7. Chapter 7 - Paxton
I’d lived in Foggy Basin my whole life, but I’d never been to this restaurant, which wasn’t far outside of town.
The building was divided into several smaller dining room sections, with a screened-off private room just beyond the entryway.
I held Cal’s hand firmly in mine, hoping the touch grounded him.
I wanted to be a reassuring presence in the face of something—some one—he clearly didn’t want to deal with.
Frankly, I didn’t blame him. Jacob sounded horrible and I wouldn’t have wanted to see an ex dating a family member even if it had been an amicable breakup, much less one like Cal had described.
We made our way into the private room, which was already crowded with people. Briefly, my stomach fluttered with nerves at the prospect of not only meeting a whole family of people, but convincing them I was dating Cal. I took a deep breath and put a smile on my face.
A woman with dark hair in long, thick curls rushed over to us and wrapped her arms around Cal. He squeezed her back and chuckled, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Hi, Mom.”
The woman pulled back. “Hi, honey. Is this…”
“My boyfriend, yes. Mom, this is Paxton.” He turned to me. “This is my mom, Laura.”
She pulled me into a hug next. “It’s so good to meet you.” The hug was warm and firm, and something about it settled my nerves a bit. When she stepped back, she looked me up and down. “He’s a cutie. Definitely a keeper.”
“Mom!”
Heat crept into my cheeks, but something about it warmed my chest, too, in a different way.
She chuckled and shook her head. “Why don’t you two come on in and get settled. I think just about everyone who’s coming is here.”
“Everyone?” Cal asked.
She took a breath and lowered her voice to a murmur. “Well, Angie isn’t here yet, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He nodded once. “Thanks.”
We sat down next to each other at the far end of the very long table that was comprised of smaller tables pushed together.
Cal’s face was drawn tight, his lips pressed together, his shoulders tense.
Under the table, I placed a hand on his thigh, just above his knee.
Immediately, he took a breath and his shoulders relaxed.
I turned to the person next to me, determined to make conversation, when Cal stiffened under my touch again.
I looked toward the entryway. A couple had just walked in, the guy in fitted jeans and a blue linen shirt, his blond hair windswept in a way that screamed “I want to look casual.” The woman who stood next to him was in a sundress, white with flowers all over, her long, dirty blonde hair reaching past her shoulders.
They looked like they’d just stepped out of a magazine, expensive and forcing themselves to look relaxed.
This must have been Jacob and Angie. There was no doubt in my mind.
Jacob gazed around the room before his eyes landed on Cal and me. His expression twitched just a bit, tense around his eyes, and he murmured something to Angie before they made their way over to us and sat in the chairs directly in front of Cal and me.
“Callum, good to see you again,” Jacob said smoothly.
Cal nodded tightly. “Jacob. Angie.” I squeezed his knee under the table, sliding my foot closer to his until our legs were pressed together. He looked at me and gave me a brave smile before turning back to the couple in front of us. “This is my boyfriend, Paxton.”
Jacob’s brow furrowed immediately. “I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”
“It’s relatively new.”
Angie glanced at Jacob before turning her focus back to us. “Congratulations.” She put her left hand up, elbow on the table, and rested her chin on it. On her ring finger was a large, sparkling diamond ring.
I cleared my throat. “And it looks like congratulations are in order for the two of you as well.”
Angie smiled brightly and looked at Jacob again. For his part, Jacob was scowling, his jaw clenched, a muscle in his temple twitching. I fought the urge to chuckle. Cal’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed and nodded wordlessly.
How fucked up can this situation get? I wondered. What a mess.
A moment later, a server stopped by to take our orders. I wanted a drink, but I resisted the urge, especially once Cal ordered a gin and tonic. One of us had to be able to drive back, if nothing else.
Once everyone’s order was placed, the chatter at the table started up again, cross conversations in every direction, making my head swim a little. I just kept my hand on Cal’s thigh, a steady, grounding presence, and tried to keep up.
“So,” Angie asked at one point. “How did you two meet?”
