8. Eloise
8
ELOISE
I yawn big as I stretch and walk down the hallway to the main living room. I slept like the dead last night. Admittedly, Callum’s bed is like sleeping on clouds. I don’t think I’ve ever slept in a bed that comfortable, and it didn’t hurt that it smelled like him. The second my head hit the pillow and the warmth of the blankets consumed me, I was out. Apparently, two missed calls from my brother, one text from Cal, and one from Adler wasn’t enough to wake me either. Adler took priority over my morning coffee and received a phone call instead of a text. I miss him so much. A big part of me considered flying home for the weekend, knowing Cal would be out of town anyway, but I knew leaving would only be that much harder if I did.
The morning light cascading through the wall of windows is mesmerizing and momentarily stops me. I’d love to capture those beams of light in a painting. The doorbell ringing practically startles me out of my skin. “Shit.” I turn toward the door and cover my heart. “Who the hell is knocking on the door at this hour?” I stare down the hallway, apprehensive to go to the door, knowing what happened the last time I opened a door in one of Callum’s houses. Before any more trepidation has time to settle, my phone pings.
Callum: Answer the door, blondie. It’s breakfast.
I fasten the belt around my robe and walk to the door, then check the peephole just to be safe. Sure enough, there’s a woman on the other side with a bag in hand. I unlatch the chain and turn the lock.
“Hi, sorry to keep you waiting,” I say as I open the door.
“It’s no problem. This order came with an excellent tip.”
I smile. “Oh, okay then. Thank you.” I take the bag and cup of coffee from her before closing the door. I head straight to the kitchen and set down the bag. No sooner I pull out the bagels than my phone rings.
“Seriously, do you have cameras in the house or something?” I answer.
“What?” Iverson’s voice cuts through the line. “You think Cal has cameras watching you?”
“No, I was joking…” Well, maybe. I’m not one hundred percent convinced my breakfast was a perfectly timed coincidence, but I don’t tell my brother that. “What couldn’t wait until I called you back after my morning coffee?”
“Well, I need a favor, and you’re running out of time.”
I spread the honey cream cheese on my cinnamon bagel. “What do you mean by running out of time?”
“Easy, I need you to pick up Dash at the airport and let him stay with you for a little while.”
“You can’t be serious.” I chew my first delicious bite of sugary goodness, unworried about his response. Dash is one of my friends from Copper Falls, and for whatever reason, Iverson has never been a huge fan. My brother merely tolerates the man since his wife and I are friends with him. I don’t believe for one second he arranged a flight for my friend to come and visit me.
“Why would I joke about that? Look…” He sighs through the phone. “I can’t say too much because, honestly, I’m grasping at straws here, Lou, but my gut tells me I’m onto something.”
“Okay…” I draw out, hearing the gravity in his tone. “You’re going to have to give me a little more. I’m not following. What does Dash have to do with anything?”
“You asked me to do some digging. This is me digging. Don’t ask me to say anything more. I won’t, not on this.”
“Fine.” I don’t press him for more. We’ve always been close, and I trust my brother, but my curiosity is definitely piqued. However, if he won’t talk, I know Dash will, so I don’t ask about his digging. “Is Dash in trouble or something? Why is he coming here?”
“He was offered a deal he couldn’t turn down.”
“What do you mean?”
“High Tower just acquired The Wild .”
“No shit?” I practically spit my coffee. The Wild is one of Canada’s most prominent imprints. They’re a vast outdoor magazine known for putting sporting goods brands on the map, making them household names. “Why would they sell?”
“Why does anyone sell? Money. Their new CEO was terrible at his job. We’re honestly saving the legacy.”
I stepped away from the family business, and so did Iverson. Well, technically, he was working for the family business, but no one knew it. Neither of us cared to be thrust back into the public eye. As kids, we didn’t have a choice, but as adults, we do, and neither of us wanted it. However, over the summer, Iverson changed his tune, and now he’s sitting on the board, and our mother and grandfather are all too happy that he’s there at all, which means he’s been able to dabble in whatever he wants, his reach extending beyond a typical board position in some cases. My mother and grandfather can be ruthless, so I’m certain their allowances are calculated, but they’d be short-sighted not to see that Iverson is equally measured in his choices. Regardless, I don’t understand how Dash fits into any of this. Dash Westin runs the town call-a-ride service back home. He’s the Uber of Copper Falls.
“Just get to the part I need to know about Dash.”
“Dash just landed a traveling journalist position working at The Wild .”
