Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Walker
Hey, Viv mentioned you’re going to be in town today. Can you find some time for us to meet? I’d like to grab coffee just the two of us if possible.
Me
Hey… sure. Is everything ok?
Walker
Yeah, we just need to talk. See you at Java Jive at 4?
Me
I can do that. But … am I in trouble? You didn’t say anything at the hospital yesterday.
Walker
It’s just a conversation. I’ll see you soon.
Oh, no, today is the day.
As his wife would say … crap on a cracker.
Two hours later, I’m pulling my Jeep into a parking spot a block down from the local coffee shop.
It’s strange—I’m not used to being anxious when it comes to speaking with Walker. He is my direct supervising agent, and we’ve also been friends for a long time.
But I guess the time was up when he watched me get into Ryan’s SUV yesterday.
He’s calling the meeting, but it’s probably overdue.
It’s time to rip the Band-Aid off about me dating his brother-in-law.
But I’ve never been the type of person that got into trouble in school, or even at home.
Other than perpetually disappointing my parents for not caring more about their social lives.
But I care about what Walker thinks of me—a lot. And I think it’s in part because I know he genuinely cares about me as well. I never want to disappoint him or let him down.
I don’t think Ryan and me dating are either of those things, but the potential is there.
And also, probably why I’ve been an absolute coward about this conversation. If he hadn’t pushed it, how long could I have held out?
We’ll never know, because he’s making me face it head-on. It’s good for me to be pushed out of my comfort zone, but I’m not ready to admit that yet.
My stomach is still too nervous.
I’m early, but I’m sure Walker will be, too. Pulling open the doors to Java Jive, the comforting aroma of their signature brew fills the air. It’s a mix of rich roasted beans, a touch of cinnamon, and possibly a hint of vanilla undertones.
It’s basically a hug for your senses.
I inhale deeply as I wait my turn, letting the aroma engulf and center me. My face breaks out in a big smile when I see who is at the counter waiting to take my order.
Cameron Walsh, or Cami, as everyone calls her, has definitely thrown a curveball in the Callahan family, but I find myself incredibly empathetic for the journey she’s been forced to take.
Even confronting the Callahans with the truth was somewhat forced on her, however well-intentioned Liam and Jack’s confrontation was a few months ago.
The dark auburn-haired beauty is still rocking deep purple streaks in her long wavy hair, which is currently pulled back in a loose braid over her shoulder.
Her vivid green eyes are undeniably the same shade as her sister Vivian’s, and I’m a little surprised no one made that connection prior to the big reveal.
“Hi, Cami! Good to see you again. How’s it going?” My voice sounds overly cheerful, and I cringe slightly, but I think it’s just nerves related to my upcoming conversation with Walker.
“Hey, Harlow, it’s good! Busy day, but we close in about an hour, so just a heads-up if you were looking to hang out longer.”
I wave away the concern. “No, that’s fine. I’m just meeting Walker for a quick chat. We will be out of your hair in plenty of time.”
She nods, brushing her hands off on her apron before pulling up the tablet to enter my order. “Cool. What can I get for you?”
“Can I get a medium iced vanilla almond latte and a cinnamon roll if you have any left?”
Cami smiles. “You’re in luck. Our last batch for the day is in the oven, so I can run it out to you in about five minutes?”
“Oh, even better!”
“Make that two, please, Cami. And a large black coffee with cream.” Walker startles me as he adds to my order and then beats me to pay with his phone.
“Coming right up!” Cami laughs as she turns to start our drinks. “Go find a seat. I’ll run everything out in a minute!”
“Thanks, Cami. Come on, Harlow. It’s not that bad. I won’t bite.” Walker nods toward the tables by the front windows, and we make our way to our seats.
I exhale slightly louder than I intend to as I sit down across from Walker, then sheepishly look away as he raises his eyebrows at me.
“So … you wanted to talk?” I ask without meeting his eyes.
“I did.” His short reply is intentional. He is going to make me spell this out.
“Is it … is it about me dating one of your brothers-in-law?”
The corner of his mouth tips upward ever so slightly. “It is.”
My shoulders fall, and I accept defeat. “I’m sorry, Walker. I promise I didn’t mean for it to happen, and I’m not quite sure when it officially even happened, but I get that it’s a conflict for you.”
“Wait, conflict? What? No.” He scrunches his eyebrows and leans in to lower his voice slightly. “Harlow, why do you think I asked you to meet outside of the office to talk just the two of us?”
“Well, you’re technically still on paternity leave …
so, convenience? To draw some sort of boundary?
Express disdain for my decisions?” My shoulders drop even more as shame causes my face to redden.
I am not at all ashamed of Ryan, but I am feeling terrible about disappointing Walker, especially when he is someone I respect so much.
He scowls and leans back into his chair. “What the hell? Harlow, you aren’t making any sense here.”
