Chapter 33
Caleb
“I fear your mother and sister are going to have to stick around a while longer,” Bobby states as he sits down at his usual place by the counter with a groan. I let out a deep sigh. I still have no idea what to do.
That’s a lie. I know what I want to do. But I’m not sure yet if I have the courage.
“Why is that?” I mumble, trying to sound placative rather than interested, and get a coffee going for him.
“Most of the roads leading out of town are completely impassable,” he explains while taking off his jacket.
“Walter called me. He said the snow is mostly fine to clear in the town and up to the lake. But beyond that, especially on stretches of the highway without many trees on the sides, it’ll take a while.
Apparently, there have been some avalanches.
Thankfully, nobody’s been hurt or buried, but they’re going to have to wait a day or two for reinforcements. ”
I stew on that for a moment. If anything, it’s buying me some time to make a decision while they’re here, even if that decision is that I’m not ready to make one yet.
“Are we going to see them around here more often?” One of his bushy gray eyebrows is arches up high on his forehead.
“Maybe.” I shrug. “I’m not sure yet if forgiveness is in the cards, though.”
He watches me for a moment, then nods. “I suppose you won’t find out until you give it a try. Anyway, son, glad to have you back here.” He shoots me a thankful smile as I set down his coffee in front of him. “Harry was already getting nervous about the Christmas market.”
Nobody is in here apart from Bobby, and I doubt many more customers will pop in throughout the day.
I probably could have stayed at Lauren’s for another day.
As fun as it was, though, I’m craving my routine.
Those two hours in the morning of mindless baking, alone with my thoughts.
Although they haven’t brought me closer to a decision regarding my mother.
“Why is that? From what you’re saying, the roads will be cleared a day before it opens.”
“Yeah, but he thinks everyone will find it too risky and stay home.” He shakes his head, clearly finding it ridiculous.
“There are still three more days until it starts, and I’d be shocked if they hadn’t cleared the streets by tomorrow evening.
But hey, what do I know? I’ve only lived here my whole life. ”
“Let’s hope you’re right,” I mumble and put a muffin down in front of him.
My gaze trails out the window. It’s eerie to see Wayward Hollow this empty. I get it, though. I had to walk only five steps from my driver’s seat to my back door and almost slipped three times. I managed to make it the rest of the way without catching a concussion only by clinging onto the wall.
It’s icy out there. Meaning my first order of business was to sand the sidewalk from my café to Henry’s vet clinic, and then down to Bobby’s home.
Lauren is currently at my place, running between there and the café to bake all the gingerbread for this weekend.
I’m making the dough and baking it in the kitchen.
She collects the finished hearts and stars and takes them over to my apartment to decorate them.
It's easier to leave them out to let the frosting dry there. Tonight, we’ll pack them up and make them ready for our Christmas market booth.
I hope Bobby is right about the Christmas market. Lauren would be devastated if it got canceled at this point.
“Hello, my favorite barista.” I turn around when I hear Kieran’s voice. “I’ve missed you,” he declares dramatically, extending his arm like he’s holding a Hamlet soliloquy. “Oh, master of coffee. King of roast.”
“Sit down, Kieran,” I interrupt him and turn around to start his coffee.
“You bet your pretty ass I will.”
He flops down on one of the barstools at the counter. An alarm goes off in the kitchen, and I hurry to pull the next tray of gingerbread out of the oven, exchanging it for one with unbaked dough before returning to my place behind the counter.
“I almost starved to death, I’m telling you,” Kieran tells Bobby dramatically, eyebrows scrunched together in fake worry.
“Don't you have a stocked pantry?” Bobby asks, causing Kieran to sigh dramatically.
“I do, but none of the food in there felt right.”
I shake my head at him. “I mean, what did you do the past few days? If you couldn’t open your café, you must have been bored out of your—” He suddenly gasps and points at my neck. “Oh my God, Caleb! Is that a hickey?”
I stare at him coldly. Without warning, he jumps up, puts his hands on the counter, leans over it and tries to get a closer look. I turn away, feeling my cheeks fill with warmth.
“That is a fucking hickey!” He slaps the counter with his flat hand.
“Are you kidding me? There I was, about to die of starvation and become food for Dick-" Bobby almost spits out his coffee. “-while my favorite food provider was just loving it up!” He flops back into his seat dramatically. “I can’t believe it.”
“Jealous?” Bobby ribs him. Kieran hides his face in his hands.
“Fuck yes.” He glances up from his palms. “Not that I’m interested in Lauren,” he quickly adds. “Not like that. She’s like a sister. Still — ugh.”
“That’s quite enough,” I say calmly and set his coffee down in front of him. “Muffin?”
“Fuck yes. Please.” He sighs dramatically, letting out a long groan after he takes a sip of his coffee.
