6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Calista
I don't think I thought this whole getting up early to do Skye's hair thing allthe way through. Skye has such a sweet face that I just couldn't bring myself to say no to her. While I want to help, but when my alarm went off at six thirty this the morning, I'm regretting it.
When I roll out of bed, thankfully, the smell of coffee is already filling my apartment. Whoever made scheduled AutoStart coffee machines deserves to live like royalty for the rest of his or her life.
Pouring my coffee, I go to the bathroom to get ready. If I wasn’t meeting Kaylee later, I had every intention of showing up in pajamas, and throwing my hair up in a messy bun. But Kaylee really wanted to get together today after I do Skye's hair. She made me promise to bring coffee and breakfast from the bakery. Therefore, I have to get dressed and look presentable, so it doesn't get back to my parents, and I get a million questions. Or worse yet, rumors start about a breakup, I'm sick, or who knows what else because I'm walking around town in my pajamas.
Plus, there is no way I can meet up with a hot guy not looking my best. Even if it is my brother's best friend who's way too young for me. That's okay. I can still enjoy the eye candy. There’s nothing wrong with that, and my brothers' never have to know.
I put on a hint of makeup, mascara, and lip-gloss mostly to give myself a natural look like I had yesterday. Then I pick out a fun flowy dress and long sweater to go over it. After I put on some jewelry, I'm out the door. Since it's only a few blocks away, I decide to walk to the school, which will give me a chance to get enough of the view and enjoy the weirdly warm weather we are having this week.
With how quiet Main Street is this early, it’s in stark contrast to the buzz all around the school area a few blocks off Main Street. Cars line the road and fill the parking lots. Buses drop kids off as they run to meet up with their friends. It brings up many childhood memories—mostly good.
I loved getting to school and seeing my friends and finding out what I'd missed in the way of gossip. Who started dating, who broke up, and who is fighting? Back then, I fed off it.
Finally, I spot Evan in the elementary school parking lot. He’s in the same car he was in the night, he answered my 911 call about the lady who had crashed into the mountain. I head over, and when I'm a few spots away, Skye jumps out of the car.
“You came! I'm so excited. I brought pretty much everything we have for my hair, which isn't a lot. But Dad promised to take me shopping for more and to take some online tutorials to learn!” Skye says, holding a small bin in one hand and a hairbrush in the other.
“Alright, let's see what we are working with,” I tell her.
Taking the bin from her, I place it on the trunk of the car. Then I pull out a few hair ties and take the brush to work on the braid. Skye holds perfectly still as I put her in each position. Even though Evan watches quietly what I do, I can tell before I even hit the halfway point that he's overwhelmed, but he is still paying attention.
When I'm done, Skye jumps into the front passenger seat of the car and pulls the mirror down, checking her hair at every possible angle she can.
“I love it! It's going to be the best picture day photo ever! Thank you so much!” She rushes over, throws her arms around my waist, and hugs me tight.
At first, I'm stunned. But when I look at Evan, who has a huge smile on his face, I wrap Skye in a bear hug.
“Let me walk her in, and we can go to the bakery and get some coffee,” he says as Skye grabs her backpack from the car.
“Oh, you don't have to,” I say, ready to walk to the bakery myself.
“I insist as a thank you for this. Please wait while I walk her in. Sit in the car, stay warm,” he says, staring at me, waiting for me to agree.
“Okay,” I nod and sit down in the passenger seat to wait for him.
While he’s gone, I check my phone for texts and scroll through social media. He’s not gone very long and when he gets in the car, he shoots me one of his smiles, and my heart flutters.
During the drive over to the bakery, we’re silent. It’s comfortable and easy. After finding a parking spot right out front, we walk into the bakery. He is the perfect gentleman and holds the door open for me. We each get coffee and a pastry and grab a table in the back corner of the shop.
“Have you seen the distillery yet?” he asks, breaking the ice.
“I drove by, and it was pretty busy, so I didn't stop.”
