23. Callie
Callie
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13TH
J ust think about the cinnamon rolls and how good they smell. That’s all that’s happening right now. You’re just sitting here in the Easy Swallow smelling delicious cinnamon rolls. You’re just sitting here in the Easy Swallow with your first actual boyfriend and his pre-teen daughter who knows you had sex with her dad last night. And smelling delicious cinnamon rolls.
I think I’m going to be sick.
It would be easier if we hadn’t made the front-page news on The Nosy Pecker.
Owl be Damned! Check Out These Nocturnal Lovebirds!
Everyone sitting here is at least pretending to mind their own business, although they’re doing a shit job of it. I can see them all peeking over their menus at us. We’re in a corner booth, Finn and I are next to each other staring out towards the rest of the diner, and Lexie is sitting on the other side.
Finn doesn’t seem nervous at all, which makes things both better and worse at the same time. How is he not nervous? The man is unflappable.
Ha! Unflappable…damn this bird town!
Eve comes up with our drinks and a warm smile. “I love your hair,” she says to me as she sets down two cups of coffee and a glass of OJ for Lex.
“Thank you, I love yours, too,” I inject as much fake joy into that statement as I can. I mean, her pink hair is stunning, but I’m too sweaty to focus.
“I’ll be back with your food here soon. Just flag me down if you need anything in the meantime.”
I busy myself by taking a sip of coffee. Lex expertly drinks her juice while not breaking eye contact with us.
I can’t imagine what she must think of me right now. Finn swore to me he talked to her earlier and she’s okay, but I don’t see how that’s possible.
“All right, Alexis,” Finn begins. “You’ve had time to perk up a little bit, you’ve had your Vitamin C, we’ve ordered food. Callie and I are both here, and we’re ready to listen.”
I smile outwardly but internally brace myself for whatever shame this girl is ready to throw at me. The rhinestone star on her cheek glistens under the light hanging by our booth while she looks up in thought.
“I just think?—”
“Bow-chicka-BOW-WOW!” echoes through the entryway of the diner. And it’s a voice I’d know anywhere.
“Jesus Christ,” Finn mutters.
“Look at you two all cozy next to each other—oh crap, I’m so sorry!” Lily stops short when she sees Lex is sitting across from us. She has the decency to blush a little. “Hey, Lexie, how are you doing?”
“I’m good, how are you?”
“Awesome. As always.”
And then all four of us are just staring at each other.
It’s awkward. It’s so awkward.
“Well, I’ll let you guys enjoy your breakfast!” she says before rushing away so fast, her red ponytail whips around and nearly hits her in the eyes.
“Sorry about that, Lex,” Finn rubs his face. “Go ahead with what you were saying.”
“It’s cool. I was just going to say that?—”
“Callie and Finnegan sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S?—”
“Someone already did that, find new material!” Finn yells at D’Shawn, who’s approaching the booth. And who also didn’t notice that Lex is sitting with us. He stops short when he sees her and he tries to recover.
“Oh, hey, there Lexie. It’s hard to see you there, the plant’s blocking you from view.”
“Hey, Mr. Roberts,” Lexie replies politely.
“You enjoying the school year so far?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
“Good, good.” D’Shawn’s hands are in his pockets and his substantial frame would be imposing if not for the look of discomfort on his face.
“Kind of in the middle of something here,” Finn states.
“Yeah, of course! Absolutely, have a great meal!” He follows Lily’s lead and makes a quick escape to find a seat somewhere else.
“Maybe we should switch places so everyone can see you’re sitting with us,” I suggest through gritted teeth and waves of nausea.
We do a quick shuffle, Finn and I moving to Lexie’s old spot and Lexie taking ours. She’s facing the front door now, so that should at least stop the taunting interruptions.
“Much better!” I exclaim with way too much perkiness. “Please go ahead,” I motion to her to continue.
Lex calmly takes another sip of orange juice. “I think—oh hey, Ms. Longspur!”
I drop my head to the table and Finn rubs my back as Piper walks up to us from the other direction.
“Hey, Lex! Good to see you! You doing some interviews here for the final showdown?”
“Kind of,” Lexie hedges.
I bring my weary expression to meet Piper’s eyes and she seems to be the only one who can gracefully make an exit.
“Can’t wait to read it,” she smiles. “Have a great breakfast, you guys.”
“Coach Finnegan!” A deep voice booms as Brody Flockhart approaches the table with his girlfriend, Ro. The man is an absolute tank, but I will take him down .
“NO!” I scream.
The diner immediately quiets and everyone stares at me, with even the Tit Peepers dropping all pretense of being covert.
