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“Really? That would be freaking amazing.”

I wrapped the sheet around my body and headed to the kitchen. I’d made stuffed shells, Calder’s favorite, and the extra time they’d spent in the oven as it cooled had done the trick. They were perfectly cooked. I plated two servings, grabbed utensils and napkins, and headed back to the bedroom.

Calder licked his lips. “Oh man. Life can’t get better than this. My girl is happy. We had sex where she did most of the work. And now stuffed shells while naked.”

I laughed and passed him a plate. “I bet I know one way to make you happier. I could turn a baseball game on.”

“Actually…” He grinned. “Would you mind? I was listening to the Yankees-Red Sox game in the car on the way from the airport, and it was tied up in the bottom of the fifth. It’s probably almost over by now.”

“Sure.” I shook my head and grabbed the remote from the nightstand, handing it to him. I was surprised when he muted the volume and kept talking, pretty much ignoring the game except for the occasional glance to check the score.

Calder told me all about his trip—how he thought he’d made inroads with his boss by working on a project at night that wasn’t due until the week after he got back, how one of the other new guys was already sending out his resume, and how the hotel beds were too hard, but the food at the restaurant had been decent.

“What about you?” he asked. “What did you do yesterday?”

“I didn’t leave the apartment.” The lie left my mouth without any thought. After, I felt anxious and panicky again.

“What about Rafe? How’s that going?”

My heart sped up. “What do you mean?”

“You weren’t too happy when I told you my buddy was going to be living in the building, too. Have you two made friends?”

Friends…

Was he testing me? Did he know Rafe and I had spent an entire evening together? That last night he’d tucked me into bed, and this morning he’d brought me my morning coffee?

“Umm… Yeah. I see him in the basement once in a while when I’m doing laundry.”

“I tried to call him last night, but he didn’t answer.”

My eyes flared, and I did my best to get myself under control. “Why…why did you call Rafe?”

Calder smiled. “I wanted help with a little surprise for you.”

“What surprise?”

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise, will it?”

I looked over at Calder, trying to figure out if he sensed something and was poking around. But when he met my gaze, he smiled wide and pointed to his already half-empty plate. “This is freaking delicious, babe.”

I studied him. My paranoia was getting the best of me because Calder looked happy and relaxed. He wasn’t fishing for anything.

Because he trusted me.

I just wasn’t sure I deserved his trust anymore.

CHAPTER 12

That weekend, I made a vow to myself. Even if I had to fake it until I made it, I was going to get my life back on track.

Calder was on the sofa scrolling through his phone early Saturday afternoon when I came up from behind, wrapped my arms around him, and kissed his neck.

He groaned. “Keep doing that, and I’m gonna carry you back to bed.”

“Actually, I was thinking we could go out and do something fun today…”

“Like what?”