Chapter 11
Cali woke Sunday with her stomach in knots, and for once it wasn’t because of Ethan.
The board meeting loomed like a storm cloud, and she hated the thought that she might’ve jeopardized her case for Banned Books Week by letting herself get distracted with a kiss on the porch.
A kiss she refused to replay in her head—except, of course, she was. Constantly.
Her phone buzzed.
Our Maine Coon still in one piece?
She snorted. Our. Probably meant The Nine. Still, it warmed something inside her.
The kitten stretched in a patch of sun beneath the window, paws curled over his pale belly. She snapped a photo, hit send, and texted: Max. Then she muted the phone before Ethan could turn it into anything more. She had work to do.
By afternoon, she’d pulled Minka into emergency duties at the library, even though it was closed. Her best friend entrusted her best waitress to man the café while she plopped two Oat Coutures on Cali’s desk.
“One for now, one for tomorrow morning. You’re obviously not sleeping tonight.”
“Have I told you you’re my favorite friend?”
“Only every time I see you.” Minka folded her arms, squinting at Cali’s note cards. “Okay. Hit me with your spiel. I’ll be the scary board.”
They tried a few rounds. Cali fumbled, reworked, tried again. Minka was ruthless, dramatic, occasionally ridiculous, but between laughs she kept steering Cali back to her points.
Finally, Minka leaned on the desk, eyes narrowed. “Wait. You said Ethan came up with this UV trick?”
Cali froze mid-sip. “Yeah.”
Minka shot her a sideways glance. “And you didn’t think to ask him to help you rehearse?”
“It’s not like we know each other that well.”
Minka drummed her fingers lightly on the table as if waiting for more. Cali’s cheeks began to blush. “Is it hot in here?” she asked.
“Oh my God. Something happened. Didn’t it? I knew it! Tom said he saw you two at the fall festival on Friday.”
Damn this town.
“It’s nothing.” Cali stared into her cup. “Just—” She cut herself off before the words an earth-shattering kiss could escape. “He dropped off the cat, and neither of us had anything to do. So we went.”
“Uh-huh. Because that’s how people usually end up together on a Friday night … I’m bored. You’re bored. Let’s ride the Ferris wheel and make out.”
“It wasn’t like that. We didn’t ride the Ferris wheel.”
Minka leaned forward, eyes narrowed. “You’re holding out on me. Best friends are supposed to share this stuff, Cals. Otherwise how am I supposed to live vicariously through your bad decisions?”
Bad decisions was the understatement of the year. “You’re right, okay? We went to the fall festival together and he dropped me off at my place and, yes, there might have been a kiss, but—”
Minka squealed and jumped up from her chair. “Why didn’t you say that first?! Who cares about the board. This is breaking news! Special report!”
“No. Sit, sit. Stop it!” she chastised. “I didn’t tell you because it’s nothing more than that. A kiss. I’ve made my home here. He’s leaving. So I’m not letting it go any further.” Even as she said those words, she felt a hollow ache open in her middle.
“Damn, Cals. I commend your restraint, but I’m not buying it. You were embroiled in a custody battle over a stray cat last week. Now you’re making out on your porch. You do realize you’re living in an enemies-to-lovers fanfic, right?”
Cali groaned and buried her face in her hands. “You’re impossible.” She gathered the stack of notes on the table, deliberately ending the subject. Because if she kept talking about it, she might admit how much she wanted it to happen again. “Board meeting. Tomorrow. That’s what matters.”
Minka pressed her lips together, unconvinced. “Well then don’t make it a whole ‘thing.’ Keep it a ‘fling.’ No one’s judging you. In fact, several of us might be rooting for you. I know you’re at your best when you’re a woman with a purpose, Cals. But sometimes the whole purpose can be to have fun.”
Cali’s eyes narrowed at her. “Don’t go orchestrating anything, Minka. I’m serious. No meddling. We both saw right through that ‘he knows your order’ attempt at the café.”
“I can’t make any promises on behalf of the universe,” Minka sighed. “But fine. I’ll behave.”
That night, Cali slid into bed with her notes stacked neatly by the lamp. Max curled against her side, purring so hard he vibrated the sheets. She could get used to this.
The phone buzzed one last time on her nightstand. Good luck tomorrow. She didn’t need to check the name, but she did anyway. Ethan Cross. Bold letters across the screen, like he was daring her not to reply.
She stretched out a hand to turn off her lamp, careful not to wake Max curled beside her.