Cami sneaks up and drops our coffees and cinnamon rolls, then all but runs away without a word—accurately reading the vibes of this conversation.
I raise a hand in protest. “Hold on, I’m confused.”
“That makes two of us then.” Walker’s scowl deepens as he looks at his drink and pauses before looking back at me. “Harlow, I think you misunderstood why I asked to meet.”
“Okayyyy. Then why did you ask to meet?”
“The entire Callahan Cavalry, Brigade, and half the town know you and Ryan are dating.”
“Half the town?!” I stage-whisper as heat floods my cheeks. I don’t even know half of the town, but the idea of strangers knowing my love life is slightly terrifying.
“Welcome to life in a small town, but that’s not the point.”
“I still don’t understand.”
He nods as he takes a drink of his coffee while I play with the napkin under my cup.
“I wanted to talk to you and find out why you haven’t come to me yourself. Did I do something to make you feel like you couldn’t tell me?”
Wait.
What?
I lean back into my chair, shocked by his words. “Walker, I trust you completely, both personally and professionally. You didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Okay, then why am I forcing the issue instead of you coming to me?” Walker is a stoic guy most of the time, and it would be easy to misunderstand his hard exterior for a lack of depth, but that’s not true when it comes to my friend.
“Why am I calling this meeting only because I saw Ryan pick you up yesterday?”
Then I see it.
The flash of hurt in his eyes.
My eyes fill with tears as it dawns on me that in my attempt to put off a potentially challenging conversation, I’ve hurt my friend.
Now I might be sick for an entirely different reason.
“Walker, I’m … I’m so sorry.”
His eyes widen and he reaches for another napkin to hand me as an alarmed expression covers his face. I don’t let tears typically show in public settings, but my oversight has me gobsmacked.
“I just don’t get why you didn’t say anything. You clearly spoke to my wife, and any time I try to ask her about it, she all but says she’s Switzerland and scurries away.”
I laugh at the image of Vivian running away from her confused husband while yelling about being a neutral country.
“I asked her not to say anything until I was ready.”
“Okay. Are you ready now? Or the real question is—why did you need to be ready at all? It’s me.”
I point at him. “Exactly! It is you. You aren’t just my boss; you’re my friend, Walker. And Ryan is your brother-in-law.”
His eyes narrow as he assesses me. “And…”
Damn it. I’ve trained him too well in my mannerisms. “And I was afraid that you would think I wasn’t good enough for someone like him.
Or that the age gap was too much. Or that it would somehow disappoint you.
” The last sentence is said much softer than the first few, but Walker’s eyes soften, and I know he heard everything I said.
“Harlow, I am not your shitty parents.”
“Thankfully.”
He nods in agreement. “And I don’t think of you in terms of your age, if I’m honest.” He leans in, and I’m grateful his eyebrows aren’t so angry looking now.
“Okay, you’re ten years apart, but so what?
You are an exceptional human being in every sense.
You are probably out of his league, if I’m honest, and that has nothing to do with age.
That just has to do with how awesome you are. ”
He shakes his head as he blows out a big breath.
“I thought I had done something to make you feel like you couldn’t trust me with this, and it bothered me.
I consider you a friend. You’re clearly good friends with my wife, and I care about you as a person.
I wanted to make sure our friendship was okay, because honestly, I thought you’d say something months ago, like when a certain jet picked you up early from New York around Christmas. ” He gives me a knowing look.
“There wasn’t that much to tell when that happened,” I quietly reply.
“But there was something. And it’s gone on long enough.
When he picked you up yesterday after you were soaking—which I still want you to explain why you were so damn wet if he dropped you off in the first place—that was the last straw for me.
I wanted the air cleared, especially if I had done something to make you feel like you couldn’t trust me anymore. ”
“No, never. That wasn’t it at all.”
“Okay, then. Are we good? Can I give Ryan a hard time about his intentions yet or what?”
I laugh at that. “That’s between the two of you; I’m staying out of it.”
“Fine by me. But seriously, are you happy? Is he treating you well?”
I smile at my friend who is always looking out for me, and the realization makes the fact that I hurt him hit a little harder. “Yes. And … yes. He’s such a good guy, Walker.”
He nods and takes another drink before replying, “He really is—but you deserve nothing less, Harlow, and if he steps out of line at all, you let me know, and I’ll handle it.”
I laugh again. “I appreciate it, but I can handle it.”
He shrugs one shoulder. “I know you can, but you don’t have to handle everything alone all the time. I’ve got your back. Without question or hesitation.”
The reference to The Cavalry’s motto puts a lump in my throat. “Thank you. I … I really appreciate that.” We don’t talk about my history or family structure often, but Walker knows all the details. I also know that if my friend says he has my back, then I’m good.
And that means more to me than I’ll ever be able to express—so it’s a good thing he would never make me say it, anyway.