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CALLIE
“Donny?” I say into the phone.
“Change of plans,” he says. “I’m on my way back to town, and I won’t be in the city the rest of the week.”
“What happened?”
“Nothing. I just got a big dose of what’s important. That’s all. So…how about a dinner date?”
“Sure, but—”
“No buts. I’ll swing by the office and pick you up.”
“My car…”
“Got it. I’ll swing by your place and pick you up, then. In fact, I should be there right about the time you get home, so that works out great.”
“Okay, Donny. Are you sure you’re all right?”
“More sure than I’ve been in a while, baby. I can’t wait to see you.”
I smile into the phone. “I can’t wait either.”
“Love you, baby.”
“Love you too.”
We end up at Donny’s, where he and I prepare dinner for Talon and Jade.
Yes, I’m totally serious.
Callie Pike, whose kitchen repertoire consists of Hot Pockets and Trader Joe’s Moo Goo Gai Pan, is cooking dinner for her boyfriend’s parents.
God help me.
“So this is your idea of a dinner date, huh?” I say to Donny.
He looks up from the lettuce he’s shredding. “Darla’s out of town for a while. Her mom got hurt. I didn’t want to leave—”
“I’m kidding, Donny. I don’t mind. It’s just…I suck at cooking.”
“You’re doing great.”
“I’ve sliced a tomato. What else you got?”
“I’m no gourmet chef either, but I’m actually having fun, Callie.” He kisses my lips. “I kind of like playing house with you.”
Hamburgers. Donny and I surely can handle that. Still, I’ll let him man the grill. If I do it, the glorious Steel beef burgers are likely to end up as hockey pucks.
Talon and Jade are sitting on the deck, the dogs bounding around them.
“Your dad looks great,” I say.
“Yeah. Nothing keeps him down for long.” Donny starts squishing ground beef in his hands and shaping it into patties.
“What else can I do?” I ask.
“Slice up an onion? There’s a bunch of them in the pantry.” He gestures toward the door.
