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“You canceled on me,” she hisses through clenched teeth. “I thought … well it doesn’t matter what I thought because you canceled … without explanation.”
“My kids needed me,” I snap, I didn’t mean to be so harsh but her anger isn’t warranted right now, and to be honest, she’s pissing me off.
“Ohh,” she whispers, “is everything okay?” Her voice sounds remorseful and the look on her face confirms that.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” We reach the bar and I notice the bartender checking her out. I can’t help it and I growl. He doesn’t hear but Calliope does. She turns toward me, her eyebrows raised. “Did you just growl at that man?”
“Yes, that asshole was checking you out. And he’s not a man, he’s a boy.”
“Jealous?” she teases me.
“Yes. No one checks out what’s mine except for me.”
Her eyes widen and a smile graces her face. “I’m yours, am I?”
“Well, after this morning I thought so, but now I’m not so sure.”
“Weeelll, he does have a nice … pour.” She picks up the drink he placed in front of her and takes a sip.
“What can I get you, sir?” he asks me, but his eyes are once again locked on Calliope and her lips wrapped around the rim of her wine glass.
“Scotch. Neat.” He doesn’t move so I clear my throat. That snaps him to attention and he gets my drink.
“That kid just shit his pants,” Calliope whispers with a smile from behind her glass.
Shrugging at her, I turn around and lean against the bar. From the corner of my eye I watch Calliope. She has no idea just how beautiful she is. “You look beautiful this evening, Calliope.”
“Thanks, you look pretty spiffy yourself.”
“Spiffy, eh?”
“Yep.” The bartender places my drink down. Picking it up, I raise it. “To us,” I whisper.
“To us.” She clinks her glass with mine, just as Fern joins us.
“Cal, babe, sorry to interrupt, but your mom needs you for a family photo.”
“Of course,” she looks to me, “I’ll umm, see you soon.”
Nodding, she links arms with Fern and I watch the two of them whisper and giggle as they walk away. No doubt talking about me as they make their way over to Garrick, Jayne, and Cari. Standing here, I watch them and think about the future. This could be Calliope and me, well, not the twenty-five years married part, but I can see us, well me, being old and gray … er, celebrating our love together.
“What’s got you grinning like a loon, Dad?” Konrad asks before ordering himself a beer and me another scotch.
“Nothing in particular. Just happy for my best friend and his wife.”
“Ever think you’ll get married again?”
“Haven’t really thought about it,” I tell him, but that’s a lie because moments ago I was picturing Calliope and me, old and gray together, celebrating a major anniversary. “How about you? Got a lady friend back at school?”
“Lady friend, really, Dad?” Shrugging at him, I take a sip of my drink. “If you must know, I’m seeing a lovely nurse, Kate. I met her in the cafeteria after a grueling night shift. It’s just starting to get serious, Dad, but I really like her.”
“I’m happy for you, son.”
He leaves me to join Michael, and I find a table in the corner to hide out. Parties aren’t really my thing but when your best friend celebrates his twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with the love of his life, you put aside your unease and you man up.
The evening is well under way now, the meal is over and people are up dancing. I’m still sitting in the corner but my eyes are glued to Calliope as she and Fern dance up a storm. She starts to dirty dance with Fern and I have to say, it’s the hottest thing I’ve seen since I saw her in the pink number in the VIP room at The Nirvana Lounge. Seems working in the strip club has its benefits, and I really hope that one of these days she will dance for me like that.
Pulling my phone out, I tell her exactly that.