My stomach went cold. We hadn’t discussed this. We hadn’t discussed anything, really. God, what was I going to say? Tell the truth, as much as possible. It’s easier to remember.
“Through work,” Cal said.
“On a plane,” I said at the same time.
Jacob frowned and Angie tilted her head to the side. “Which was it?” she asked.
Cal and I both started laughing softly and I shook my head, grinning as if it were something we did often. “Sorry,” I said smoothly. “Inside joke.”
Cal let out a soft breath. “Inside joke,” he agreed with a nod.
Angie, undeterred, tried again. “How long have you been together?”
I decided to let Cal answer that. I glanced at him and gave him a tiny nod of encouragement.
“Like I said, it’s relatively new. We met a while ago, but a long-distance relationship didn’t seem possible until recently.”
Jacob exhaled sharply through his nose. “Well, you sure did stray from your type.”
Anger flashed in Cal’s eyes, and at the same time, heat flared in my chest. “What’s that?” I asked, forcing myself to keep my tone level.
He shrugged and I could tell he was forcing an air of disinterest. “You know.” He waved his hand vaguely.
“Callum, you don’t usually seem to go for someone so…
low-key. Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing to see you try something new.
I always thought Callum needed someone who could keep up with his pace, but I suppose… stability has its own appeal.”
I gritted my teeth and forced a smile, anger tightening my chest. I took a long, slow breath to release some of the tension and reached for my water glass.
The temptation to “accidentally” spill it across the table onto Jacob was strong.
After taking a sip, I put the glass down carefully and reached for Cal’s hand, which was resting on the table.
I laced our fingers together and he gave me a small smile.
At that moment, the server stopped by to drop off our drinks.
Gratitude for the interruption washed through me.
From there, as we waited for our food, the conversation seemed to loosen up.
Angie peppered us with more questions about our relationship, but Jacob stayed silent and stone-faced, sipping his glass of wine and nodding along as if he cared.
“How is it, being long-distance? You travel a lot Callum. How do you manage?” Angie asked.
Cal nodded and put down his gin and tonic. “It’s tough, but it’s worth it. Lots of video calls. Visits every chance we get. You know, that sort of thing. And when we do get a chance to be together in person, we make up for lost time.”
My stomach flipped at the implication. Let’s leave now and go make up for lost time. The thought slid into my mind and my skin heated at the idea. I shifted a little in my seat and nodded, trying to focus on the conversation at hand.
“And who said, ‘I love you’ first?” Angie was leaning in.
“Oh, we haven’t—” Cal stopped abruptly, pressing his lips together.
“We’re still waiting for the right moment,” I clarified. “Slow and steady, right?” Once again, I took Cal’s hand on top of the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Just before the food arrived, someone joined us at the near end of the table, pulling a chair up and plopping down.
He wore dark jeans and a black T-shirt and his long, black hair was loose around his shoulders.
Among the clean-cut family, the newcomer looked as out of place at this event as I felt.
Cal relaxed noticeably when the newcomer sat. “Hey, Charlie.”
Charlie gave him a sly grin and nodded. “Am I late?”
With a roll of his eyes, Cal tipped his head in my direction. “Charlie, this is Paxton. My boyfriend.”
Charlie’s eyes widened. “Boyfriend? You didn’t tell me—” When Cal glared at him, he stopped talking and cleared his throat. “You didn’t tell me… he was joining us.” He turned his gaze to me. “Good to finally meet you, Paxton.”
Angie leaned forward and fixed her gaze on Charlie. “Callum and Paxton were just telling us all about their new long-distance relationship. I’ve learned so much.”
Jacob huffed out a breath.
The server reappeared to deliver our food, and as he did, I noticed Cal’s glass was empty. I leaned close to him and tapped his glass. “Another?”
He gave me a look I couldn’t quite decipher, his gaze soft, his hazel eyes bright. “Thanks,” he murmured with a nod.
“Shit,” Charlie muttered when I gestured toward the server for a refill. “I need a drink too.”