Chapter 35 The Way I’m About to Lose My Mind
AMANDA
I’m standing outside Cal’s basement lair before I fully register making the decision to come down here.
But here I am. Because I need answers. Real ones.
I knock twice and push through the door without waiting for a response.
Cal has turned what used to be a storage room into a headquarters that looks like it belongs in a spy movie.
Multiple monitors, enough computing power to hack into government databases, and a coffee machine that looks more technologically advanced than my laptop.
“I need you to find out who he is,” I announce, dropping into the chair across from his desk like my dating woes are more important than his security detail.
Cal doesn’t even look up from his screens. “Good morning to you, too, Amanda.”
“Let’s skip the pleasantries. You offered to help me figure out who Chad is. So I’ve come to collect. I need your help.”
He finally turns to face me, and his expression looks almost paternal. Which is weird, because he’s only like five years older than me, but whatever. Izzy clearly has a type.
“I know who he is,” he says calmly.
I sit up straighter. “And?”
“And I don’t think it’s my place to tell you.”
I scoff at him. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“Cal.” I lean forward, putting on my most reasonable voice. “You literally offered to help me with this. You said you had contacts. You said you could find out anything.”
“I did, and I can.” He crosses his arms, looking entirely too calm for someone who’s about to get dismembered by a blond woman in designer heels. “But after thinking about it, I believe you need to figure this out on your own.”
“That’s—” I sputter. “That’s completely unfair! You can’t just dangle information in front of me and then snatch it away like some kind of sadistic tease!”
Cal’s lips twitch like he’s trying not to smile. “I didn’t dangle anything.”
“Don’t laugh at me. This is serious.” I narrow my eyes at him. “I’m going to tell Izzy you’re not helping me.”
“You can tell Izzy whatever you want. She’s your best friend.” He leans back in his chair, completely unbothered. “But it’s not going to change my mind.”
“I— You—” I’m so frustrated I can barely form words. “This is outrageous!”
“This is me protecting someone I think deserves protection.”
“What about what I want? I thought I fell under your protection umbrella thing!”
“You do. Which is exactly why I’m not telling you.”
Before I can launch into a tirade about how that makes absolutely no sense, the door opens and Izzy walks in.
“Cal, baby, I got you lunch and—” She stops mid-sentence, looking between us. “What’s going on?” she asks, immediately picking up on the tension in the room.
“Cal won’t tell me who Chad is!” I announce dramatically, pointing at him like he’s betrayed me.
Izzy looks between us, then at Cal. “Babe?”
He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “I know who he is, and he’s not a threat to her. But I think Amanda needs to figure it out herself.”
Izzy considers this for a moment, then nods. “Okay.”
“OKAY?” I shriek. “That’s it? Just okay?”
Izzy plants a quick kiss to Cal’s temple before settling onto his lap effortlessly. “I trust Cal’s judgment. If he says this guy isn’t dangerous and that you’re better off figuring it out yourself, then I trust that.”
I scowl at how stupidly in love they look. While I’m ridiculously happy for them and wholeheartedly believe Izzy deserves all the love in the world, I don’t appreciate their picture of domestic bliss while I’m still miserable and confused over my mystery man.
“This is totally unfair. I’m being ganged up on by my own best friend and her stupidly protective husband.”
“We’re not ganging up on you,” Cal says. “We’re looking out for you.”
“Same thing!”
Izzy reaches over and pats my arm. “What if I make it up to you?”
I narrow my eyes suspiciously. “How?”
“Girls’ night. Tonight. Your apartment. I’ll bring wine, and we’ll watch trashy reality shows. We can invite Raven, too. Full Bennett sisters extravaganza.”
I consider this offer, weighing my options. On the one hand, I’m still furious that they’re withholding information from me. On the other hand, a girls’ night with Izzy and Raven sounds exactly like what I need after the emotional roller coaster of the last few days.
“Fine,” I say finally. “But I’m still mad at both of you.”
“That’s fair,” Cal says.
“And I’m going to complain about this for at least an hour tonight.”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t,” Izzy says with a grin.
I huff, crossing my arms. “I hate that you two are so reasonable. It makes it very hard to stay properly angry.”
Cal chuckles. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It wasn’t one.” I stand up, smoothing down my dress. “Fine. Girls’ night it is. But Cal?”
“Yeah?”
“If Chad turns out to be a billionaire playboy, I can already tell that your height exceeds the restrictions for the yacht we’re choosing for the wedding off the coast of Santorini, and you won’t be getting an invite. Sorry, not sorry.”
“Wow. Thanks for that.”
I turn to Izzy. “You were my first choice for maid of honor, but Raven only does black, and black is starting to grow on me right now, especially against the backdrop of the Aegean Sea.”
I turn to leave, then pause at the doorway. “Also, your ridiculous coffee machine is over-the-top. Who needs seventeen different brewing options?”
“Someone who’s good at juggling,” Cal replies without missing a beat.
“If you told me who he was, you wouldn’t have as many balls in the air,” I mutter, but I’m smiling despite myself.
As I head back upstairs, I hear Izzy say something to Cal in a voice too low for me to catch, followed by his quiet laughter. The sound makes warmth settle in my chest, despite my frustration.
Because, as annoying as it is to be ganged up on, it’s also kind of nice to have people who care that much about me in the first place. No matter how many curveballs life has thrown at me, I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.
I’ll figure out who Chad is myself.
How hard can it be?