That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 11

Aneka

We had lots of datesthe next two weeks, texting all the time and seeing each other nearly every day he was in town. We drove to Kilgore for Shakespeare in the Park, went glamping near Canton, and found other day trips to spend time together away from prying local eyes.

When we left his house or mine, we met up with friends and got many looks. A few people asked about the photo, but I dodged their inquisitions with a simple, “You know how people love to talk,” and left it at that.

But I knew I couldn’t hold off the rumors forever, and after a while, hiding out seemed silly. So when Caleb called from out of town and told me he’d hired a ‘90s RB cover band from Austin to play at the Fodder Saturday night, I gave up.

“We should go together,” I offered.

“There’s a ‘should’ I like. Pick you up at seven?”

“I’ll be ready.”

“I better dust off my Roger Rabbit.” The smile in voice tripped my pulse.

I tipped my head back and cackled. “You’re a mess.”

“Always.”

I was excited, then nervous, and by Saturday night, a wreck. I called Natalie so she could talk me off the ledge. She, of course, thought I was being ridiculous.

“Everyone’s been feeling sorry for you. Now, they can be jealous. Go live your best life.”

“You sound like an Instagram post.”

“It’s time. Take your boyfriend out in public,” she ordered.

“Boyfriend? I...it’s...two weeks doesn’t make a boyfriend.”

“When you’re banging every night he’s in town, it does.”

My face got so hot, I had to grab a piece of mail from the desk in the office to fan myself. “I never should have told you about sleeping with Caleb.”

“Wouldn’t have mattered. You’re walking different, honey. You have that getting laid swing to your hips. I’d have known anyway,” Natalie insisted.

“Now, you’re making stuff up.”

She snort-laughed. “Keep telling yourself that. You look way too happy. It shows.”

“Why did I call you? You’re making it worse,” I yelled, but then a car door slammed outside. “Shit. He’s here.”

“Ooh, you ready? Your hips loose? We’re old. You better stretch, sweetie.” Then, she laughed so hard, I worried for her health.

“I’m hanging up.”

Then I did.

The bell rang. I smoothed the skirt on my slinky blue floral A-line dress and opened the door.

Caleb grinned.

“You practicing your Reebok? This band’s Jodeci covers are tight.”

He jumped back and illustrated his throwback dance moves.

I stepped out and closed the door, laughing. “I don’t need to practice. I’ve maintained my skills by embarrassing Naomi and Jeremy. If I ever wanted to get them loaded in the car and ready to leave a kid’s party, all I had to do was start cabbage patching. Boom. Home by nine.”

He chuckled, and I followed him to the car where he opened the passenger side door. Across the street, the Hattie Williams waved.

“Aneka! Don’t you look lovely? Hello, Caleb. You kids look like you’re up for an agreeable evening.”

Mrs. Williams was on the board of the mostly white church in town and a first-class dealer of Bliss secrets.

“That’s the plan,” I shouted back before climbing into his car.

He walked around, got in, and started the engine.

“News of our date is likely filtering from house to house as we speak,” he said. “That woman practically has a switchboard connecting every blue hair in town.”

I looked in the rearview mirror. Sure enough, the cotton-haired lady was on her phone. I leaned back and laughed.

“Give her some credit. She hasn’t said anything about your car being parked here several times a week.”

“How do you know?”

“My parents haven’t called yet.”

* * *

The Fodder pulsed withthe beat of the latest pop songs when we arrived.

Caleb guided me gently by the elbow from the entry hall into the dining room. Once inside, an elevated area on the left ran parallel to the entry hall with three booth tables and the best view of the stage. I followed Caleb up four quick steps and spotted “reserved” signs on each.

“Reserved for who?” I asked.

“Us.”

As soon as we sat, Quinn Talbot, the Bigsbys’ granddaughter, wheeled a cart up a ramp on the far end. I straightened to see into the two ice buckets she began unloading. One had two bottles of champagne and the other twelve beers.

“Here you go. If you need anything else, let me know. I’ll be taking care of y’all night,” she said.

I glanced at the stretch of empty reserved seats. “I think this will hold us for a while. Natalie said she may stop by with Mia.”

My voice curled up in uncertainty.

“Colton and Victor are coming a little later. Tonight should be packed, and I don’t like fighting for space,” Caleb explained, then turned back to Quinn. “This is enough for now. Check back on us in a few.”

“Sure thing,” she chirped, adding, “Pleasure to see you, Ms. Shaw. How’re your folks? They’re in Panama, right?”

“Yes. They sent me photos this morning from a monkey tour they went on with their friends.”

“Monkeys?” Quinn’s nose twitched up as she laughed.

