Chapter 4
The next morning, I sit in bed, procrastinating.
I’ve been trapped in my thoughts since yesterday afternoon, in my appointed room, scared to leave in case Calvin is home again.
The awkwardness from our last encounter still lingers, but if I’m being honest, what really unsettles me is the effect he has on me.
I wouldn’t ever admit it, of course, and I know how messed up it is even to think such a thought, but the fact is I find him extremely attractive.
The flutter in my stomach when I think of him, the way my pulse quickens, it’s confusing, and I don’t like it. I shouldn’t want to see him again.
I need a distraction, a proper one, something to guide my thoughts in a different direction. I know I should get some work done, but right now, it feels so incredibly difficult to focus on it. But still, somehow, I manage to do it. I need the money, after all.
The editing process is long and tiring, but I have a standard I always stick to.
That’s why my subscribers keep coming back.
I try to ensure that all the right angles are captured and that the audio is synced.
By the time I’m nearly finished with it, I’m happy with what it looks like. More ideas start popping into my mind.
A tour of the penthouse would be great; people would want to see this, but it feels like such an invasion of privacy. I’d most definitely have to ask for permission first, and just the thought of saying the words out loud to Calvin makes me panic on the inside.
Besides, I haven’t seen Abigail since yesterday, and while I want nothing more than to spend time with her, I know I need to be alone to think. It will be good for me, it will give me time to filter out whatever this… fascination with Calvin is doing to me.
The sound of my phone ringing saves me before I can ponder this any further. I pick up instantly when I see it, Abby calling. “Hey,” I answer, trying to sound cheerful.
“Hi, you’re up! I’m sorry we haven’t hung out as much.
I’ve just been so busy.” She sighs on the other side of the line.
“But I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” I feel even worse now.
She’s so worried about spending time with me, while I’m trapped with thoughts that will most certainly drag me to hell.
“It’s okay. I’ve been keeping busy with sketching your dress anyway.”
“Yes, I can’t wait to see it.” Her cheerful tone is even louder now, but I can’t return it. Not with how guilty I feel. The backs of my eyes burn, but I try my best not to let any tears fall. Almost as if she can sense something isn’t right, she continues, “Blair? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I’m fine.” I hate lying to her.
I could lie to my parents here and there, back when I’d sneak out in high school, or when I wanted to buy an outfit I wasn’t supposed to have.
It felt wrong, sure, but it’s never wrecked my heart like lying to Abby.
We’ve always been a team, yet this is the one thing I can’t tell her about.
And my heart stings just at the thought.
“You forget I know you better than you know yourself. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
I chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. She’s right.
I need to put more effort into being okay.
“How could I forget?” I run my fingers through my hair, gathering my thoughts.
“It’s just… I’ve been thinking, wouldn’t it be better if I stayed with Mom and Dad?
I can work on your dress there, and it’ll also give me some time with them. I’ve missed them so much.”
“What?” There’s an immediate hurt in her voice that makes my stomach drop. “I want to spend time with you, too. Don’t you miss me?”
“I do, of course I do,” I quickly reassure her, guilt twisting in my chest. The truth is, if Calvin weren’t a factor, I’d most definitely stay here. This room is everything I could have ever asked for, and more. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. I love being here with you.”
I know what she’s like; she’s always had a strange thing for spending time with me.
Ever since I was a child, Abigail has always been possessive of me.
It’s not malicious—she gets jealous easily—but over the years, I’ve learned to work with it.
Perhaps someday it will pass, but for now, I deal with it.
Relief seems to wash over her. “Good! Thank you. We’re going to have so much fun planning this wedding! Oh, by the way, do you know if Calvin is home? I keep calling him, but it goes straight to voicemail.” She sighs. “I swear, I’d sooner reach the president than him.”
The mention of Calvin sends a jolt through me. “I don’t know. I haven’t left the room today… Honestly, I think I might have offended him yesterday,” I explain, thinking about how he abruptly just left the kitchen after trying my omelet.
“Offended him?” Abby chuckles on the other side of the line. “He didn’t say anything to me. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him. But even if you did do something, Calvin isn’t the type to hold grudges.”
