Chapter 8
Callie
“Are you nervous?”
Leaning back from the bathroom mirror, I pop the mascara wand back into the tube.
“Pfft. Why would I be nervous?” Though, I have to admit, the pitch of my voice isn’t really one that’s been accessed in the natural world as of yet.
And I’m pretty sure my heart is beating like a humming bird’s right about now.
Even if I’m actually totally one hundred percent fine.
Because I really am.
“Because you’re about to go to someone’s parents’ house that you hardly know and claim to be their head-over-heels girlfriend,” Ian says. So matter-of-fact. So calm.
“Well, when you put it like that … ” Rolling my eyes, I double check my appearance in the mirror one more time.
The deep forest green turtleneck and auburn skirt I’m wearing are a little dressy, with just the right amount of causal thrown in.
But my dark leggings and booties say I do have some practicality lurking in my bones, given the snowscape outside.
Keeping with the semi-nice feel, I pat my half-up half-down hair, making sure not a single hair is out of place.
My favorite small gold hoops finish off the look.
“So, are you totally sure this guy isn’t a serial killer?”
“Can anyone ever really be sure?” I tease around reapplying a subtle pink lipstick for the third time.
The sound of something being dropped comes through the phone, followed by Ian cursing under his breath.
“What was that?”
“Trying to get Mom’s tree out of the attic.” More grunting. “I always forget how big this thing is.”
“Make Aaron help you.”
“He’s still at the bottom of the stairs.”
Not bothering to stifle a giggle, the thought of Ian and Aaron struggling with the Fairchild family Christmas tree springs to mind. And neither of them are anything short of fit. “When are you gonna tell your mom to get a smaller tree?”
“Shh!” Ian says into the phone. “You know those kinds of words will have you permanently labeled as a blasphemer in this house.”
“Nah, that’ll never happen. Your mom totally likes me better than you, so I think I’m safe.”
Ian scoffs on the other end of the line. “Whatever. Promise you’ll text if you feel uncomfortable, though? I can always come pick you up if you need me to.”
Three brief knocks sound on my front door.
Oliver.
He’s here. He’s really here.
We’re really doing this.
Rolling my lips together, I take a deep breath. Huh. I really thought this moment would make me want to crawl under my secondhand sofa and pretend to not be home. Instead, an annoyingly suspicious sense of calm washes through my system at the thought of what we’re about to do.
Of the thought of having him by my side through this.
“Callie?” Ian’s disembodied voice is the slap back to reality I definitely needed. “Did you hear me?”
“Yeah-yeah,” I stutter. “Sorry. He’s here.”
“Go be the coolest girlfriend ever.” I can hear his grin through the phone as he hangs up, leaving me all alone with my latest questionable decision.
Flicking off the bathroom light, I make quick work of grabbing my white peacoat and purse from the kitchen counter. I take one last deep breath and then I’m heading to the front door.
Three more soft raps echo on the door right as I turn the knob, each one more insistent than the last.
But when I fling the door open, there stands Oliver Rhodes, mouth parted and cheeks flushed from the cold. In his dark slacks and beige button down shirt, those intensely deep blue eyes stand out, begging to be noticed.
Eyes that flit down my outfit, lingering just a little too long. “You look … ”
“Like the best girlfriend ever?” I smirk, putting on my coat.
He blinks. Shoving his hands into his coat’s pockets, the man nods. “Exactly.”
A grin breaks out across my face. “You’re wearing your glasses again.”
Reaching to push them farther up the bridge of his nose, the pinks of Oliver’s cheeks deepen. “Oh, I just thought they’d make me look even more convincing. You know, for your family.”
Nodding, I pull the door closed behind me. “Right, makes sense.” A quick turn of my key and I’m once again stuck facing the stupidly handsome doctor. “Especially since we’ve only got one shot at this. Better make it count.”
Oliver’s lips tip down, his thick brow too furrowed to be casual. “Right,” he repeats. Seeming to remember himself, he points to the mini SUV parked by my car. “This is—”
“Is that Nacho?” I squeal. Without waiting for a response, I take off toward the sweetest furry face pressed into the windshield.
Oliver laughs behind me, snow crunching as he works to catch up. “I told her all about you,” he says as I round the passenger door. “She’s been looking forward to the day you two finally meet.”
Shooting a skeptical look his way, I wave at the best girl. The stupidly wide grin hurts my entire face, but I honestly don’t care. All thoughts have been rewired on how to get this golden girl into my arms as fast as possible.