Hmm, it wouldn’t sound so outlandish if this were anyone else delivering the news. Anyone who knows Dash knows he’s an adrenaline junkie and loves the outdoors. Honestly, he’d make the perfect outdoor journalist. He would hands down find the best places and get the unrivaled shots wearing a GoPro, and if he managed to get his face into a few of the pictures, he’d probably sell more magazines. But Iverson having his hands in this is throwing me.
“I’ll explain more when I can, but I need you to get to the airport. His flight arrives in twenty minutes.”
I pull my phone away from my ear to check the time. “Ives, the airport is forty-five minutes from here,” I screech.
“Hey, I called you two times. You didn’t answer.”
“Shit, I have to go. I’m not even dressed. You owe me. Cal’s not going to be happy about this.” I hang up the phone without waiting for a response. I’m excited I have someone to keep me company. I’m not used to being alone.
“ T his place is hella nice.” Dash gawks as he walks into the condo and heads straight for the windows to check out the view.
“Ehh, it ain’t bad. You should see Cal’s view. He’s got the water and the city.”
He turns to look at me, hands on his hips. “Why are you guys staying in separate places again? I thought you were here to work things out.”
“It’s a long story, but I’m staying separately, probably for the same reason you’re single again. I already know I’m attracted to Cal, and it’s been a while, but we never had issues in the bedroom. I mean, come on, we were teen parents. It wasn’t because we were able to keep our hands to ourselves.”
Dash runs his fingers through his semi-short blond hair, looking around the living room before bringing his brown eyes back to mine. “That’s not why things ended. We’re just going in different directions.” He shrugs and heads toward the kitchen area. “Maybe had we met three or four years from now, things could have played out differently.”
“Dash—” I start before the doorbell ringing steals my attention.
“Are you expecting someone?”
“No, I literally know zero people here and Cal is away,” I say as I look through the peephole and see Jenkins. “It’s just the doorman. Hold on.”
“Jenkins,” I answer as I pull it open and my eyes fall on his regretful expression.
“Miss Grey, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I have Mr. Balfour on the phone, and I really do like my job?—”
I take the phone from his hands before he can continue, stepping away as I whisper-yell, “Cal, what are you doing?”
“What am I doing?” He raises his voice. “I could ask you the same question. You didn’t return my texts, and then the GPS on my truck showed you en route to the airport. Now you’re back and with another man!”
I roll my eyes. “So you threaten Jenkins’ job because of me?”
“I didn’t threaten Jenkins’ job. I told him I’d give him a tip if he’d go upstairs and put you on the phone.”
I turn to Jenkins. “Jenkins, what were you about to say before I took the phone from you?” I wave my hand in a prompt. “I really do like my job and…”
His eyes dart back and forth between mine until my ask registers. “I really do like my job, though sometimes I am put in precarious situations. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Ah, thank you, Jenkins,” I say, swallowing my pride and tucking my hair behind my ear before turning away. “Why didn’t you call?” I try in a more affable tone that sounds fake as fuck even to me.
“You tell me. Either you’re avoiding me or…”
“It’s dead,” I say as I pull it out of my pea coat pocket. I forgot to put it on the charger last night. Sleeping in his room had me out of sorts. “Look, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to ignore you. I woke up and talked to Adler, and then Iverson called, and I had to run and get my friend Dash, whom you’ve met, by the way, at the airport as a favor to my brother. I just got back.”
“I know,” he says as if nothing I said is news to him.
“You know? Do you mean you know I just got back or?—”
“I know all of it. When I couldn’t get a hold of you and saw you driving to the airport, I called Iverson. He filled me in.”
I’m not even surprised. My brother has always been Team Cal. “Okay… well, if you know everything, what is it that couldn’t wait until I texted you back?”
“It’s been twelve hours since I heard your voice,” he states matter-of-factly, and a smile that can’t be avoided parts my lips. “Tell me something, blondie.”
“What?” I try to sound unfazed.
“Did I make you smile?”
I shake my head. “Yes,” I admit, no longer holding back the glee in my tone, only to stifle it and say, “Now can I give Jenkins his phone back, or is there another pressing matter that requires I stand in the hallway to discuss in front of an audience?”
“There is one more thing.”
“Seriously?” I sigh exasperatedly.
“Where are you sleeping tonight?”
“You know where,” I answer, my cheeks flushing, though I know Jenkins can’t hear what he asked.
“Say it,” he presses.
I turn so my back is entirely to Jenkins and speak softly. “In your bed.”
“That’s my girl. I’ll call you tonight. Make sure your phone is charged this time.”
“Okay, we’ll talk later. Good luck tonight.” I know his game isn’t until this evening.
