Chapter 14 Callum
FOURTEEN
Callum
“You look like you could use a distraction,” I said.
“Hmm?” Zandra turned to face me, a few strands of hair falling over her cheek, and I fought the urge to brush them back.
Since we’d left Paula’s house, Z had been staring off into space. Clearly deep in thought.
There’d been something…off about Mrs. Mackenzie. I’d felt an odd tension during that entire visit, as if there was something wrong in that house. Not that I wanted to judge a poor woman who’d lost her daughter.
And her son, though in a different way.
I remembered Leo from high school. He’d been a year or so younger, but the type of guy you noticed in the halls, talking a big game and catching people’s attention. Not always in a good way. But a lot of us were stupid in high school.
Leo had all but disappeared inside himself after his sister died. From what I’d heard—mostly from Winnie Peyton—he hadn’t been back to Silver Ridge after he left. Which matched more or less with what Paula had said.
As for that Mother’s Day card, maybe I was blowing it out of proportion. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything to Zandra about it at all. She’d already been wound up after the visit.
Either way, I didn’t like the thought of driving her back to Rosie’s house and abandoning her after that.
“What would you say to a field trip?” I asked.
“Now?”
“Yeah. Unless you have plans the rest of the day.”
Zandra wiggled around in her seat. “Is this field trip work-related?”
“Does it need to be?”
“Boundaries are a good thing, Callum.”
“But we’re friends,” I reasoned.
“Barely.”
Don’t forget, while you’re working hard to charm her, that you’re in competition with this woman. So Piper had said. But today was our day off. Hearthstone was closed on Mondays.
And that visit with Paula Mackenzie had left Z unbalanced, I could tell. It wasn’t even about charming her. This was about following my instincts, and my gut told me not to let Z out of my sight too soon.
Because this woman had taken over my head, and I didn’t mind that one damn bit.
Then Zandra asked, “What kind of field trip?” And I knew I had her hooked.
“Just say yes. You won’t regret this, I promise.”
Her brow arched.
“Don’t you trust me?” I asked, sticking out my lower lip.
“Define trust.”
“Fine, it’s work-related. Cross my heart.” I traced my finger in an X over my chest, and Zandra’s lips twitched.
“Why am I not reassured?” she muttered.
“Is that a yes?”
She crossed her golden legs. They looked so good in those shorts. “Yes.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard.”
“I need to make sure Chloe’s settled without me, though. I wasn’t planning to be gone all day.”
“And I need to pick up a few things. How about I drop you at Rosie’s, then come back in about an hour?”
The hour went by a little too fast. I wound up having to rush.
But when I pulled up in front of Rosie’s, I still had a minute to spare. After a brisk knock, Zandra pulled the door open. “Come in. I’m almost ready.” She dashed off toward the kitchen, and I closed the door and followed.
“I told you an hour. You’re not late, are you Z?”
“Shush. I’m doing my best.”
When we reached the kitchen, Zandra picked up a can of cat food and a can opener. Movement on my periphery caught my eye, and Jimmy Perkins walked in cradling a mass of orange fur in his arms.
Jimmy was wearing a short, floral robe. Very short. As in, I’d never needed to know exactly where the tan-line ended on Jimmy’s hairy legs. But now I did. He’d tied his hair in its usual low ponytail, his beard as scraggly as ever.
“Hey, Callum,” he rumbled in his gravelly voice. “Would you like to pet our little queen here? She’s a grumpy puss today.”
“Zandra? I’ll pet her anytime she wants. Wait, were you talking about Chloe?” I smirked, proud of myself.
Z gave me a look, half amusement and all exasperation, as she forked cat food into a bowl.
“Chloe’s grumpy,” Jimmy cooed, nuzzling the cat’s head. “Aren’t you, precious? Yes, you are. She’s as mad as I am about what this town is coming to.”
Uh oh. Jimmy clearly had a rant coming on.
