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“We’ll walk her home.” Mr. Durkman is on his feet, too, as is his wife.
Mrs. Fields downs what’s left of the wine in her glass before she’s up and ready to call it a night.
Calliope slowly stands too. “I’ll go too.”
“No,” I spit out. “Hang out for a minute. I want to show you something.”
It’s my dick, but my respect for her and good old-fashioned manners won’t allow me to whip it out when the coast is clear, so I smile.
“All right,” Calliope says with just enough trepidation in her tone to suggest she might make a break for the door when she can.
I sprint to grab the leftovers before walking my guests to the door, chatting quietly with them about when we’ll do this again.
I know that most of them have grandchildren they don’t see often, so in a sense, I’ve stepped into that role for them. I’ve done that happily. I miss my grandparents. Two have died. The other two are off traveling the world, so my time with them is limited to video chats and phone calls.
As the door shuts behind my guests, I take a breath.
I’m alone at last with Calliope.
I start toward her, but the sound of my phone ringing stalls me.
“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, making my way to where I left it on the dining room table.
Calliope laughs. “Something tells me that your work is never done.”
“You’ve got that right,” I say as I scoop up my phone and read the name on the screen. “It’s Decky. He can go to hell.”
I silence the ringing and look up to see Calliope smiling. “Why does your brother call you Saint?”
That’s a lot to unpack, so I give her the condensed version. “My grandma first called me Saint because I was always the kid who helped out anyone who needed a hand. I outgrew the nickname, but Decky hasn’t let it go.”
She leans closer to me, tilting her chin up, so our eyes meet. “I think it suits you.”
That is a compliment I don’t deserve, so I divert. “Just like Champ suits you.”
She gifts me a brilliant smile. “No one but you calls me that. I found that apron at a second-hand shop months ago. Everyone who works at the bar wears it.”
“No one wears it better than you do.” I look into her eyes. “Are you ready to see something spectacular?”
“I’m ready,” she says.
I hold out a hand to her. “Come with me, Champ.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Callie
I knewthe building had amenities, but I didn’t realize it had a magical garden in the form of a courtyard on the roof level.
The concrete beneath our feet is the only thing that isn’t vibrant and welcoming.
Off-white furniture sits in one corner, a large grill is nearby, and a glass dining table complete with stunning high-backed white chairs is right in front of us.
Sprinkled throughout the space are flowering potted plants. It’s all lit with soft lights set up in each corner.
I had no idea an oasis like this existed in the middle of this city.
I glance over my shoulder to see the door Sean just opened with a key.
