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His laughter was soft, and it buzzed through Steph, feeling like she’d been draped in a warm blanket. She remembered the time when she wondered if he ever laughed, and she remembered the time she’d first heard it.
“You drive a Honda?” She stopped dead before a completely normal-looking sedan.
Cal unlocked the car with his key fob, then opened the passenger side door. “I do. I’ve been domesticated and tamed.”
Steph scanned his person. “By a wife?”
This brought a laugh from him, and she found herself smiling back. “No wife. And no girlfriend if that’s your next question. Life has kicked me upside the head a few times, and I guess I finally got smart.”
She moved past him to climb into the passenger seat. “Uh, a haircut and a Honda don’t completely change a person.”
Cal only smiled and shut the door.
As she waited for him to walk around and climb in, she looked about—searching for any clues as to how much of a turnaround Cal did. The car was clean. Mostly. In the back seat were a couple of auto magazines and a box of protein bars. Hmmm.
Cal climbed in and started the engine. The heat came through the vents, warming up by the second, and soon Steph was toasty enough to slip off his suitcoat.
“So, about that apology?” she asked as he steered through the parking lot.
“Didn’t think you were going to let me forget that.”
Curiosity was raging in her veins, but she carefully folded her arms and said, “I’m listening.”
CAL CONNER HAD BEEN DOING a lot of apologizing lately, so what were a few more—especially since Steph Grady deserved every last one. He couldn’t help but think if he’d stuck around Everly Falls a while longer, they might have dated—for real. If she had wanted to, of course. Her grandfather was certainly not a fan of his, and Cal didn’t blame him in the least.
Cal had been rough around the edges as a teenager—to put it nicely—but he’d learned over the past few months to stop ignoring his past. And most importantly, to be open about who he really was. When people knew the truth, it wasn’t such a bad, terrifying thing. They understood, they gave him a second chance, and he’d even found a career he enjoyed and could be successful at.
He’d known about the high school reunion for several weeks, of course, and that’s when he’d put his plan into action. If there was one gaping hole in his life, it was Everly Falls. And it was time to put it to rights.
So here he was … apologizing. So far tonight, he’d apologized to the principal of the high school, who’d made an appearance at the class reunion. He’d apologized to a couple of teachers he tracked down as well. He apologized to his former classmates where he could—at least the ones he remembered. Everyone had been gracious, forgiving. A few gave him blank stares as if they didn’t remember. And maybe they hadn’t, but he’d never forget.
Now … Steph was one of the important ones—probably the most important one.
They were already on the street where she’d directed him, and he’d have to make it quick. He didn’t want to commandeer too much more of her time. Driving her home was a bonus, of course. Steph was still beautiful—hadn’t really changed in looks, but there were subtle changes. Her makeup was more natural—not that she needed it. Her hair was a darker red now, more auburn. And she was a bit more curvy. He probably shouldn’t admit to noticing that.
He glanced over at her as he slowed in front of her grandpa’s house. He hadn’t expected to feel such a jolt when he saw her at the reunion. Even in a crowded gym that blared music, he noticed her the second he walked in. How could he not? She was vibrant, beautiful, and drew people to her like a magnet.
He moved his gaze to the yard of the house—the grass was in a sorry state. “Does your grandpa have a blight on his lawn?”
“A blight?”
“Yeah, it’s a grass disease.”
“I don’t know.” Steph sounded like she’d never heard of grass problems, when it was clear the yard was in vast need of repair.
“Does he have a yard service, or anything—”
“Look, Cal,” she cut in with that pert voice of hers. “I’m where the buck stops. Okay? I do the yard, the house, the shopping, take care of Pops … everything. How about we focus on you for a moment.”
He almost laughed, but he didn’t. Her bluntness was a nice reminder of her fiery personality. “Right. The apologies.”
“Right.” Her tone softened a tad.
He left the engine idling, but turned off the headlights. “I need to back up to before I came to Everly Falls my junior year. And if it’s okay, save your questions until the end?”
Steph nodded.
He took a deep breath. “My mom was killed in a car accident when I was fifteen.”
