Page 25 of Something Borrowed

“Anyway,” Cal said. “My parents’ marriage was . . . ugly. And the end of their marriage was . . . ugly. I always wanted something different, peaceful, kind, I don’t know . . . but it didn’t work. Despite my best intentions, I just seemed to follow their example. Two fairly long common-law relationships. Then another, that I thought was finally the one. She, ah—” He broke off, cleared his throat. “She wasn’t. And no kids. Not even a stepkid. Weird in this day and age, I know.”

“Did you want them?”

“Wow, we’re really pulling out the big guns tonight, aren’t we?”

Vic smiled. “It’s the pineapple—a little-known truth serum.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess I have to answer. I did want children with my ex—her name was Melanie. Quite badly, in fact.” He shrugged. “We can’t always get what we want in life, though.”

Vic nodded again, and they both seemed to feel that was enough of that kind of sharing for a first date or whatever the heck this was.

They’d made their way through one and a half pizzas—and Vic had matched him slice for slice. Now, without having to discuss it, they got to their feet simultaneously and removed all evidence of their feasting.

In the kitchen, Vic pulled a notepad and pen from a drawer. “In case you want to jot things down.”

Cal tapped his shirt pocket that held his phone. “I’ll just put notes on my phone.”

“Oh, right. Technology.”

They both smiled again—man, he wanted to kiss that mouth of hers—and moved past the living room. By a closed door in the far-left corner of the house, by the laundry room and another full bathroom, a loud rattling grumble made Cal start.

Vic grinned and stifled a laugh with her hand. “Audra. Snoring. Unbelievably loud, hey?” she whispered.

She wasn’t wrong. It was crazy loud. It barely sounded human, let alone like a sound a tiny, frail woman like Audra could produce.

They crept up the stairs, flinching at every squeak of the old floorboards, and again went through each room—except for Vic’s.

“Mine’s fine,” she said.

Rats. He really wanted a glimpse of it. He suspected it would give a glimpse of the Vic she kept hid away from the world. Now what on earth made him think that? he wondered.

Back downstairs, Cal was sorry the evening was wrapping up, but it was after 11:00.

“That was fun,” Vic said, again with that note of wistfulness that Cal didn’t understand.

“And hopefully helpful and beneficial.”

“Yes,” she nodded, and her lips quirked in a smile. “I’m sure it will prove to be all those things too.”

“If it’s okay with you, I’ll come by in the light one day this week between jobs and check out your roof. If you do need a new one, this isn’t the best time of year for it, but I can at least patch the place causing the water spot in the hallway upstairs.”

“That’d be great. You can text me, or—” Her face lit up and so did Cal’s insides. “Come by The Second Chance Shop. I’m there all week until 5:00 each day.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t ask where you work. I love that place.”

“Yeah, me too, I mean . . .” Vic shook her head, then nodded. “It’s wonderful, but I’m only there temporarily. Filling in for Gwen till she’s back.”

“Oh, yeah, I know Gwen. She’s honeymooning. Right. Nice.”

They stood in the porch, looking at each other. Again, Cal felt the moment was yelling kiss her, kiss her, but something in her expression, a wariness or something even though she was smiling up at him, gave him pause. But then she raised her chin slightly and looked him directly in the eye. Okay then . . . He may have been out of the game for a while, but he wasn’t entirely clueless. Not entirely. He was reading this situation right. He was. He thought.

“Can I . . . May I . . . kiss you?” Oh, smooth, Cal, really smooth.

She fluttered her eyelashes in an exaggerated, teasing way that was nonetheless very alluring. Alluring? Whoa, buddy.