29. Cal
Chapter twenty-nine
Cal
My girl had me wrapped around her finger, and I wasn’t mad about it.
Khia begged to invite Noelle to the Harvest Parade after church tomorrow, and I was powerless against those blue eyes and hopeful smile. It didn’t hurt that she was clutching Mrs. Pickles to her chest either. The cat I never wanted had somehow broken through my defenses.
Cutest duo ever.
Which was how I found myself trekking to Bean There, Done That with Khia in tow.
Brandon told me to take it easy, but it had been nearly a week, and I was feeling much better.
My physical therapist had given me the green light to start moving without the crutches—finally—and I was itching to get back to the ice. Sitting still was not my forte.
Plus, Khia was going through withdrawals at not seeing Noelle. It had only been two days, but same, kiddo.
I’d gone to text her when she didn’t answer her door, but a notification from The Vine pinged my phone first.
Jerry4Ever:
Bean There, Done That’s Newest employee is our own prodigal!!!!
My stomach clenched at Mrs. Gulliver’s choice of words. But there was no mistaking the blurry café video of a barista as anyone but Noelle.
Another video popped up. Greyson and Noelle were talking at the counter. I groaned. Grey, if you went all protective on me, I’m going to set Mrs. Pickles loose in your house and steal your socket wrenches.
“Let’s get a hot chocolate,” I said, knowing my daughter would have no argument with that.
Was a public conversation with Noelle what I wanted?
Not particularly, especially if Mrs. Gulliver and her phone were in a five-mile radius.
A surge of protectiveness swelled in my chest. The town could be vicious in their opinions, especially when one of their own was involved.
I clenched my fists. Were they snubbing her?
What had Greyson said to her? Noelle hadn’t given me the rundown of how Operation Bribery went.
That’s why I was here. To make sure she was okay. Totally not because I simply wanted to see her.
“C’mon, Daddy,” Khia begged, tugging me towards the door.
Bean There, Done That was quiet with the afternoon lull. Noelle was behind the counter, her curly blonde hair piled up in a messy bun with loose tendrils slipping out around her face. She was smiling at a customer. A real smile.
That smile was a magnet, and I was powerless to resist. My feet moved in her direction of their own accord. Khia bolted to the counter, her nose pressed against the pastry display.
Surprise lit Noelle’s soft eyes as I stepped up to the register. “Cal?”
“What do coffee beans say to their Valentines?” I blurted out. Which was not the Hello, how are you? I love your smile I had been intending to say. Too late to go back now.
She blinked at me. “Uh . . . I’m not sure.”
“You keep me grounded.”
Someone snorted behind me. I peeked over my shoulder and noticed Pops at the corner table.
Noelle rolled her eyes, but her lips curved up in amusement. “Still cracking jokes when you’re nervous?”
“They’ve only gotten worse with age.” Pops chuckled, lifting his mug in a salute.
I scowled at him. “Enough commentary from the peanut gallery.”
He held up his hands, eyes sparkling with glee. Closing his paper, he discarded his mug in the dirty dish bin and patted Khia’s head. With a nod to Noelle, he strode out of the shop—but not before flashing me a wink and subtle thumbs-up as he passed.
I rubbed the back of my neck. Dads. They still found ways to embarrass you even in your thirties. “Corny?”
Noelle smiled. “A little. But in a good way.” She glanced down at Khia. “Hey, Little Miss.”
Khia grinned, weaponizing her dimples. Deadly things, those dimples.
I would know. “Will you come to the parade with us?” Hope lit up her face, and worry gripped my stomach that she’d be disappointed.
It was wrong to assume Noelle would want to spend time with her—with us—outside her nanny duties.
I shouldn’t have put her in that position to break my girl’s heart, but truth be told . . . I wanted Noelle to come with us.
When Noelle glanced at me, I nodded discreetly. Please say yes.
“I’d love to, sweetie.”
Khia bounced up and down. “See, Daddy, I told you she’d say yes! She likes us!”
“What’s not to like?” I teased.
Noelle chuckled, cheeks flushing. “Does it still start at two?”
“Yeah. We can, uh, carpool if you want.”
“Thanks, but I’m actually having lunch with my dad and Ruby, so I’ll meet you there.” She smiled apologetically. “Where should I find you?”
“Here?”
“Sounds good.” She fiddled with her sunny yellow apron string. “Can I get you anything?”
“Do you still want hot chocolate?” I asked Khia, and her curly head bobbed. “Manners,” I prompted gently.
Khia turned to Noelle. “Can I please have a hot chocolate?”
“Sure thing.” Noelle’s eyes flicked to me. “And you?”
“What do you think?” I asked, cocking my head.
