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The best part of the night—other than the sex—was after we cleaned up, we laid on the couch watching television and I held her for the entire night. In that moment, I knew there was no one else out there for me. Calista Bailey was mine, and that was never going to change.
Sixteen
Calista
“I’m so happy you came. You’ve been MIA lately.” Aubrey looks at me with those inquisitive eyes. “And I saw Buzz Wheel… you guys were at Wok For U.”
“We’re not getting back together,” I say, walking farther into my dad’s restaurant. I spent the night at my apartment, so I walked over.
“I know that. Of course I do.”
She doesn’t. She and Declan have wished for Rylan and me to rekindle our relationship since the day we broke up. They don’t understand our breakup, and as much as I’ve been trying to lately, maybe I don’t either. I mean, the reasons we split still hold up—my future is in Lake Starlight, and Rylan’s is his soccer career in Chicago. He has no interest in ever returning to a small town, wanting to raise his kids in a big city where everyone isn’t a part of everyone’s business and doesn’t know who you are when you walk down the street.
“Hey, Dad.” I kiss his cheek as he’s preparing things for the taste test.
Aubrey and Declan hired my dad as their caterer, and although he rarely does things like this, he’s doing it because they’re my best friends and he loves Aubrey like a daughter.
“Heard you made Buzz Wheel?” The corner of his mouth inches up.
“Who told you?”
My dad doesn’t read it. Said he doesn’t want to find out what his kids are doing before they’re ready to tell him.
He shrugs. “Dion.”
“Figures.”
“Your brother is such a snitch.” Aubrey snags a carrot. “Thanks, Mr. B, I haven’t eaten anything all day. We’re in diet crisis mode.” She looks down at her nonexistent stomach.
My dad and I share a look and shake our heads.
“Well, where’s the groom? I’m almost ready. I know you have a cake, but wondered if you wanted some small desserts as well? I have a new pastry chef who’s amazing.”
“Sure. That’s a great idea.” Aubrey smiles at him.
“Great. I had her whip some samples up yesterday. Go sit at the table we put together.
Olive will be here shortly so she can discuss pastries with you.”
“I miss Nori,” I say.
My dad’s pastry chef for over twenty years recently went back to New York to open a bakery and take care of her elderly parents. Nori was originally from New York and met a local, Owen, when she moved here with her daughter to start working for my dad.
“Well, I’m sure New York City is culture shock to Owen.” My dad chuckles and continues to chop spices.
Aubrey and I go into the dining room of my dad’s restaurant. I’m tempted to eat outside, but the cold is setting in and Aubrey is always cold anyway, so I sit at the table.
Declan and Rylan walk in a few minutes later talking about the fact that Nashville is the leader in the playoffs so far. Declan wraps his arms around Aubrey’s waist and tugs her to him, kissing her.
“Well, hello to you too,” she says, a pink flush to her cheeks.
“Hey,” Rylan says and sits down next to me.
“Hi.”
“What happened? What’s this?” Declan looks at us. “You were just getting orange chicken together. I thought for sure you guys would be cordial.”
“We said hello,” Rylan says with wide eyes.
