“Do you guys want to order some dinner?” Larke asked, picking up the menu Jane had brought us earlier. “Or a snack? I’m hungry.”
“I wish. But I’d better head home and relieve Hux.” Everly nodded to her breasts. “And some of this pressure.”
Since they’d ridden downtown together, Lucy stood too.
“Come and see me at the gallery.” Everly hugged me goodbye.
“I do need some art for my house.”
“I’m singing with the band here next weekend if you want to come watch,” Lucy said. “It’s usually a fun time.”
I smiled wider. “I’ll be here.”
With one last wave, they headed for the door, casting a glare in Cal’s direction before walking outside.
He was hunched over his space, his fingers clasped around his pint glass, still trying to blend. Every time the waitress pushed through the swinging door that led to the kitchen, Cal perked up, but the food on her tray was never for him.
He’d clearly come for dinner. The bar was packed, but it wasn’t exactly quiet either. I suspected that as soon as he inhaled his meal, he’d retreat to the safety of his motel room.
“This has been so much fun,” I told Larke as we sat back down to finish our drinks. “Thank you for inviting me.”
“Of course. I’m so glad you’re—oh, no.” She ducked her chin, shifting so her back was to the door as a man strode inside.
“What?”
“Oh, it’s this new salesman who works at Dad’s dealership. His name is Peter. I went in last month to take my brother this book I thought he’d like. Zach got busy with a customer, so I was just hanging at the sales desk. Peter started hitting on me and not in the smooth, subtle way. More in the overly aggressive, you know he’s going to be horrible in bed, kind of way.”
I cringed.
“Exactly. He’s asked me out twice since and still hasn’t caught on that I’m very, very not interested.”
“Ah.” I watched as Peter walked to the bar, surveying the room.
Luckily for Larke, she wasn’t the person who caught his attention. No, he had already zeroed in on Cal. Peter took the stool directly beside Cal’s and held out a hand.
Cal only spared him a flat look.
But did Peter get the hint? Nope. He nudged Cal’s elbow with his own, then started talking like they were long-lost friends. His nasal laugh carried across the room and he spoke with his hands flailing.
Cal’s shoulders curled in tighter. He adjusted the brim of his hat, pulling it lower. I’d give this situation three minutes. Either Cal would tell Peter to scram, or he’d give up on his meal and walk.
Poor Cal.
No. Damn it. He’d never earned my pity, so when would I stop giving it freely?
“Can I ask you something?” Larke nodded to the bar. “Kerrigan is torn about Cal. Don’t get me wrong, she’s on your side. She adores you. But she says he’s . . . nice. Especially around Pierce. And she says he’s really good with Elias.”
“He is,” I admitted. Cal was undeniably sweet with Elias. They loved each other. And the same was true with Pierce. “Cal is different around Pierce. He always has been. They are fiercely loyal to one another.”
“Does that bug you?” she asked.
“No. Pierce is a good friend. He’s loyal to me too.” And I’d never ask him to take sides.
Somehow Pierce had managed to maintain friendships with both Cal and me, while respecting the fact that Cal and I couldn’t play nice in the sandbox.
“Well, I’m on your side,” she said. “Even if Cal is insanely gorgeous.”
I stiffened and took another gulp of my martini.
There was no desire or sexual undertone to Larke’s statement. It was simply factual. Cal was insanely gorgeous. She could add that to his Wikipedia page and no one would contest it. Larke hadn’t said it to bother me, yet a twinge crawled beneath my skin, making me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
Freaking Cal.
I wasn’t going to let him ruin my night, so I brushed off the feeling and took another drink.
“I haven’t been on a decent date in a year.” Larke groaned. “I miss sex. Good, toe-curling, can’t-get-enough-of-each-other sex. And my prospects in Calamity are slim. I might die a spinster with my vibrator clutched to my hand.”
I laughed. “I’m giving up on dating, much to my mother’s dismay. The last guy I went out with was a year ago. He was this suave, sexy attorney who took me to flashy restaurants and ordered expensive bottles of wine. I found out after two weeks that he wasn’t an attorney but a suit salesman. He lived on his sister’s couch and he was looking to score my apartment, not me.”
“Asshole.”
“Pretty much.”
Apparently, he’d been scoping out my building, searching for prey. I’d only found out the truth because he’d dated a woman three floors down. After she’d spotted us together, she’d caught me in the elevator to give me a warning. I’d dumped him and thanked her.
Part of me thought she and I would have shared a comradery after dealing with such a creep. But the few times I’d seen her in the building’s on-site gym afterward, she’d barely spared me a glance.
My apartment in Denver had been in the Grays Peak building. The company offices occupied the top floors while the lower levels were residential. Staff members had first pick whenever vacancies came open.
The views of the city were stellar. I’d woken up many mornings to watch the sun rise over the mountains in the distance. The location was close to the best restaurants and boutique shops. The apartments themselves were top-of-the-line.
But I hadn’t known my neighbors. I hadn’t felt part of a community. And those restaurants? I’d usually eaten at them alone.
No, I’d take my little house on my simple street in Calamity. Because after only two weeks, it already felt more like home.
Even if Cal was a temporary thorn in my side.
Peter was still talking to him, blathering on like Cal was actually participating in the conversation.
“Can I ask you something else?” Larke asked, following my gaze. “Have you and Cal ever . . .”
“Oh. Uh . . .” I didn’t even get the chance to lie. My face gave away the truth. Damn it.
“Sorry.” She held up her hands. “That was none of my business. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s fine.” This was part of friendship, right? Confiding in each other? Did that even count as a confession?
“No, that was rude,” she said. “It’s just that earlier, when he looked at you, it was like the rest of the room disappeared. And the two of you seem to—”
“Hate each other,” I finished.
“Yeah. Of course.” She smiled and straightened. “I was thinking about ordering food, but it looks like the kitchen is backed up. I don’t know if I can wait an hour. Maybe we should call it a night?”
“Yeah, I think I’d better head home too. Tomorrow is the first day at the new Grays Peak building, and I have a feeling it will be hectic trying to work and get my office set up.”
“This was so fun.” She stood, pulling me into her arms when I was on my feet. “Call me. I was going to come watch Lucy sing too. Let’s go together.”