Page 44 of Finding His Fox

Suddenly, Cal asked me a question that, for some unexplainable reason, left me stunned.

“Why don’t you leave some of that stuff here?” Cal suggested.

It was like I was hit with a bolt of lightning. The question caught me so completely off guard that I almost tripped over one of my bags.

It was an innocent question. Yet, why did it sound like it meant something different?

We had spent almost everyday together for the past week. Of course it made sense to leave some of my equipment here.

It was getting troublesome bringing my things, especially the heavier and bulkier ones, back and forth between my house and his cabin.

It had become a little routine of ours. Cal would send me a text the night before, saying he had a spot in mind for us to check out.

We would then make plans to meet an hour or so before sunrise or sunset, so I could have ample time to set up before taking pictures of Max.

Rory noticed I had been busy going around Fox Haven, so he lent me his spare truck.

I would first drive up to Cal’s cabin, then we’d go off together to wherever he wanted to bring me to.

Cal, being the amazing help that he was, would have already placed little flags around the area.

He’d gotten much better at anticipating my needs too, like knowing when to shift the reflector. Or which toys to use with Max to get a particular pose.

Max still hadn’t warmed up to Cal, but it was getting better. Now, it only took three cat treats to get Max into his ‘model mode’.

After that, we would either have breakfast or coffee, depending on the time of the day, before we went our separate ways.

Then we would do it all over again the next day. I loved our little routine.

So, it wouldn’t mean anything if I said ‘yes’, right? I mean, it wasn’t like we were going to move in together.

It wasn’t even like leaving a toothbrush in his bathroom, or Cal giving me an empty drawer. It totally didn’t mean taking whatever it was we had to the next level.

It would simply be one less thing to do before I left the house for Cal’s place, right? At least if I left some of my stuff here, I wouldn’t have to double and triple check if I’ve packed all my equipment with me.

“If you don’t mind,” I said warily. Worried that I couldn’t hide the uncertainty in my voice, I cleared my throat and said, “Yeah, that’d be great, actually.”

I zipped my last bag and stood up to find Cal standing next to me with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“It’s ok if you don’t want to,” Cal said, handing me the cup.

There was a hint of cautiousness in his voice. Guess I didn’t hide my nerves well enough earlier.

“I want to,” I said, looking into his eyes.

Cal smiled. At that moment, I think we both knew I wasn’t just talking about the practicality of his suggestion.

I had always been nervous about opening my heart up to anyone. Even with my past relationships, I chose to keep people at arm’s length.

When I got too close, I would start running in the opposite direction.

I had been so afraid to become like my dad, Donnie. To feel so much for someone that he couldn’t go on when they weren’t there anymore.

A part of Donnie died when Jim passed, and he was never the same person anymore. That scared the heck out of me and had always kept me in check.

All this time, I preferred to stay in the comfort of the walls I had built around my heart.

However, with Cal, there was something about him that made me believe he was worth taking the chance on.