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I sigh, raising my eyes to the sky. There is a scattering of wispy clouds, but for the most part, it’s free and clear. The temps are gradually getting warmer, but even in the upper forties, the wind has its moments of bite this side of the lake.
“How did she word it?” Cal presses when I don’t say anything.
I look over my shoulder at him and shrug. “She wants to think about it.”
“Did she say how long?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“Fuck.”
I huff. “Right? Maybe I should start planning it myself now.”
Cal rotates so his shoulder is leaning against the truck as he faces me. “What, like assume the answer is gonna be no?”
“Maybe?”
Truthfully, I’d rather plan for the worst, even if I’m wishing for something vastly different. If I can prepare for disappointment, I can handle it.
Cal watches me for a moment and his scrutiny starts to make me feel uncomfortable.
“What do you think her biggest concern is?” he finally spits out.
“How the hell should I know?” I ask with a shrug.
Deep down, I wish I did know. I used to know her so well that I’d be able to read her thoughts just by a look. But now, everything is so different.
He raises his right hand and rubs at his chin. “I mean, it’s her job to plan events. Nocté is a paying client—and I bet the money is nothing to sneeze at, considering. She’s clearly not a prude, either.“
My eyes dart to his. “How do you figure?”
“Didn’t you say she meets weekly at Dirty Books?” he fires back.
“I mean, yeah,” I say, even though my head is shaking back and forth.
His eyes narrow. “Do you think she has a thing for you, too?”
“What?No,”I say, snicking under my breath.
The thought is absolutely absurd—even if it does something weird to the pattern of my heartbeat.
“I’m just thinking if we knew what her objections were, we could convince her they’re no big deal. You know?”
“Why does it matter to you?”
Cal pushes off the truck and stands in front of me. “It doesn’t matter to me. It matters toyou. And considering how much you take care of everyone else around here, I figure you might need someone who’s got your back.”
My brows furrow and a lopsided grin makes its way to my face. “Thanks, man.”
He reaches out and slaps my shoulder. “Hey, don’t mention it.”
An idea pops into my head and I stand up, patting my front pockets.
“You goin’ somewhere?” Cal asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
I nod. “You gave me an idea. Think you can cover for me for an hour?”
Cal shrugs. “I mean, if Myles asks me where you went, I’m not gonna lie. That chick’s scary.”
