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“I really like him, Brandy,” she whispered. “More than like him. I … I don’t want to mess this up like I’ve messed up all my other relationships.”
Brandy’s eyes widened. “Why do you think you’d mess things up with Cal? He’s totally into you, Steph. You can’t say you haven’t noticed.”
“I’ve noticed he really like Pops,” she said. “It might sound petty to say this, but Cal sees him as the father figure he’s never had.”
Brandy took a step closer. “Cal’s not coming around because of your grandpa. Give the man more credit. He’s coming around because he wants out of the friend zone, and he’s being extremely patient, if you ask me.”
Steph released a sigh. “Whether he likes me or not isn’t the question. Because I’m terrible at relationships, and I’d rather have him as a friend than as a nothing.”
“I get that you don’t want to date him because you think it will only end in disaster,” Brandy said. “But what you don’t have is another Cal.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Brandy lowered her voice because Pops was now heading their way, “none of those men you dated were Cal. He’s the real deal, and I think that’s why you’re scared.”
Steph was scared, she couldn’t deny that. Scared of giving a man her heart and having it rejected. Especially when that man was Cal. He would be impossible to recover from.
“Thanks, Brandy,” Steph said, because Pops was now within hearing distance. She gave her friend a quick hug, then released her. She didn’t know where Cal was, but Pops was already climbing in her car, so she climbed in, too.
As they pulled away from the curb, Steph said in a cheerful tone, “You had a busy day.”
“I’m going to tell you this once, and I hope you remember it, Steph. Great men don’t grow on trees.”
STEPH REREAD THE TEXTS SHE and Cal had exchanged in the last couple of days as she sat in her car, right before heading back into the Kanes’ house. The wedding would start in a couple of hours, and she’d be helping the other bridesmaids finish last-minute details for the bride.
But right now, her mind wasn’t on the wedding, but Cal. His job had ended last Saturday, but he’d made no gesture to come to Everly Falls. And with all the wedding planning, she didn’t have time to visit Grandin. Plus, she didn’t want to be an hour away from Pops in the foreseeable future.
He was still doing physical therapy, and her friends had been generous to help with his appointments this past week. So Steph felt okay about leaving him home when she was working, although she’d bought him a medical alert bracelet to notify the paramedics if he fell.
The text exchanges with Cal had been casual, almost superficial. He hadn’t renewed his offer about taking Pops to the wedding, and Steph didn’t know what she would have done if he had. So she’d brought Pops along with her, and he was parked in the living room of the Kane house, chatting with Jorge.
Steph had returned to her car because she needed privacy, and she didn’t want anyone to overhear her phone call to Cal. She knew if she didn’t do it now, she’d chicken out again. Whether he was coming or not … she needed to tell him. Several chats with Brandy had convinced Steph that if she never took a chance, then she might as well give up Cal completely.
And she couldn’t do that. At least not without her confession.
Oh, and Pops’s berating had only solidified that Steph was being very, very obtuse.
Cal Conner did like her, and he deserved to know how she felt about him. She only hoped he hadn’t changed his mind about her.
Steph drew in a breath, closed her eyes for a few seconds, then opened them. She was ready. For better or for worse.
She called his number, not knowing if he’d answer. He could be driving to Everly Falls right now. Or maybe he wasn’t coming to the wedding. She hadn’t dared to ask him or presume. And she hadn’t dared to ask Austin or Ian about him either.
The phone rang four times, then went to voice mail, which told her at least he wasn’t screening her calls. As his voice message came on, her heart thumped loudly. The phone beeped, and the moment arrived.
“Hey, Cal,” she said, knowing she sounded breathless, but it was too late to hang up now. “I wasn’t sure if you were coming to Everly and Austin’s wedding, but I wanted you to know …” She paused. “I wanted you to know that I’m really grateful for all your help these past few weeks. Pops has turned a corner in so many ways, and I know it’s because of your relationship with him. But I also wanted to say that I’m grateful to have you in my life, too.” This was where the words began to waver because she couldn’t keep the emotion out of her voice. “I know I told you we needed to just be friends because I’m terrible at relationships beyond friendship … but I wondered what you’d think if I changed my mind.”
She paused to catch her breath over her wildly beating heart. “I guess it’s not really changing my mind aboutyou, because you’re an amazing man, and I’ve known that for a long time. Ten years, to be exact. It’s changing my mind about oursituation. I just … I just wanted to tell you that I’ve seen the light, so to speak, and I … miss you. And I’m sorry if I’ve said or done things that made you think I don’t like you. Because I do like you. I mean, you already know that, but you also know how messy I can make things when dating a guy … but I guess I wanted to know if you don’t mind a little messy. Then maybe—”
There was a beep and the call cut off.
Steph stared at the phone in disbelief. Her message was so long and rambling that the voice mail had decided it was enough. Her stomach twisted. Should she call back? Leave a second message?
She needed advice, but she couldn’t burst into the house and talk to Brandy, who was helping her sister get ready for her wedding. Steph closed her eyes and reviewed what she’d said. She’d made herself clear. A second voice mail wouldn’t change or redeem anything.
If Cal thought she was ridiculous, then so be it. She’d just have to break the news gently to Pops later on that he wouldn’t be coming around anymore.
A text beeped on her phone, and her heart nearly stopped.