A deeper pink splashed across her cheeks, highlighting her freckles. “Well, you used to have flat whites sometimes, but I wasn’t sure . . . That’s why I brought hot chocolate yesterday.”
Elation flooded my veins, like I’d won the Calder Cup. Which was ridiculous. It was just a coffee order—but she remembered. I couldn’t hold back my grin. “Yes, ma’am. On both accounts—the coffee and the chocolate. But I’ll take the flat white today, thanks.”
“Coming right up.”
When Noelle slid the to-go cups across the counter, I had to remind my heart that feelings were irrelevant. So what that she remembered my coffee preferences? Or that she made my daughter glow like a firefly? We were friends. Friends could do those things. It didn’t mean anything.
But that smile . . . It was like a sunrise. Something beautiful I never got tired of seeing. Yeah, I was cooked.
I threw a volley of punches in rapid succession.
My skin was tight with tension, but the endorphins gave me a release that didn’t end in my punching my annoying twin’s face.
Noelle had hedged when I asked her about her conversation with Greyson—the bribery mission and at the coffee shop—which meant I was about to make his life miserable.
If he hurt my girl, I was going to hurt him. Sorry, Paisley, but my blockheaded brother needed to be taught a lesson.
“Cal.”
Told you twin telepathy was a thing. Because there was Greyson, standing in the open garage door, holding a pair of boxing gloves.
“You come to apologize?” I grunted, lobbing another punch at the bag hanging from the ceiling.
His jaw twitched. “You up for a match?”
“So I can beat you, pretty boy? Bring it on.”
Greyson slipped his gloves on in silence, and I grabbed a water, squirting a stream into my mouth.
Once he stood opposite me, I stretched my neck and lifted my hands. “Hope Paisley isn’t too attached to your face.”
Greyson threw the first punch, and, yeah, I was a little cocky because he got me. So that’s how it was gonna be.
I threw the next one. He dodged and returned the gesture. I feigned left, and his swing went wide. It was a dance between us. Hazards of sparring too often. I knew his moves, and he knew mine.
Soon we were both sweating, silent tension simmering between us.
“You come to get beat up, or did you plan on saying something?” I spat out, dodging another punch. “I told you not to get all protective on me.”
Greyson grunted when I lobbed my fist into his gut, but he countered with a blow to the kidney. He only fought dirty when he was upset. Guess we were in good company.
“Gonna use your words, Grey?” I goaded him.
Which was absolutely the wrong thing to do because he nailed me with a headlock.
Dang it.
“I’m sorry,” he said, chest heaving.
I huffed and shoved against him until he released me. “I’d be more inclined to forgive you if you let me win.”
Despite my attempt at humour, Greyson’s eyes stayed serious. “I was out of line. I can see that.”
“You did? Or is this Paisley?”
“Cal.”
I sighed, waving a hand. “Continue your groveling.”
Greyson shot a look heavenward, a gesture I was very familiar with.
His way of praying for patience. “Yeah, my wife had some excellent insight on my behaviour. That’s what marriage is.
But I’m not here because she made me. I’m here because I can admit I messed up.
” He cleared his throat. “It came from a place of concern, but . . . I could have handled it better. You’re your own man. And a fine one.”
I blinked rapidly. My twin never got mushy if he could help it, but his affirmation was everything I needed to hear after years of messing up.
“I saw how Elle was with you and Khia. And . . . I’m sorry.”
The sincerity in his eyes—a mirror of mine—made it hard to hang onto my annoyance. But I knew he was right, too. He’d stepped out of line, but I could have had a bit more grace.
“Apology accepted,” I said at last, fiddling with my gloves.
“And for what it’s worth, I did think about what you said.
You weren’t wrong. I needed to slow down and consider instead of jumping in feet first.” I cleared my throat.
“But I’ve prayed about this for a long time.
It isn’t a snap decision, and I have peace about it. ”
Greyson nodded silently. “Then follow His leading.”
“And . . . I’m sorry I took a dirty shot and mentioned Liam.” I made sure to hold his gaze. I needed him to hear me. “That wasn’t your fault. It never was.”
Greyson swallowed hard.
After giving him a moment to collect himself, I motioned between us. “We good?”
“We’re good.” He clapped my shoulder, and I yanked him into a tight hug.
“And if I date Noelle, you won’t bite my head off?”
“You have my blessing.”
Did I need it? No. But it felt pretty good knowing I had it. Call me a sap, but I hated it when we were at odds.
“Again?” I raised my gloves.
He smirked. “Ready for a repeat performance?”
“It’s cute you think that wasn’t just a fluke.”
Greyson lifted his hands, rolling his shoulders. “Bring it on, Cap.”
And I absolutely creamed him. Best night ever.