12. Callie
Callie
Cole caught up with me just before I slammed the front door open and escaped. He reached around me to push the exit bar before I could. “I never thought you’d be so fast to abandon us, Cupcake. That was just cruel.”
His arm was solid and hot along mine and I had to hurry out so I didn’t do anything stupid, like lean into him and absorb all that hard heat. The night air was muggy and hot and I had sweat forming along my upper lip immediately.
I groaned and wiped it away before lifting my hair from my neck. “This is the devil’s weather.”
“Yet you were so impatient to get out here.” Cole’s words could’ve been a joke but his face was so serious that I wasn’t sure. “That lady hates you, huh?”
Karla was a safe conversation topic. There was no way I could say or do anything embarrassing if we only spoke about Karla.
“I think she does. She’s pretty intense.
Tessa did steal the key to the conference room for me tonight so maybe she has a right to be mad this time.
I mean, it wasn’t Tessa. Someone else did.
Tessa would never. She’s a good girl. Just like me. We didn’t steal the key.”
Ben and Luke made their presence known and moved around to stand in front of us. Ben rubbed the scruff of his beard and shook his head. “Tessa’s the one who was laughing so hard she was crying and snorting?”
I nodded. “Yep. She’s my best friend. Karla, that evil lady inside, hates her almost as much as she hates me.”
“Why does she hate you so much?” Luke crossed his arms and studied me with the same look my dad had given me when he was trying to figure me out. It was the look of a man unsure if he was dealing with a sweet girl or a little demon.
“I don’t know. She always has. I guess I never really thought about it much. Her feelings are her problems.” I shrugged and looked at the kids staring up at the sky at the bottom of the steps. “Do any of you know what the Aquila constellation looks like?”
Ben scoffed. “I could barely point out the Big Dipper if you put a gun to my head.”
“Yeah, no. I can tell you what the stars look like over thirty different countries but I have no clue what any of them are named.” Cole said it like visiting thirty countries was nothing.
“I’m good with Noah being smarter than me but only because I can still pick him up and hold him upside down.
I don’t know what I’ll do when he’s my size. ”
I watched Oliver point something out to the other kids and felt like my world couldn’t get any better when they all got excited by it. It wasn’t easy for Oliver to find friends who understood him but it looked like he was finding his tribe. At least I hoped he was.
“Of course, Luke knows what the constellation looks like. Nerd.” Ben playfully pushed Luke and then nodded at me. “What about you? Point out the tequila stars for us.”
I laughed and held up my hands. “No, no. I mean, I am more likely to be able to point out a tequila constellation than the Aquila one, but constellations aren’t my area of expertise.
If you wanted me to identify different serial killers through the centuries, I could. But stars? I don’t have a clue.”
I was so busy watching the kids that it took me a few seconds to realize the men around me had all gone silent. I looked up and saw they were each staring at me with matching expressions of shock.
“What? What’d I say?” I shrugged. “We should get the kids home. As soon as Oliver realizes we’re running late for his dinner, he’s going to give me the look.”
Ben stepped closer and lightly brushed my hand with his thumb. “If you weren’t so sexy it’d be a giant red flag that you can identify multiple serial killers.”
“It’s still a red flag. I just don’t care.” Cole smirked. “I can protect myself if you come at me with a weapon.”
I let out a loud laugh and rolled my eyes. “You’re all nuts.”
“Dad! Can Oliver and Miss Morgan come fishing with us tomorrow?” Beth ran up to us and grabbed my hand. “Miss Morgan, you have to come! Fishing with my dad is so much fun! Dad always brings food! And beer.”
Ben groaned. “Don’t tell people I take you fishing with beer, kid. But she’s right. You should meet us tomorrow to go fishing. Maybe Oliver would like it.”
“Mom, my dinner. We missed it.” Oliver looked back at me and I could see the strain on his face from his routine being off.
“We’re going, Ollie.” I smiled at the guys and shrugged. “Gotta go. Thanks for your help at the meeting tonight, all of you. You saved my ass, Luke.”
He shot me a look that made me blush and scurry down the steps to Oliver. They were right behind me, though, following along to the parking lot. We all stopped beside my car and Oliver surprised me by hesitating.
“Mom? Could we go fishing with everyone tomorrow?” Oliver looked up at me and studied my face. “I want to learn about fishing.”
“Come with us! It’ll be so much fun!” Noah was all grins with wide, happy eyes.
“We’ll teach Oliver all about fishing. Like Noah said, it’ll be fun.” Cole rested his hand on my lower back and flashed me a panty-melting smile. “Promise.”
Red lights. Red light district. Red lights flashing as a warning.
As if I needed a reminder, fate sent me a giant one shaped like an upside-down triangle.
Principal Darren came strutting out of the school with Karla by his side.
He walked in our direction but just scowled at me instead of speaking up. The message was clear, though.
“Um, actually… I already had plans to take Ollie fishing. It’s a mother son thing. So… yeah. Ollie, get in the car.” I backed away from them and waved awkwardly. “It’s the thing I told you about, Luke. The rule, you know?”
Luke’s face fell but he nodded. “No fraternization.”
“You’re taking me fishing, Mom?” Oliver sounded as skeptical as he had every right to be.
“Yep! Now get in the car so we can get home and make your sandwich.” I smiled at the kids. “See you guys later. Be good for your dads!”