I feel him before I see him. Oliver’s warmth envelopes me, radiating through the crisp November air as he reaches around me to open the door.
Right as my fingers touch the handle.
“Oh, um.” Blood rushes to my cheeks as any words currently hanging out in my mind make a speedy exit, with no plans to return. Unsupervised eyes flit to his, which are already watching me.
Oliver gives a low, throaty chuckle. “I think our hands can touch, Callie,” a strong brow lifts, “since you’re my girlfriend and all.”
Clearing my throat, I nod and painfully press my lips together. “That’s true.” Desperate for any other words to come out of my mouth, I turn back to our furry onlooker. “Will she sit on my lap?”
“Will she? If given the chance, absolutely. But she should probably ride in the back seat. You know, for safety purposes.”
“Killjoy.”
“Yep, that’s exactly what I bring to this relationship.” He smirks down at me.
Squaring my shoulders, I hold my ground. “Do I get to meet the best dog ever or not, Rhodes?”
Eyes glued to mine, Oliver opens the door and I’m greeted by a kiss from Nacho’s tongue slapping against my cheek like a raw piece of bacon.
My laughter and Nacho’s barking intermingle before she goes in for seconds.
“Okay, easy girl,” Oliver laughs. “To the back seat. Make room for Callie.”
Nacho wastes no time hopping over the console, vacating the front seat. Though, if I had died being suffocated by her fluff, that’s just how I was meant to go.
Oliver waits until I’m fully inside before shutting the door behind me and heading to get in on the other side.
Despite having a dog who likely sheds like there’s no tomorrow, the man’s car is spotless.
I could probably even eat off the floorboards.
The light interior exudes warmth, just like everything else about Oliver.
Even the soft smell of cinnamon apples linger in the air, reminding me of the first time I met him.
Threatening to make me want to stay here forever.
“My parents’ house is actually only a short drive from here,” he offers, pulling away from the parking spot. “So I thought it might be helpful if we knew a few things about each other. You know, in case they ask anything specific.”
I nod. “That makes sense. What do you want to know?”
“You grew up here?”
“Yep. You didn’t, right?”
“Right. I grew up in Boston, but I went to college here. My family would come visit, and they fell in love with the natural beauty. So they moved here—”
“When your sister was in high school,” I finish proudly. “You mentioned that on Monday.”
A small smile tempts its way onto his handsome face.
“Do you miss going home to Boston?”
Dark blond brows raise slightly, as if he’s surprised I asked a semi-personal question. “I actually do go back on occasion. My grandma still lives there, so my parents go to see her pretty regularly.”
“Does Nacho ever get to go?” I ask, reaching to the back seat to sneak a few pets.
Oliver chuckles. “Of course. Every single time I go.”
“I love that,” I sigh. “If I had a dog, they’d go everywhere with me, too.”
“Why don’t you?” He peeks over to the passenger side.
Picking at my nail polish, I shrug. “You’ll think it’s dumb.”
“I would never consider anything dumb that’s important to you, Callie,” Oliver’s voice is soft, kind. “Why would you automatically assume I would think that?”
“I didn’t automatically assume that.”
“Callie.”
Swallowing, I turn to watch our town pass by. Few people are out strolling down the blanketed sidewalks. Instead, they’re all warm in their homes with families that love them unconditionally.
Must be nice.
“That’s just how it’s always been—with little exception,” I mutter.
I look back just in time to watch Oliver’s knuckles tighten on the steering wheel for the shortest moment. “Well,” he says, an easy grin sliding into place, “hopefully that’s something I can help.”
My own smile is instant. “I hope so.”
“Will you answer now?” Oliver whispers. Low and intimate, like he’s afraid of learning the answer.
Toying with a button on my coat, I look back at Nacho for courage.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to share with someone else.
Someone permanent. Most people in my life become temporary, no matter how hard I work to keep them.
Not to mention, if my family thought I was doing something wrong as a dog owner, I’d never hear the end of it. ”
“Showing your commitment to another through shared ownership,” he nods. “Essentially, having someone else prove their own commitment to you in a way no one else ever has, especially those who should have.”
I snort. “I guess I’ve never thought about it quite like that. But sure.” Shifting in my seat, I fully face the man I’m supposedly in love with. “Okay, rapid fire. Ready?”
Though I doubt Oliver’s ever looked less sure of anything in his entire life, he nods. “Ready.”
“Sweet or sour?”
“Sweet.”
“Cool, me too. Coffee or hot chocolate?”
“Coffee.”
I don’t bother hiding my disgust. “Ew. Maybe we’re not compatible, after all.”