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“It was only because I thought there was something off about him—”
“Oh, I know,” Lydia cut in. “I’m giving you a hard time. You can tell my daughters that I’m only going to senior socials with friends. No more dating apps or meeting up with practical strangers. If there’s something to tell, my daughters will be the first to know.”
Steph smiled. “Great. I think that’s an excellent plan.”
Lydia laughed. They chatted during the color processing, then on Lydia’s way out of the salon, she placed a hand on Steph’s arm. “Don’t worry, dear. Just apologize to that man. He’s definitely interested, or he wouldn’t have ever come in.”
Steph stared after Lydia as she headed out of the salon.
She felt dumb all the way around, or at least that was what she told herself. She somehow made it through the next few clients and kept up a cheerful conversation, all the while thinking that things with Cal were probably beyond repair. But she did owe him an explanation at the very least. No matter how lame it might be.
You’re scared.The words pulsed through her.
“I’m not scared,” she murmured to herself as she drove home. She wanted a relationship with a great man … She was completely normal, and a great catch, if she said so herself. She was sweet, took care of her elderly grandpa, was a fabulous and thoughtful friend, had a good childhood—even though her parents had hightailed it as soon as she graduated—and she spent all day on her feet taking care of others. She constantly put herself out there—socialized, went on dates, tried to give people the benefit of the doubt …
She wasn’t purposely trying to push anyone away. She was open to a serious relationship. To having a true boyfriend. And like Lydia had pointed out, there were flaws each person had that could be worked around. And there were good guys all around her … just none that she’d dated, until Cal.
Bottom line, she wasn’t scared of Cal, or having a relationship with him. He was just too … much.
You’re scared.
The words came again. “I’m scared of what?” she asked the steering wheel. It didn’t reply. “Great, now I’m talking to myself.”
When she reached home, she found Pops vacuuming the living room floor.
She stopped and stared because she couldn’t remember the last time she’d witnessed this. When Pops saw her, he shut off the vacuum. “What? You’ve never seen a grown man vacuum before?”
“I’ve seen my dad … but never you.”
Pops flashed a grin.
“Good day?” Steph prodded. “No aching knees or stiff shoulders?”
Pops gave a test rotation of his shoulders. “Feeling great, and I have Cal to thank for it.”
“Cal?” She couldn’t be more surprised, but maybe she wasn’t surprised at all. “What does Cal have to do with your aches and pains?”
“He showed me a few stretches that day we painted the fence,” Pops said. “And I’ve been doing them morning and night. They’re making a difference.”
“Oh wow, I didn’t know.”
Pops tugged the cord from the outlet and began to wrap it around the vacuum. “There’s a lot of things you don’t know.”
Steph wouldn’t say there were a lot of things … She lived with Pops, and he wasn’t shy about speaking what was on his mind. “Well, I’m glad stretching is helping you. I’m also glad the carpet is clean.”
Pops chuckled, then said, “He was worried about you, you know.”
Steph paused before entering the kitchen. “Who was worried?”
“Your boyfriend. Stopped by here earlier. Asked if I needed help. Asked how you were doing. What you’ve been up to.” Pops set his hands on his hips. “Did the two of you have an argument or something?”
“No,” Steph said automatically, then backtracked. “Cal’s not my boyfriend.”
Pops let out a low whistle. “Oh boy. I didn’t think I’d need to talk to you about this sort of thing. Didn’t your parents do the honors?”
“What sort of thing?”
Pops heaved a sigh and rolled the vacuum to the utility closet. Steph watched his movements as her mind turned over the fact that Cal had come to her house. To ask about her. Had he really beenworried? Just another item to add to his hero list.
