Chapter 13 Savannah
THIRTEEN
SAVANNAH
Calliope’s Column
It’s Not Him, It’s You (Kind Of)
Rule Number 1: Don’t sleep with him on the first date. Or ask him if he wants kids during foreplay.
With a groan, I finish formatting the title and subtitle of my first article. Then I attach it to an email and send it over to copy for proofing. It’s been six days, and I haven’t heard a peep from Camden Snow.
I guess I did what I set out to do. Proved that no matter how strong a connection, some actions are just deal-breakers. And it only took a single date to do it.
Even after writing out precisely what I did wrong, I had my doubts.
Because with him, it didn’t feel like there was a single thing I could do wrong.
But here I am. I finally understand how Sutton can feel blindsided.
Is this the type of connection she has with every man she falls for? It can’t be. Can it?
Then again, who am I to judge? I thought we had a real connection. Something unique. And he didn’t even call me after. Normally Sutton makes it at least a week or two with her guys before she scares them off.
Could his lack of contact have something to do with me sneaking out?
Maybe. I suppose he might be angry about it.
But he has far too much confidence to give up because of it.
Plenty of men sneak out after one-night stands, so why can’t women?
And he has my number. So if he wanted to call, he would.
It’s dating 101. The feminine manifesto.
I refuse to be a pathetic cliché and reach out, asking why he didn’t call. I’m not the exception, I’m the rule. We all are.
I fling myself back in my chair, making it roll back and hit the wall with a thud.
“What did the wall ever do to you?” Josie teases as she peeks over from her cubicle. Today she’s wearing a chic black and white outfit. I’d look like a cow in the loose, flowy fabric, but she pulls it off well.
“Article’s done,” I say, making my tone light.
Josie arches a brow. “Really? So he seriously didn’t call?”
My heart pangs, but I ignore it. “Nope.”
“Huh.” With a small frown, she shrugs. “Well, onto the next.”
I sigh and sit up in my chair. “What are you talking about?”
“Your next date. Who’s it going to be?”
Oh shit. I’ve been too busy licking my wounds—which is absolutely absurd—to even think about it.
It was one night.
I squeeze my hands into fists, and as I relax them again, I release all the negative energy pent up inside me.
She’s right. It’s time to move on.
“Come on,” she says, heading out of her cubicle. “Let’s get drinks. Then we’ll find you your next victim.”
“Addie specifically said no Langfields,” I remind Josie as I follow her toward a booth in the back.
She peers over her shoulder and rolls her eyes. “Just walking down the street in Boston, you’re bound to run into a Langfield. But yeah, you’re definitely not going to date this one.”
“What about me?” the shaggy-haired baseball player says as he turns, his face lighting up. When he clocks the two of us, the big brown eyes that are always bright and filled with mischief go wide. With a gasp, he practically hops over the back of the booth and slides in front of us.
“Fucking A, Finn. You’re going to get us kicked out.” JJ Hanson glowers at his friend, but then he schools his expression and nods a hello.
Ignoring JJ, Finn pulls us into a big hug, squishing us together. That’s one of the things I love about Addie’s older—and only—brother. He always includes me. He treats me like I grew up alongside him just like the rest of the girls.
It’s also why, despite his position as the catcher for the Boston Revs and one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors, I have zero interest in dating him. For real or for an experiment. “You don’t mind, do ya, Ry?” Finn says to the hostess, who’s watching us from a couple of feet away.
The pretty brunette shakes her head and points at JJ “You promised you’d keep him under control.”
“I’ve got a four-year-old to control,” he mutters. “I can only do so much.”
As Josie pushes me into the booth, I smile at JJ “Where’s Tabitha tonight?”
He presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek. Damn, looks like his wife’s whereabouts is a touchy subject. “No idea.”
“But Grandma Cat is excited about babysitting,” Finn reminds him. “So you promised you’d actually relax.”
He slides into the booth beside me, and now I’m sandwiched between two unavailable men. It’s not exactly how we planned tonight, but I can’t complain. I could use a little relaxation too.
“Where’s Addie?” JJ asks.
“She’s watching the twins for Win,” Finn says with a huff.
Easygoing Finn’s frustration makes me think this isn’t the first or even second time JJ has asked about our best friend.
Interesting. Honestly, if he wasn’t married, I think he’d be perfect for Addie.
But she’d kill me if I told her that. And he is married, and that’s another one of our rules.
No Langfields and no married men. Tonight I’m surrounded by both.
“Yeah, I think Scar is going over there to relieve her if she gets out of class early enough,” Josie says of her younger sister Scarlett, who’s in college.
Finn shrugs. “I offered to watch my favorite little guys too, but Win says I only get them more riled up.”
I giggle. Finn, get kids more riled up? Can’t say I’m shocked. “How old are they now anyway?”
“Four,” he says, picking up his drink.
Four already. Damn. She’s a badass. Not only is she raising twin boys by herself, but she’s the CEO of the local MLB team, the Boston Revs.
“I have no idea how she does it,” JJ says, voicing my thoughts. “I have enough trouble with one.”
“Yeah, but Ave is the sweetest,” Josie says with a genuine smile.
I’ve only met JJ’s daughter a handful of times, but I’d agree with the sentiment.
“She’s also obsessed with learning how to skate but doesn’t listen to a thing I tell her,” JJ grumbles into his drink.
I giggle. “You should ask Addie to help. She’s a pretty good coach, I’ve heard.”
JJ runs a hand through his thick brown hair and sighs. He’s got these icy blue eyes that always throw me off-kilter. A man shouldn’t be as pretty as he is. Especially a married one. “Maybe,” he huffs.
Not only is he hot and married, he’s grumpy too.
But I’d be miserable as well if I was married to a woman who never made time for her family.