Ro and Flock are understandably confused.
“Just, no! Ro, I love you. I love you so much and I’m sorry, but we cannot talk right now because WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING IMPORTANT!”
Brody holds his hands up and Ro nods, her eyes wide. “See you at knitting club?” she asks.
“YES THAT SOUNDS LOVELY THANK YOU!”
Chief Woodcock, who’s seated at the breakfast bar, becomes my new favorite person when he stands up and makes an announcement. “Swallowers, please go back to your own tables, keep your eyes on your own company, and mind your own business! Thank you!”
Everyone does as they’re told for once, and after waiting a couple of precautionary seconds, just to be sure, Finn and I turn our full attention to Lex.
She’s got to be pissed. She must hate me. I would totally hate me if I were her.
“You okay there, Miss Callie?” she asks.
“I’m good, I promise. Sorry.” I rub my palms on my legs, then fold my hands on the table. Finn grabs one of them and squeezes reassuringly.
Lex’s focus goes immediately to our clasped hands and I try to pull away, but Finn holds firm.
“I just want to say that I think it’s really cool you guys are, like, dating or whatever.”
The tension that was holding me up like a clothes hanger drains. Eve comes up and sets our plates down, then walks away without a word.
“You…you do?” I ask weakly.
Lex offers me a small smile. “Yeah. I mean, it’s weird. But everything here is weird, so I guess it makes sense.”
“Do you have any questions?” Finn asks.
She shrugs and pops a strawberry into her mouth. “Not really. Just don’t be gross around me, please. Wait, does this mean I can dye my hair purple?”
Finn scoffs. “What? No!”
“Dad, come on!”
They continue to bicker, but all I can see is Lexie’s slender wrist as she gesticulates wildly. The bacon friendship bracelet I won for her is sliding around on it. My heart squeezes and I quickly wipe my eyes with my napkin.
“They make temporary dye or clip-ins,” I cut in. “I think we can do something with that.”
“Yes! See?”
Finn glowers at me but concedes, “I’ll consider it,” which makes his daughter happy enough to drop the subject.
We have a wonderful breakfast. Followed by a wonderful walk through the park in Town Square. Followed by a trip to my house to introduce Lex and Fettuccini. Just the three of us, all day, like a happy little family.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come over for dinner?” Finn asks at my front door.
“He’s making pork chops, Miss Callie, they actually slap.”
“What do you mean, actually? ” Finn takes offense. “Like you’re surprised that I make good pork chops.”
“What? I’m selling it! I want her to come over!”
“Then you just say ‘they slap.’ That’s all you need to say.”
“Oh my god, Dad, seriously?”
I laugh and give Lex a hug. “I have some work stuff I have to catch up on, so I’ll take a rain check. But thank you for a wonderful day.”
Finn pulls me in tight and speaks low in my ear. “You sure you’re okay?”
I fight the lump in my throat and manage to sound normal when I promise I am. “I’ll see you both on Monday.”
“Monday?” Finn looks like I smacked him.
“No way, you have to come out with us tomorrow,” Lex objects. “We’re going to the Make a Hat Day Festival”
“Oh wow, this town really looks for any reason to celebrate something.”
“Come on, it’ll be so much fun, pleeeeeease!”
Finn smiles and joins in. “Yeah, pleeeeeease!”
“I mean, I guess you’ve made me an offer I can’t refuse,” I grin.
“Yes!” Lex gives me a high five. “Can I do your rhinestones?”
“I’d be upset if you didn’t.”
Her smile is brilliant. I love this little girl so much. “Great! I’ll see you tomorrow. Dad, let’s go, I’m hungry.”
“Get in the car, I’ll be right there.” He turns back to me and leans in conspiratorially. “You have four hours,” he growls.
“What?”
“That’s how long it will take me to cook, do the dishes, and get Lex settled before I come back over here. Because if you think for one second that I’m not going to seize every opportunity to run my tongue over every inch of your beautiful body, then, woman, you are out of your damn mind.”
Then he kisses me in a way that, while not inappropriate in front of his daughter, also makes very filthy promises.
“You swore you wouldn’t be gross around me!” Lex calls from the car.
Finn just smiles and walks away. He points at me before getting into the driver’s seat. “Four hours. I mean it.”
I watch the taillights of his SUV disappear, spy the curtains across the street conspicuously move, close the front door behind me, and sink to the floor.
And that’s when I finally release the tears that have threatened all day long.
Because there’s literally no way I’m going to make it through this without hurting everyone, least of all me.