While he went on about whatever “they” were doing to the town, something about ugly new streetlights, I went over to give Chloe some chin rubs. She might’ve looked grumpy, but that smooshed-face scowl was also pretty cute.
Maybe I should’ve known grumpy cats were my jam from how often they showed up on my social feeds. Damn that algorithm.
“Chloe doesn’t need any more spoiling than I give her already,” Zandra complained.
“I’d be happy to spoil you too, if you’re jealous,” I said over my shoulder.
With an eye roll, Zandra set the food bowl on the floor, then grabbed a messenger bag she hadn’t been carrying earlier. “You can refill the fountain if she needs, right?”
Jimmy grunted affirmatively. “’Course. I wouldn’t want to drink water from a bowl that’s been sitting out all day.”
“Chloe would agree. She’s way too fussy for that. Bye, Jimmy. Thanks for taking care of her. I’ll be back later.”
“After dinner,” I added. “Don’t wait up.” Once we were outside, I said, “Does he always wear that tiny robe around the house?”
“It’s Rosie’s. And believe me, the robe is better than the alternative.”
“Should I be worried about you?” I asked, mildly concerned even though Jimmy had never come across as that kind of creepy. An old coot who Rosie somehow put up with, sure, but nothing worse.
“He’s fine. Honestly, I’m just grateful Rosie and Jimmy haven’t kicked me out yet. I meant to find my own apartment over a week ago, but it’s hard to find a cheap place with normal roommates.”
I opened the passenger door of the truck for her. “I did offer you the spare room at my place.”
“Exactly my point. I said normal roommates.”
I chuckled as I rounded the truck and got into the driver’s seat.
“I could’ve gotten the door for myself,” Zandra grumbled as soon as I was inside the cabin.
“I thought you wanted someone to spoil you.”
“I didn’t say that. Or think it.”
“We’ll see.” I reached over, took the seatbelt from her hand, and buckled it for her. Then booped her chin affectionately with my finger.
“I thought you said I wouldn’t regret this.”
“Okay, okay.” I held up my hands. “I’ll behave myself. Starting…now.” Fuck, I had fun with her. “What’s in the bag?”
Her brow wrinkled. “The what?”
As my truck pulled away from the curb, I nodded my head at the big messenger bag she clutched on her lap like it held the secret Hearthstone beer recipes.
“Uh. So,” she stammered. “I brought you something. A gift.”
“You did?” I glanced between her and the road. “You brought me a present? For real?”
“A thank you gift for going to Mrs. Mackenzie’s with me earlier.” Opening the flap and dipping inside, Zandra pulled out a lump in tissue paper. “I would’ve wrapped it better, but Jimmy didn’t know where Rosie keeps the wrapping paper. And she’s busy at the market today.”
My grin was impossible to suppress as I drove, waiting until a stop sign with no other traffic around to pluck the gift from her hands.
“You could wait until we’re not in a moving vehicle.”
“My foot is on the brake. And no, I can’t wait. I need to see what you got me.” Ripping open the tissue, I blinked at the small figurine lying inside.
Holy shit. This was epic.
“You got me a gnome dressed as a football player?” My voice was steeped in excitement like a little kid’s.
Z bit her lower lip. “I noticed Rosie had two of them. It made me think of you. Seemed funnier when I was alone with Chloe in my room.” She tried to take it from my hand. “Never mind, it’s dumb.”
I held it out of her reach. “Are you kidding? I love this. A gnome of my own! I’ll put him in my room and think of you whenever he’s staring at me.”
She relaxed into her seat, fighting a smile. “I just wanted to do something to show my appreciation. For earlier. I’ll get our coffees tomorrow from Silver Linings, too.”
“Thank you.” My gaze stayed glued to her. Until a honk came from behind us. Oops. I was blocking the way.
With an apologetic wave at the driver behind me, I set my gnome in the cup holder and started driving again.
“So where are we going?” she asked.
“You can’t take the suspense?”