From what I’ve heard, his wife Tabby seems more interested in partying with puck bunnies than being a mom.
My heart hurts for the little girl. I may not have thought much about having kids, but I know that if I did, I wouldn’t want to miss a second with my child.
I’d never want a kid to feel the way I did. Unwanted. Unloved.
“You should talk to her,” I press.
Avery deserves to have a person like Addie in her life. No matter how Addie feels about JJ, she’d step up and be the role model his daughter needs if asked.
“Yeah,” he says, this time nodding like he might actually consider it.
“So what are we drinking?” Josie asks as she picks up a menu. “And who are we doing tonight?”
Finn rubs his hands together. “So it’s that kind of night, huh?”
I shake my head and sigh. There’s no way I’m having sex tonight. I already did the research for the article. But as I snag my own menu, an idea comes to me, and I straighten in my seat. “Oh, you’re both men.”
Josie shoots me a glare. “We already established that you can’t do them.”
JJ pushes back from me, like he really thinks that’s what I’m after.
With a groan, I punch him in the arm. “I’m not going to seduce you, goalie. I’m doing research and I think you could help.”
He rubs his arm and frowns. “How?”
Finn waggles his brows. “I’m down to be seduced if that’s the kind of help you need. I’m a team player.”
Josie smacks his chest. “Shut up, Little Langfield.”
“I’m the same age as you.”
“Doesn’t matter,” she says with a huff. “That’s what my brother calls you, so that’s your nickname. And no one is getting into Sav’s panties.”
True. Because once again, I’m not wearing any.
“And I don’t need that kind of help,” I say, keeping the panty info to myself. “What you could do to help, though, is give me a list of your turnoffs.” I pull out my phone and swipe up on the screen, then navigate to the notes app.
Finn slouches. “I’d really rather discuss what turns me on.”
“I haven’t dated in a long-ass time,” JJ mutters.
Josie breaks into a smirk. “Did you even date Tabby?”
“Ha ha,” he deadpans. “But she’s got a point. I didn’t, so I’m probably not much help.”
Sighing, I flop back against the booth. “Fine. Finn, that means you’re my only hope. C’mon. I’m sure in all the time you’ve been chased by ball bunnies, you’ve met some crazies.”
With a chuckle, he scratches his head, making his messy hair even more chaotic. “JJ probably has equally scary stories, but yeah, one time I walked into a hotel room to pick up a girl for a date, but when I got there, she had balloon animals all over the bed.”
Humming, I take a minute to conjure the image. “I could actually see you liking that.”
Finn’s eyes light up. “The tiger was freaking phenomenal,” he gushes. But a second later, his expression sours. “The balloon letters on the bed, though…The ‘eat my pussy cat…’” He shudders. “Not so much.”
A cackle escapes me before I can stop it. “Holy shit.”
JJ bursts into laughter too. “I can totally see it.”
“She was upset that I didn’t appreciate her hard work.” Finn shakes his head roughly, like he’s trying to shake the memory from his mind.
“Dating in the Pinterest era,” Josie mutters. “It’s not for the faint of heart.”
“Honestly, all I ever wanted was someone who was kind and good and who didn’t care about my last name.” JJ shrugs, his posture sagging.
Damn. I can’t help but feel for the guy. What he’s describing really doesn’t feel like much, yet he clearly doesn’t think that’s what he got with Tabitha.
“Yeah, or someone who isn’t obsessed with their ex,” Finn says. “I’ve dated quite a few of those. Like I don’t need to hear about your last date or your high school boyfriend who you are totally over,” he adds, using a high-pitched voice.
“I once had a girl photoshop us on vacations together,” Josie says, elbows on the table.
JJ barks out a laugh. “Oh fuck. Bobby dated a chick a few months ago who made an entire video of their future wedding.”
I suck in a harsh breath. “No way.”
Laughing, he pulls out his phone. “Give me a sec. I’ll find it.”
The sound of heavy boots tapping against the floor cuts through our laughter, drawing my attention.
I turn toward the source and come face to face with a gorgeous man wearing a fuck-me smirk.
As he approaches our table, I drink him in.
He’s got dark hair and a tan skin tone, and his whiskey-colored eyes are zeroed in on me.
“Theo, you made it.” Finn waves the guy over.
I glance at Josie, whose jaw is just as slack as mine.
“Yeah, sorry I’m late. I was having drinks with my dad to celebrate the new barrel we’re rolling out.”
I arch a brow. “Barrel?”
Finn sits forward, nodding. “Yeah, Theo’s family owns James Whiskey.”
“You’re Theo James?” My flabbers are ghasted.
Maybe I should have recognized him. The billionaire son of Cash James—the pretty boy NFL quarterback who wears cowboy boots to every game, the Cowboy Quarterback, as he’s often called—is in almost every magazine.
Every one but ours, I guess, considering that his aunt Catherine Bouvier, our editor in chief, is married to the owner of James Whiskey’s biggest rival.
Yeah, definitely should have recognized him on the spot.
Pretty sure he’s even on a billboard just outside Lang Field.
I think he’s holding a bottle of whiskey in the photo.
I know he’s wearing his signature cowboy boots.
I glance down at his feet now, confirming he’s got them on.
Yep. I almost ask if I can get a closer look at them.
They’re pretty famous. Maybe more than even him. Especially in the fashion world.
He holds out his hand to me, seemingly not realizing how interested I am in his footwear. “I am, and you are?”
“Your date for the night,” Josie tells him.
Eyes flashing with amusement, he grins down at me. “Sounds like it’s my lucky night, then.”
I bite my lip and survey him, confirming that the interest there is genuine. I guess I’m going on another date.
As this gorgeous man leads me to the bar, though, my traitorous mind wanders to the last man who touched me. It’s ridiculous, really. I doubt Camden has thought of me since our night together.