The bell above my door chimes, and when I glance up, I see Henry and Nic coming in. It must be snowing again, as there are tiny flakes in their hair.
“Hello, friends,” Nic says with a wide grin, snowflakes falling off her hair as she takes off her jacket. “I’ve missed your faces.”
Kieran turns around and freezes. “Not you too,” he whines, pointing at the two of them.
“Not us too, what?” Henry asks and takes Nic’s coat from her.
“First there’s a hickey on Loverboy’s neck, and please, Nic is positively glowing.” He makes a hand gesture in her direction. “Her aura screams that she got a good fuck.”
Nic turns redder than a fire hydrant, her eyes darting around the café. Her shoulders sag in relief when she realizes nobody else is here.
“I think that’s my cue to leave,” Bobby says with a chuckle and gets up, pulling on his jacket. Without a word, I prepare and hand him a paper bag containing more muffins. There’s no way I’m selling them all today.
“See you around, Bobby,” all of us say in unison. He lifts his hand for a little wave, pulls the door open and leaves with small, careful steps on the sidewalk.
“A hickey?” Nic’s eyes fixate on my neck. I turn away from her, trying to keep the hickey out of her view. “For real?”
“So real,” Kieran says, tapping a spot under his ear to show her where it is.
Henry grabs Kieran’s arm and pulls him towards the table where they always have lunch together. Meanwhile, Nic walks slowly towards the counter, rests her arms on it, and gives me a glare with her eyes narrowed.
“Do I need to give you the whole ‘don’t you dare hurt my best friend’ spiel?” She asks in a whisper. I hold her suspicious glare.
“If it’ll make you feel better, you can,” I shrug and lean my arms on the counter too. “But you don’t need to, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Her eyes dart over my face, searching for answers. She seems to find them, and her hardened features finally pull into a smile.
“Good,” she says, satisfied, with a slight nod. “I’ll keep it short, then. Don’t fuck it up, or I’ll make your life hell.”
“Likewise,” I tell her. My eyes dart to Henry. Not that I think she’s going to break his heart, but she is dating my best friend, after all. Turnabout is fair play.
“Deal.”
“Oh hey, it’s a party!”
Nic whirls around at the sound of Lauren’s voice, and I follow her gaze. She’s wearing her red Christmas coat again, with her blonde hair tied back in a loose ponytail, and her cheeks red from the cold.
They greet each other with a hug, then Nic makes her way to Kieran and Henry. Lauren rounds the counter, coming to a stop in front of me and lifting herself on her tiptoes for a kiss.
“Oh, come on!” Kieran shouts from the other end of the room. “Way to rub salt in the wound.”
“What’s going on?” Lauren whispers against my lips, eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.
“He saw the little mark you left on me.”
Her eyes widen. “What?” She takes a step back, blushing when she sees the hickey. “Caleb! Why aren’t you wearing a scarf? Or a turtleneck? At least pull up your collar!” She reaches for the collar of my shirt, trying to position it perfectly to hide the hickey.
“Why would I do that?” I close my fingers around her wrists and pull them away, pressing a kiss into her palm. “Wasn’t it your intention for people to see it?”
“Well, in the heat of the moment, yes,” she hisses. “But —”
“Lauren, get your ass over here!” Kieran shouts. I let go of her wrists. She shoots me one more deathly glare, though softened by the adorable redness in her cheeks, before she saunters over to them.
“I’ve never been more painfully aware of how single I am,” Kieran whines with a sigh, wiping away an imaginary tear.
“You’ll get used to it,” Nic says dryly. Kieran sticks out his tongue at her, and Lauren bursts into a giggle.
I bring over their coffees, then disappear into the back to pull the next tray of gingerbread out of the oven, setting it on my work table to cool. Then I grab a bunch of muffins and my own coffee before making my way back to their spot.
Lauren has already pulled up a chair for me, and Kieran and Henry appear to be in a heated discussion about the logistics of clearing the roads.
“Anyway, what are you all doing for Christmas?” Nic finally asks.
“Nothing yet,” Lauren says, glancing at me.
“My parents have always wanted to experience Christmas in Australia,” Henry explains with an amused smile, “so I’ve got nothing planned.”
“Me too,” Kieran says with a nod.
“Me three,” I add.
One after another, we nod, eyes darting around our group to watch everyone else’s answer.
“Good. Then you’re all invited,” Nic declares solemnly. “No presents. Lauren and I will do the cooking, and Henry, Kieran, and Caleb will be responsible for dessert. Does that sound okay for everyone?”
Affirmative mumbles fill the room, and Lauren’s hand finds mine under the table.
Is this what the rest of my life could be like? Spending holidays with friends instead of holed up at my place alone, or finding a way to dodge Henry’s parents’ invitations since I feel out of place in their family bubble.
I glance at Lauren. Because that would be incredible.