“There’s a whole island of monkeys, I guess. They looked cute, and my parents looked thrilled. Thanks for asking. How are your parents? I saw your grandparents yesterday.”

The Bigsbys had been bickering over trimming a tree in their front yard before Harriet shooed Ron into the house. The octogenarians were either sniping at each other or engaging in mildly uncomfortable PDA on the porch of their blueberry-colored house. They loved smooching in their double rocking chair between sips of margaritas.

“Mom and Dad are doing fine. They moved to Longview for Dad’s job, but they’re doing fine. I’m staying in their house for the time being. Kind of house sitting like you, I guess,” she said with another chuckle. “I enjoy having the place to myself.”

“Agreed. Of course, my parents are supposed to be back by the end of the summer. I might have to get my own place,” I said.

Caleb popped his head toward me. “So you’re staying in town?”

We hadn’t talked about my long-term plans. “Yes. I don’t want to stay in Houston. My company bought out my contract. I’m not working there. I’ll have to find something here.”

“Well, if you don’t mind going home smelling like beer and wings, we’re hiring. Business has really picked up lately thanks to all the events Mr. McKnight brings in. Looking forward to tonight. Mama listens to all kinds of RB. I love that old school vibe,” Quinn said, then blushed. “Not that it’s old music.”

Caleb cackled. “It’s okay. I also enjoy an old school vibe.”

“I better go check on my other tables. Be back in a bit,” the young woman said and hurried off.

“She’s sweet.”

“Even though she called us old?”

I nodded and laughed. “We won’t eat and drink enough for three big tables’ worth of tips for the night. I hope she has enough other tables.”

Caleb laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I have it covered.”

I ratcheted down my anxiety, trying not to think of all the times I had to flip open the vinyl portfolio at the end of a meal and double check Elijah’s gratuity. Or the time on our honeymoon that he left one poor server a penny tip because his dish arrived lukewarm.

A penny. Just so the girl would know he hadn’t forgotten.

I’d quickly slipped in a twenty while he went to the bathroom and rushed him to the car before he noticed. I didn’t want to argue in the restaurant but told him when we got back to our hotel that he’d better never do that again. That was our first fight as a married couple.

He quit leaving insulting tips, but getting over ten percent out of him practically took an electrified cattle prod.

Of course, I wouldn’t have to do that with Caleb.

“What time does the band come on?” I asked.

He flicked a look at his watch. “About an hour.”

“I can’t remember the last time I listened to live music—unless you count going to symphony at Christmas with the church youth group.”

“Why shouldn’t you count that?”

“I spent most of the time making sure the kids didn’t fall asleep. It’s not their favorite outing, but the youth leader insists on doing it every year. It’s beneficial for them if no other reason than they have to dress up. Kids hardly ever do that these days—not even for church,” I said.

“No patent leather shoes?” Caleb asked.

I flung my face into my palms. “You would bring that up. Mom loved those shoes.”

He tugged at my elbow until I dropped one hand and stroked my cheek. My breath caught, and everything below the neck stilled as heat suffused every pore.

“I liked them too. I remember they had those little black bows. You were so proper.” A tight press of his lips stopped his snicker before it gained momentum.

“Kids still dressed like kids back then. Even teenagers.” I sighed. “God, so many dresses with pilgrim’s collars.”

“Like your senior picture,” he said with a broad grin.

I’d worn a red and blue plaid dress with a wide white pilgrim collar and curled my hair with high-arching bangs barely shy of Salt-N-Pepa territory. I wanted an asymmetric cut—one side over my ear and the other at my chin—but that was too edgy for Mom. The minute I got to Austin, I got my hair cut that way, only to realize a week later no one outside of the small towns around me was still wearing that late ‘80s hair.

“You’re lucky you don’t have to look back at your high school photos with shock and embarrassment.”

“I don’t know. My senior year, I rocked a do close that was very Kid N Play.”

“Guys still wear that hair. No girls are running around like the Mayflower crashed into a Nine West,” I shot back, then smoothed my fingertips up his close-cut hairline over the crown of his head. “You should bring it back.”

Caleb moaned and fell sideways into my shoulder, laughing. “Oh, my god.”

“Not like Kid.” I patted the top of his head and lifted my hand an inch. “Something like Steve Harvey circa Kings of Comedy.”

He snatched my hand and pulled it down to his chest. “You’d have me looking a fool.”

“I see how all the ladies are looking at you,” I sang in return and lightly smacked his handsome cheek. “I’ve got to do something to ugly you up.”

Caleb laughed and waved a hovering Quinn over to take our order.

* * *

Our food arrived aroundthe same time Victor and Natalie bounced up the steps to our table, with Mia and Colton trailing behind.

