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“Steph—”
“Not to mention Lyle Gibson, who I thought adored everything about me, only to find out that he was hoping I’d go part-time at the salon to help with his two kids. He wasn’t impressed that I wasn’t a natural instant-mommy. I mean, I wasn’t opposed to the stepmom thing, but I wasn’t going to switch to part-time when we didn’t even have marriage plans.”
“It’s not you,” Cal said, but Steph continued with her stories, ignoring his comment. He grabbed a water bottle out of the fridge.
“John Anders said my religion was a deal breaker.”
Cal twisted the cap off the bottle. “What’s your religion?”
“I don’t have one. I mean do I think there’s a God? Yes. But do I go to church outside of weddings? No.”
“Steph, it’s not you.”
“And Henry Silva, well, he wasn’t about to give up his wife for me.”
Cal sputtered the water he’d just swallowed down. “What?”
Her laugh sounded hollow. “Don’t worry, I stopped seeing him once hetoldme he was married. The jerk. But then there was Chris Monson, who asked me to change over his laundry when he was going to be late for our date.”
Cal set down the water bottle on the counter and laughed.
“It’s not a joke, it’s true,” Steph said.
“I’m sure it’s true,” he said. “Bee, you have to know that none of those things are your fault. All of those guys were idiots.”
“How can that be true, though? Julie has a perfectly great husband. Brandy is dating an amazing guy. Everly is engaged to like a renaissance man. Yet every relationship I’ve had turned into unlivable complications. That tells me itisme. Or maybe I’ve been cursed?”
“Curses aren’t real, but you are, Steph,” he said. “You’re the real deal, and those men missed out, because they were jerks.”
“I didn’t tell you all that stuff for your pity.”
Cal rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t pity you. I admire you. And frankly, I’m glad none of those quote-unquote boyfriends stuck around.”
Her voice was much quieter when she asked, “You are?”
“I am.” He’d never been more sure of anything in his life. Steph still being single was the best news he’d probably ever had. He hadn’t exactly realized it until this very moment. Hearing about the men who’d hurt her over and over again only made Cal feel more protective of her.
“What are you doing tonight?” he asked.
“Tonight?” The surprise was plain in her voice. “Babysitting. I told Dave I’d watch Maren one more night so he can stay with Julie in the hospital.”
“Want some company?”
Steph laughed, then sobered. “Are you serious? What do you know about kids?”
“Not much, but I want to see you. I could bring dinner—what does she like to eat?”
“That’s the million-dollar question for a three-year-old.”
“So I’ll bring some choices.”
“Cal,” she said. “I shouldn’t have dumped so much on you—it wasn’t meant to tell you that you have to be the hero.”
“I’m not going to take offense to that, because I don’t think you need rescuing,” he said. “Or a hero. In fact, this is a selfish request since I want to spend time with you.”
“We saw each other yesterday, plus I have Maren.”
“Kids seem to like me. Just ask my neighbor.”