“You’re the one who couldn’t wait another moment to open his present.”
“This is different. This is a surprise. Are you the type who turns to the end of the book because she has to find out how it ends?”
“Do you even read books?”
“Oh, harsh.” I grinned. “If you really need a hint, you can look in the backseat.”
She reached into the back, digging around inside the grocery bags I’d left there. During our brief separation this afternoon, I’d paid a visit to Main Street Market to pick up everything we’d need.
“What is all this for?”
“I said I’d give you a hint, not spill all the beans.”
She kept digging in the grocery bags. “Are there beans here too?”
“Your jokes need work, Z.”
“You started it.”
While I drove, I kept glancing over at her, feeling the wide grin on my face.
She was just…freaking cute. But beautiful too, and I kept noticing new details about her, even though you would’ve thought I’d had the woman’s face memorized over the last few weeks.
Like the way the skin just past her mouth creased when she was trying not to smile.
“Here we are,” I said, putting the truck in Park in front of a sprawling, ranch-style house.
“And where is that?”
I took a breath, surveying the property where I’d lived happily for several years now. And somehow, it felt important that Zandra see it. Not only that, but like it.
“Welcome to my place.”
“You told me this was work-related.”
I unbuckled her seatbelt. “It is. Ye of little faith.”
The day was warm and sunny as we got out. I waved to a kid riding past on a bicycle, then got the groceries from the backseat, tucking my gnome into one of the bags.
“I can carry something,” she offered.
“Nah, you just keep looking pretty. There you go. Just like that.”
“I’m not doing anything.”
“You sure?” My eyes took a trip down her body and back up again. Those shorts were killing me. The hint of shoulder every time her sweatshirt drifted down. Fuck. She was doing all kinds of things to me.
“Stop that,” she said.
“Stop what?”
“You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re staring.”
“Like the way you stare at my butt when I’m turned around? Hearthstone does have mirrors.”
Her mouth dropped open. But she didn’t deny it. “This is work-related,” she repeated. “So behave.”
“I will if you do.”
Inside the house, it was cooler, and the sound of the TV came from the living room. “Cal?” a deep voice called out. “That you? Did you bring food?”
I tilted my head at Zandra and lifted my eyebrows. “Roommates,” I whispered, then raised my voice. “Yes, I brought food. No, it’s not for you.”
My roommate Connor rounded the corner, stopping short when he saw who else was here. “Oh. Hey. You’re Zandra Alvarez.”
“I am.”
“I remember you from way back. Silver Ridge High, right? I’m Connor.” He was in athletic shorts and a tee with the sleeves cut off. Ran a hand through his shoulder-length hair, and I swore he fucking flexed.
Really?
Darius came out of his room next, striding over and holding out his hand. At least I could count on him for being a gentleman. “Hi, I’m Darius.”
“Hey. Zandra. I work with Callum.”
“We know,” both Connor and Darius said.
They walked into the living room, while I carried the grocery bags over to the kitchen.
“Cal talks about you all the time,” Connor said.
“Does he now?” Zandra glanced over at me.
“Oh yeah,” Darius added. “Zandra this, Zandra that.”
Traitors.
Peering into one of the bags, I took out the football gnome and set him on the kitchen island with a smile. I doubted I’d ever received a better gift than this weird little figurine with its pointy helmet. Just because Zandra had given it to me.
Because she’d been thinking of me.
“What are you and Cal up to today?” Connor asked in the living room, sidling closer to her.
“He won’t tell me. Supposedly it’s work-related.”
“He’s working on his day off, now?” Sarcasm was thick in Connor’s tone. “That’s not usually what Callum gets up to in his free time.”
Okay. Enough with the friendly introductions.
I went back to the living room and hooked Zandra’s waist. “We’re going to get started now.”
Darius stood with his arms crossed, looking amused, while Connor was studying Zandra with way too much interest. “Can I help?” Connor asked.
“No,” I growled. “Stay out of the kitchen.”