“It's always busy. You just have to go on in. I'm sure the guys can't wait to show it to you. They have done a great job with it,” he says, grinning.
It’s obvious from his demeanor that he’s both excited and proud of them.
“I'll brave it one day next week once I'm done unpacking,” I say.
Even though I’m pushing off seeing it and know I need to go over there, I crave some time to decompress and adjust to this move. Hell, I agreed to help them with it, but for right now, I need some more time to adjust to all the changes.
“You settling in, okay?” he asks.
“Yeah, just kind of taking it easy. I'm going to spend some time with Kaylee today. Maybe do a bit of shopping later. It's been forever since I've had time off. I want to enjoy it a little before jumping back into things.”
“I get that. But I meant what I said. If you need anything, you reach out and let me know. I'm always happy to help,” he says, finishing up his coffee.
“I will. But so far, I'm just kind of lying low.”
“Good. Thanks for taking this time with me, but I’m going to have to cut our time short. I need to get to the station. Hopefully, today I'll be getting some info on a case I'm working on,” he says, taking the last bite of his Danish.
“Anything exciting?” I ask and watch a hint of something cross his face. Guilt, maybe or sadness?
“Just the usual. But I can't talk much about it,” he says standing up.
“I understand.” Joining him, I toss out my now-empty coffee. “I'm going to grab coffee and breakfast for Kaylee before I leave.” I nod toward the counter.
“Okay, be safe, and thank you again for doing Skye's hair.”
Awkwardly, he reaches out and gives me a hug. His scent wraps around me, and his arms around me are comforting. I take a step back. The last thing I need is to obsess over his scent and his hard body and his muscles, and… I need to stop thinking right now.
He strides confidently to the door, and I watch him as he heads to the station. After placing another order for coffee and some muffins, I walk across the street to my place and get my car to go to Kaylee's place south of town.
When I get there, she is sitting on the front porch wrapped in a blanket. She jumps up and greets me as I step on to the porch.
“Oh, my god! Coffee with Detective Greer? Tell me everything!” She gushes, taking the coffee and pulling me inside.
“How the heck do you know about that before I even get here?” I ask, shocked, before sitting on the couch with her.
“Have you really forgotten what it's like to live in Whiskey River? Maisie called when she saw you. Her living room looks right over the bakery, you know. She was trying to see what I knew, which was, of course, less than her. Which, as your best friend, just isn't right!”
“It wasn't planned. I ran into them at the grocery store last night, and his daughter loved my hair and asked me to do it for her picture day today. I agreed and met them at the school, and he insisted on getting me coffee as a thank you. We talked about my brother and you. Nothing fancy,” I tell her as she digs into the bag of muffins I brought.
“Still, a small text could have given me a leg up on the gossip!” she says, smiling.
“If there is a next time, I will try to remember.”
“That's all I'm asking for.” She sighs, “Calvin and I broke up.”
I try to muster up some fake emotion like shock or sadness, but I'm not sure if it’s believable.
Actually, I’m glad they’re not together anymore. I never liked the guy, mostly because he checked out other women when he was with her and didn’t treat her well. She soaked up any ounce of affection he bestowed on her, though it wasn’t much even from the beginning.
“I want to say sorry, but I'm honestly glad. What happened?” I ask.
“I should have listened to you. But I found out he was using drugs, and when I confronted him, he was all, ‘Who the fuck are you to judge me, ugly bitch.' That's when I ended it, and he took what stuff he could carry that night, and I sent him a photo of me burning the rest in the backyard last night. It was very cathartic,” she says, shocking the hell out of me.
“First, good for you! Second, who should have called who? And third, you have plenty of time to find a good guy,” I encourage her.
She just rolls her eyes, but doesn't say anything.
Kaylee is younger than me by almost five years. She was super smart in school, skipped two grades, and was always more mature than the kids in my own grade. Somehow, we just bonded.
“I know. It's the waiting part I hate,” she says.
“Don't I know it? But it's better to be alone than stuck with a mooching idiot,” I say.
“Don't I know it,” she sighs.