from being swept away by the currents.

In the present, I stole a quick glance at Nate as I stopped the truck at a red light. Nate had a dreamy expression on his face.

His eyes were half-closed, and he softly hummed an unfamiliar song under his breath.

His voice was pleasant, and I briefly wondered what it would be like to kiss him.