35. Caleb
Caleb
I had no idea Hillary was coming to Hollis, so it’s difficult to be happy that she’s here, especially with Casey glaring at us from the bar. I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking right now, although by her furious gaze I can pretty much guess.
I’ve avoided her the past few days, using the fact that we’re working in Redbud as a reason not to come to Jack’s. Truth is, I feel like shit for going off on Tate and even worse for fucking things up with Casey yet again. I can’t do anything right when it comes to her, no matter how hard I try.
“You didn’t let me know you were coming,” I say after Jade takes her order.
She uses her thumb to wipe the lipstick from my mouth and smiles over at me. “Figured I would see where you grew up and what’s so great about Hollis.”
“I wish you would’ve let me know.”
Considering we haven’t spoken much since I left, it would’ve been nice to get a heads up.
“Sorry. Thought you’d be happy to see me.”
“I am,” I reply truthfully. Hillary was a good friend to me, but her timing sucks. “It’s just that I’m working. Won’t have much time to show you around. Not that there’s much to see.”
“I’m sure I can find something to do.”
“Don’t let Caleb lie to you,” Brady says. “There’s always something to do around here.”
“Who knows? You may fall in love with the place like I did and decide to stay,” Madden adds.
She almost looks appalled. “Please don’t tell me that! I thought for sure Caleb would be back in L.A. by now since he said he hated this Podunk town.”
I shift uncomfortably, running a hand through my hair. “I didn’t exactly say I hated it.”
“No one hates Hollis,” Brady argues.
“I could,” she replies with a laugh.
I notice the looks both Brady and Madden give Hillary at her slightly haughty remark.
She can come across a little abrasive, but at the time, she was what I needed.
She listened and didn’t judge. She and Avery kept me accountable, making sure I didn’t have a single drink.
Making sure I attended AA meetings. In fact, I’ve been to a few meetings over at the church since I got back home.
I’ve been determined to stay sober, show Casey I really am a changed man. I haven’t proven anything to her yet. Part of me wants to give up. But we’ve been back and forth for so long that I don’t know how not to love her.
“Here’s your usuals, guys,” Casey says, delivering our food since Jade had to go to class. “And a house salad for the lady.”
“Thanks, hon,” Hillary says. “But can I get the dressing on the side?”
Casey glances down at the salad, already made with the dressing on it. She purses her lips but takes it back.
“Absolutely.”
“She has to get that remade now,” I tell Hillary.
“I thought I asked the other waitress to put it on the side,” she explains. “My bad.”
A few minutes later, Casey delivers Hillary a newly made salad, dressing on the side.
She checks us for refills and then walks away, disappearing into the stock room instead of behind the bar.
Madden asks Hillary about L.A., and I use that moment to excuse myself, pretending that I have to take a piss.
I slip into the stock room, hearing Casey’s sniffles as I close the door behind me. I put my hand on her shoulder, and she stiffens, quickly wiping her tears away.
“I didn’t know she was coming here.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“Then why are you in here crying?”
She pushes me back and steps around me. “I wasn’t in here crying because you brought some tramp here from Los-fucking-Angeles. I don’t care what the hell you do, Caleb. Go fuck her out there on the bar for all I care.”
“I’m fucking trying here. Why can’t you see that?”
“You’re trying? Good for you! How about you try to move on then?”
She storms out of the room, and I slam my fist into the wall, busting through the plaster. Fuck this shit.