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“Why? What the hell changed?”
“I don’t know.” I shrug. The words are on the tip of my tongue, knowing that it would probably be better coming from me versus Cal anyway, but we have a plan. A plan that doesn’t involve me telling Aria in a public place on Christmas Eve. Aria would have questions. Aria would yell. And cry. And maybe throw something. Now really isn’t the time. “Maybe it’s for the best, that he’s not at dinner…since Grant will be there?”
“I guess…I feel like he doesn’t even want to go to Margie’s tomorrow. It’s so strange.” She takes a sip of her water and tucks a dirty blonde tress behind her ear. I’m about to ask her if she’ll still be at Margie’s for Christmas when a voice floats around us.
“Aria!” A vibrant redhead with dark brown eyes and breasts that make it so a guy probably never knew what color her eyes actually were comes towards the table.
“Ashley, hey!” Aria stands up and hugs her before pointing at me. “Ash, this is—”
“Maddie! Oh my gosh, you’re even prettier in person.” She presses a hand to her large chest and stares at me for a second, as if she’s shocked that I’m really in front of her. “When Cal showed me your picture, you did not look this grown up!” She shakes her head and looks at Aria. “Guys and their daughters, I guess.”
“He’s not my father,” I snap, harsher than I planned. But I don’t know who this girl is and I’m already on edge from the conversation about Henry and now this.
“Well, I know…not technically, but he always kept me up to date on how you were doing. He’s so proud of you.” She beams and it makes me want to smack the look off her face.
I cock my head to the side innocently. “You’re friends with Cal?”
“Well, we’re a little more than friends, if you know what I mean.” She giggles and Aria shakes her head. Bile rises in my throat, and I take a breath in an attempt to keep my chicken wrap from coming back up. I clear my throat and take a sip of water that I pray cools the heated anger rising within. “I haven’t talked to him in a while though, I should give him a call. See if he has plans for New Year’s.”
“I doubt it…” Aria starts when I interrupt.
“I think he does actually. He mentioned something in passing.” I shrug. I want so badly to say that he has plans with me but I don’t know how to phrase it without sounding li
ke a jealous girlfriend.
“Do you know if he’s seeing anyone?” Ashley asks and I’ve officially had enough of this conversation.
“Aria, I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.” I point towards the edge of the room and she nods, probably sensing my tension over this conversation. I’m barely two seconds away from the table when I’m sending a text.
Me: Can you talk?
His response is instant and while I want to say it’s the attentive boyfriend in him, Cal has always been quick to respond to me whenever I needed him.
Superhero: You okay?
As much as I want to say no, I know that will send him running, thinking I’m hurt or unsafe in some way.
Me: Yes. Just need to talk to you for a second.
Superhero: Give me two minutes.
I pace the length of the bathroom, grateful that it’s empty when my phone begins to vibrate.
“I’m not exactly alone,” he tells me instantly.
“Can you go somewhere to change that?”
“I had to walk out of an interrogation. What’s going on?”
I sigh, knowing that now isn’t the time to bring up my jealousies. I don’t say anything because if we can’t really have this conversation then there is no point in talking.
I hear a door opening and closing. “Spit it out, baby.”
“Baby?” I question, wondering if anyone thinks that he’s talking to me.
“I walked away.”
I let out a breath and the tears spring to my eyes over something so simple. “I love you.”