“Thanks, I’ll?—”
“Balfour, let’s go,” one of his teammates calls out in the background.
“I gotta go. Talk tonight.”
“Okay, bye.”
“Bye,” he says, his voice somewhat distressed as he clicks off the phone. It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours since he’s been gone, but I’ll admit knowing I won’t see him tonight sucks.
I turn around and hand Jenkins his phone. “Thanks, Jenkins. Sorry to be a bother.”
“Oh, it’s no bother, miss. Mr. Balfour is one of the kindest people I know. His ask, while unconventional, is the least I can do. He does a lot for the community.”
I cross my arms. “Yes, he loves working with the Big Brother, Big Sister community outreach.” Playing hockey isn’t cheap. Most sports aren’t cheap if you play competitively. Club fees alone are practically a month’s mortgage.
His eyebrows rise, and he opens his mouth as though he were about to correct me. He thinks better of it. “Yes, yes. Okay, well, if you don’t need anything, I need to get back down to the lobby.”
His response is strange, but I’m also not firing on all cylinders given this morning’s events, so I let it go. “Thanks, Jenkins. That’s all. Have a good day.”
“Bye, miss,” he says as he walks down the hall toward the elevator.
“What was that all about?” Dash questions as soon as I enter the condo.
“Oh, nothing, just Cal calling the doorman’s phone to get ahold of me because mine died.”
Dash laughs as he helps himself to a bag of chips. “I’m not surprised. That man has it bad. I mean, who pays another man to propose to his girl just on the off chance she’ll come back to him.”
I clench my jaw and pull in a long breath through my nose. I’m still a little peeved about that. While he may have played dirty and set me up, I was na?ve and walked straight into his trap. Alec and I had only been dating a short time before he proposed, and hell, we never even got to second base before I said yes. It was like a hallmark movie where the two love interests are courting, they live in separate houses, they don’t do sleepovers, and they kiss sweetly, not intensely, but in my mind, it felt safe. I want the damn movie. I want the white picket fence, a dog, and maybe a cat. I want family movie nights, a hot guy mowing my lawn who comes inside the house to me when he’s done, and damn it, if I’m tired of sleeping alone. Cal thought Alec dropping down on one knee would point me to him. That I’d see the dream I have in my heart includes him. I said yes to the dream when I should have said no to the man.
“Can we not talk about his crazy when I’m trying to… you know… make things work with my baby daddy?” I say as I walk toward the couch and throw myself beside him.
“Hey, some women love that possessive shit.” He shoves another chip in his mouth, and I steal the bag, taking one for myself.
“I never said I didn’t appreciate that side of him.” Truth be told, I always liked that side of him. I loved knowing I could so easily get him riled up. It’s how I knew without words he desired me.
“Okay…” He shoves his hand in the bag and grabs a handful. “So you like him. He likes you. Fill me in on why you’ve kept him at arm’s length. I know the small shit, but what’s his skeleton? What’s keeping you in this apartment and not his?”
“God, Dash, it’s sordid, and so much time has passed. I wish it were as easy as just talking, but it’s not. I don’t want anyone to get hurt, and I’ve always felt like, with my truth, someone gets hurt. Someone I care about loses. If anyone deserves that truth, it’s him. What hurts the most is it’s not even his skeleton. He’s just a pawn.” I cover my mouth as soon as the words leave. “Damn it. Forget you heard that. I don’t feel right telling you or anyone else things he should hear first.”
Dash has this way about him, and you can’t help but feel relaxed and comfortable around him. He’s laid-back, funny, and wears his heart on his sleeve. It’s hard not to get caught in his orbit.
He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I can respect that, but if anything being your friend has taught me, you Greys have muddied pasts, and while I’m here, you have someone in your corner no matter what. You may as well use me. I happen to know how to use a shovel.”
I reposition myself on the couch and face him. “Use you?”
“Get your head out of the gutter.” He slaps my knee. “Your past has been keeping the two of you apart for far too long, so the way I see it, you have two options: bury it or dig it up. You call the shots. All you have to do is tell me what pile to throw the dirt into.” He throws his hand up in mock defense. “I’m not prying, really, I’m not, but you said you haven’t told Cal what’s been eating you up inside all these years, and you inadvertently admitted it’s not all him. So answer me this: why are we in this condo and not his?”
“I already told you?—”
“That’s not what I mean.” He holds up his hand. “I mean, he’s not here. Shouldn’t you be doing reconnaissance?”