Drinks flowed, and everyone chatted and ordered. As the band warmed up, Leslie Amberton spotted us and came over as it launched into its first song, a blazing rendition of “Poison” by BelBivDevoe.

Colton’s eyes lit up. “Remember dancing to this at that house party senior year?”

Caleb grinned. “Hell yeah! That was a wild night.”

I sighed. “I missed that party. My parents wouldn’t let me go.”

Natalie smirked. “I snuck out and went up to the overlook by the lake in the woods. You know, where everyone would go to listen to music, park, and neck.”

Colton chuckled. “We also played seven minutes in heaven that night.”

Leslie’s eyes widened. “Oh my god, I remember! Colton and Natalie totally made out!”

Victor’s brows shot up. “Wait, what? Neither of you mentioned this before.”

“It was just a game. Mostly.” Natalie eyed Victor, then smirked at Colton, who grinned.

Victor’s jaw tightened, a flash of irritation in his eyes. Caleb smacked his old roommate’s shoulder with the back of his hand. “That was ages ago.”

“Yeah. Can’t get too mad about the past. Whatever happened was all so we could end up right here. Hanging out. Having fun. No harm, no foul,” Colton said.

His attempt at smoothing Victor’s ruffled feathers collided with Natalie’s commitment to mischief. I sent her a stifling look, but she ignored me. Irritating the man had become a pastime.

But Natalie cut him off with a provocative joke. “Exactly. It was teenage experimentation. Still, I wonder if Colton’s kissing game improved as much as his throwing arm.”

She batted her boozy eyes at Colton, who roared. Victor’s eyes narrowed, but he stayed silent.

Caleb dropped my head and whispered in my ear. “We better escape before the fighting starts. Let’s dance.”

“Perfect.”

I grabbed his hand as soon as he extended it. A jolt of electricity shot up my arm, making my heart race with anticipation. Our fingers intertwined as if they’d been missing each other all these years.

“Absolutely,” I replied.

We made our way to the dance floor, and a rich, soulful melody swept us into the crowd. My mind wandered back to the days when I spent school dances seeking the simple sight of him across the room. Now I knew he’d done the same.

What if we’d had our chance back then? If I’d gone to the parties and found my way to Caleb when we were younger? I would never take back my marriage. That would mean not having Jeremy and Naomi.

But what if...?

The question circled in my head, conjuring up alternative realities.

What if I hadn’t run from him at our friend’s weddings or high school reunions? I could have had this sooner. The warmth of Caleb’s arms around me. It felt right. Being with him had never felt wrong.

Ever.

Our connection was old, new, and growing faster than I could have predicted when I roared up the highway from Houston a few weeks ago. It was more intoxicating than the beer and champagne, and I wanted to grab hold of it even if it scared me more than tabloid reports or even thinking about Elijah going to prison.

“Is everything all right?” Caleb asked, his voice gentle yet laced with concern. “You seem...distracted.”

I shook my head, trying to dispel my apprehensions. “I’m good. I’m thinking.”

“Uh, oh. Good thoughts or bad thoughts?” He pulled me closer, and his hot breath tingled my scalp.

“Just thoughts. I’m trying to not to judge.” I paused. “Do you believe in fate? Like the movement of the universe is bound to converge on some destined outcome?”

His chest convulsed as he scoffed, and we swayed in time to the crooning ballad.

“No. I didn’t get where I am without working hard to create my own future.”

“But you had help. Your grandmother bringing you to live with her. Colton’s dad finding you with that stolen car before the sheriff did and going with you to return it to the mayor. Getting matched with Victor as a freshman roommate.” My voice trailed off into Caleb’s neck. “Lots of things that led to you coming right back here. To now. With me.”

“I believe in choices. Grandma and Mr. Gardner chose to help me. I chose to get my life together. Chose Victor as a partner. Chose to be here with you,” he said. “You’re not here because of fate. You’re here because you like me. True?”

He stepped back and spun me around, pulling me back to his chest. Confidence poured from his eyes and made me shiver down to my strappy heeled sandals.

“True.”

“And isn’t it more exciting to wonder where we go from here than to think destiny dictates our will?”

“Probably.” I smiled and clutched his shoulders.

“Love isn’t in fate. It’s in the choosing.”

My toe caught on the floor as we moved, sending me stumbling into him.

“Yes. I said love,” he insisted and spun me again, stopping as our eyes met.

“Is that what this is?”

We stood still in the raucous crowd.

“I don’t know yet. Do you?”

“No.”

He pressed close, and we moved again.

“Isn’t that exciting?”

I didn’t answer him. The music cranked, so I gave in to the beat, letting it move my body at a faster and faster pace in time with Caleb’s.