“Please, don’t talk to him. I don’t want to make a big deal out of this,” I say tensely.
My cheeks burn, and I feel uncomfortable even just thinking about the possibility.
I know Abby, I know this is precisely what she’d do, so I just want to make sure she knows she doesn’t have my approval.
“Maybe I’m just a little in my head. Don’t talk to him.
If I did offend him, I want to apologize myself. ”
“It’s fine, Blair. Relax. I won’t talk to him. Oh, by the way, Mom and Dad want us to have dinner with them this Sunday,” she says, “but I have an appointment, so I’ll just meet you guys there.”
What’s going on? I know she has a lot of wedding planning to do, but I expected us to spend a little more time together. I expected her to want to drag me to all of her appointments. Of course I’d try to fight her on it every step of the way, but I expected her to at least try.
“That’s fine. I’ll probably just take an Uber or something.”
“Don’t be dramatic. You’ll go with Calvin,” she says firmly.
Panic pounds through me the moment she says the word.
I can’t imagine a situation worse than being stuck with him in the car, in such proximity.
I’m more than sure I’ll be able to smell his cologne.
His leg may brush against mine… Instantly, scenarios roam through my mind, but I shake my head.
I can’t do this to Abby.
But I also know better than to debate her on this.
She’ll insist and go as far as to talk to him if I don’t agree, so, for once, I try to go with the flow.
“Fine. Whatever,” I murmur, though it’s more to myself.
“Oh, before I forget, I need some things. There’s a fabric store on Beach Street.
We should go there and pick up what I need.
” That’s my feeble attempt to change the subject, and she gets the hint immediately.
“Okay, get ready. I’ll pick you up in ten,” she says, ending the call.
I get up from the bed and sift through the clothes scattered on the floor, finally choosing a cute summer dress I made myself.
I don’t have time to do my full makeup, so I just apply some blush and gloss.
Heading to the bathroom, I check my reflection in the mirror and take a few pictures and some one-minute lip-sync videos.
It’s a good use of my time while I wait for my sister.
I love dressing up, and even for something as simple as going to the store I make sure to look my best, so why not use it?
Fifteen minutes later, I receive a text from Abigail letting me know she’s waiting out front. Gathering my belongings, I head out of the room. I nearly trip over nothing when I see Calvin casually sitting on the expensive couch downstairs, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in a low voice.
“Yeah, man, I got you,” he says smoothly into the phone.
He’s wearing a navy blue suit and as always, he’s impeccably groomed. His eyes sweep over me from head to toe before meeting mine, expression unreadable. It’s like he’s looking through me, not at me. I tear my gaze away and stride past him without a word, ignoring the simmering tension.
I can feel his eyes on me as I make my way to the elevator.
I feel them as I press the button to call the elevator, as I wait, and even when the doors finally open.
I step inside, hoping for a reprieve, but just as the doors are about to close, our eyes lock again.
This time, he smirks, like he’s in on some private joke at my expense.
Just before the doors shut completely, he says, “Blair.”
I reply, “Calvin.”
Then the doors close, leaving me alone with the echo of his voice lingering in my head.
What was that? What, exactly, is his plan?
To mess with me? Does he get some twisted pleasure from it?
All I know is my breathing is heavy as the elevator drags down, and I count the floors until I get to my sister.
The elevator door finally opens and I step out. The doorman greets me, and I politely return the greeting. Outside, the breeze cools me down a little, even in the warm weather, and then I spot Abby’s car. I rush toward her.
“What took you so long?” she asks as soon as I enter.
“Me? I came down as soon as you texted me. You’re the one who’s five minutes late,” I protest.
“We won’t argue about who is or isn’t late. Can you send me the address, please?” she requests. I promptly send her the address, and she sets off, her smile radiating with excitement. She’s so happy to have me here, which makes me feel better and worse at the same time. It’s an odd contrast.
“So, what do you think?” she asks.
“About what?” I respond, playing coy.
“My life, my soon-to-be hubby!” She giggles, and normally I’d tease her for acting so giddy at her age, but this time I hold back. She’s genuinely happy, and it’s contagious.
“You’re happy, aren’t you?”
“Yes! Isn’t it obvious?” She beams.