“I’ve been in his place all week. It’s where he stays during the season, so there’re not too many personal things there.” I’ve walked around every room, opened every closet, and pulled a few drawers open, not so much to snoop but out of sheer curiosity. That’s when it hits me, before he left, he showed me something I’d never seen before. His playbook. “There is something,” I say with a renewed spirit to meddle. Those words he let me read are ones he wrote years ago. If that journal holds his innermost thoughts, maybe it holds more than just thoughts about me. I toss the bag of chips on the table. “Get your shovel.”
“ I ’ve opened every drawer in the bedroom and the bathroom. I didn’t see a book or journal anywhere,” Dash says, leaning on the doorframe to the master closet with both hands raised above his head, his fingertips on the frame as his T-shirt rides up, putting his cut hip bones on display.
I close the bottom drawer of the accessories island that sits in the middle of Cal’s closet and run the ring he put around my neck along the chain. “Yeah, I didn’t find anything either.”
“What was here that’s not here now?” he asks as he walks into the closet and checks out Cal’s sports coats.
“The other day, he showed me a journal. He let me read a passage he had written six years ago.” My gaze finds the nothingness on the floor. “It was the day I walked away.”
“Hey.” He drops down into a seated position before me. “We can’t go back in time. There’s no rewind, so don’t beat yourself up about the choices you made then. You did what you thought was best. Chances are you were right then and are still right now. But even if you’re wrong, that’s okay too. We’re only human.” He leans back on his forearms. “Hell, it’s the only sure way we know we learned anything.”
I uncross my leg and bump his. “Enough about me for now. What’s going on with you? Are you having a midlife crisis in your twenties like me? I thought you loved owning your own business. Now you’re up here working for The Wild .”
“I didn’t get rid of my business to come and follow this lead. My brother, Bates, is running things while I’m away. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up, even if its timing does feel suspicious.”
“Why do you say that?”
Like me, he probably believes Iverson’s sudden interest in helping him feels a little off. He doesn’t hate the guy by any means, but I know he doesn’t love his closeness with his wife, Quinn. I’m sure his help is two-fold.
“Well, for starters, the way it all happened. I’ve only seen your mother once. That was at Iverson and Quinn’s impromptu wedding reception. I maybe said two words to her, ones I don’t even recall because they were that inconsequential, and then here she comes waltzing into my shop to rent a car and offer me a job.”
“Wait a minute.” I press my fingers to my temples. “My mother offered you the job?”
When Iverson called, I assumed he’d offered Dash the job; the last person I would have suspected would be my mother. Like he said, they have no connection.
“Trust me, I was equally floored, trying to piece together the why and how, but by the end of her pitch, they mattered less and less.” He throws his arms out wide. “I mean, look at me. I’m already on an adventure. I’ve never left the country, and you know I’m a thrill seeker at heart. Always have been. I know this sounds lame, but in the scheme of cool jobs, call-a-ride owners don’t make it to the top ten. Hell, it probably doesn’t even make the top one hundred, but for me, picking up people took me places. I got to see and experience things through pickups, meeting new people, and going off the beaten trail in areas I typically would have no reason to travel. I like that shit…” He sits up. “So when the offer to get paid more money, to travel and see the world, landed in my lap, the why and how fell away. That being said, it doesn’t mean I’m oblivious. I’m well aware of who your mother is. Her offer wasn’t random, but fuck if I know how I fit into her world.”
My eyes narrow on his for long moments as I digest his words and rack my brain for any connection, only to come up empty. “I think this revelation calls for a drink,” I announce as I pick myself up off the floor. “Isn’t it said that alcohol brings all truths to the light?”
He stands. “I’m not sure I’ve heard that, but I know I’ve said a lot of shit while drinking that I never would have said sober.”
I throw my arm over his shoulder. “Exactly. The alcohol goes in, and the truth comes out. What do you say we go uncover some hidden soul secrets?”
As we head out of the closet, he says, “I’m an open book, you know that, but I like it when my beer tastes like I’m about to tell you how I feel.”
Leave it to Dash to see humor and optimism in scandal. People like him are a rarity. I’ve only ever met one other person who’s spirited in all things, no matter the stakes… I stop in my tracks.
“Everything okay?” He stops with me.
“Yeah, I’m good.” I slip my hands into my back pockets. “All this detective shit is starting to go to my head, and conspiracy theories are stealing my good sense.”
“Sounds like more of a reason to drink. It does a good job of silencing the noise.”
I watch him continue toward the kitchen and consider how I’ve always been drawn to Dash. I’ve always thought it was his lively personality, but maybe… “No, stop it, Lou,” I mumble to myself. “That’s impossible.” I shake away the unfounded thoughts. The idea is far-fetched, and because I need more time to find reason, it’s also crazy.