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Caleb doesn’t say anything until we’re back in the SUV. I’ve stowed the canvas I painted in the back seat, although it isn’t my best effort.
He still doesn’t speak as he starts the engine and begins driving. We only have a few blocks to go to reach the Mexican restaurant where I’ve arranged to meet my friends at five thirty.
Caleb finds a nearby parking spot and shifts into park before taking off his seat belt and turning to face me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.” I can smile at him now. My heartbeat has slowed back down to normal. “I don’t know why he makes me feel so… gross.”
“Because he’s a creep, exactly as you’ve recognized. I know you’re trying to be polite, but any inch you give him, he’ll try to take a mile.”
“I know. But guys like him don’t react well to rejection. I’ve been trying to avoid that.”
“Yes. I understand. But I’m not sure there’s any balancing act you can manage with him that will keep him from throwing a fit. His ego is an impossible stumbling block for handling him with civility.”
“Yeah.” I sigh and close my eyes for a moment. “Oh well. I’ll keep trying to avoid him. Not sure what else I can do.”
“Like I said, I can talk to him if you want.”
I once again imagine the nature of the talk Caleb would have with Marcus. “No. Thanks, but let’s just leave it alone for now. If it gets worse, maybe you can do that.”
He nods soberly. “Understood.”
* * *
My best friends in town are Greg, Brandy, and Davida, and I’m meeting them for an early dinner.
Greg is a friendly, laid-back guy in his thirties who works as an accountant. He asked me out when I first moved to town, but he wasn’t at all offended when I said no and was happy to become friends instead. Brandy is in her late twenties—she’s a librarian at the public library and is single and always looking for a man. And Davida is forty—she got a good settlement from her divorce and so spends her time making pottery, thrifting, and supporting every do-good cause she encounters. She’s bisexual, but she only occasionally dates and isn’t interested in anything serious.
As different as the four of us are, we’ve become a close friend group. I see them at least a couple of times a week, and we talk daily on our group text.
We get to the restaurant early. Caleb scopes it out and talks to the manager while I stay in the SUV. Then he comes out to get me. He’s gotten us a table in a far corner, and he plants himself nearby, staying on guard as my friends arrive and we order drinks and food.
They’re excited about the bodyguard situation. Brandy wants to know if Caleb is single, and she doesn’t appear to care that he can probably overhear our conversation. I give her a look that quiets her, and we talk about other things instead.
I have one margarita. That’s all I allow myself anymore and only when I’m out with my friends. My primary addiction was never alcohol. It was those designer drugs I took. So when I got out of rehab, I never had many struggles with the temptation to overdrink. But because binge drinking was associated with my bad behavior, I’ve been careful about the amount of alcohol I consume. Only one at a time, and only once or twice a week on social occasions.
I no longer need alcohol or drugs to have a good time, and I’m in an upbeat mood when the group breaks up two hours later.
Caleb is still standing in position, and he’s quiet as he drives me back home, though he raises an eyebrow at the bag of takeout I got for him. He should have gone off duty hours ago. If he keeps it up, I’ll have to have a word with him—or maybe William.
I feel safe with him. I always have. But his shifts should only be eight hours long. He used to work twenty hours straight when I was really going at it hard in the past, but I’m not going to let that happen anymore.
No one should be taking advantage of him now.
Not even me.
3
Three weeks later,I wake up at eight thirty on a Friday morning. For a few moments, I’m confused about why I slept in since I usually have an alarm that goes off at eight in case I haven’t naturally woken up by then.
Then I remember that today is ice-skating.
For the past two weeks, Davida and I have been planning to go to an outdoor ice-skating rink today, but yesterday evening she got sick and had to pull out. Since I’ve had my heart set on the outing, I’ll simply go by myself.
It might not be quite as fun on my own, but I’ll still enjoy it. I’m not the kind of person who needs a companion for every activity anymore. I like my own company.
And Caleb will be tagging along anyway, so it’s not like I’ll be all alone.
Despite our difficult history and the job he’s here to do, Caleb has been pretty good company these past weeks. Not that he talks to me much except for practicalities. But his presence is more comforting and companionable than I would have expected.
