2. Callie
Callie
Six Weeks Earlier
“You’re not a single dad!” I slapped my hand over my mouth as soon as the words exploded out of me.
I’d just interrupted the head instructor at the single parents retreat I’d been strongarmed into attending by my best friend, Tessa June, to accuse someone of being a liar.
I bit my fingers to try to keep the rest of my thoughts to myself but it was useless.
“I saw you with your wife at Chipotle three days ago. And judging by the way your hand was in her back pocket and she was still wearing that beautiful wedding ring, I’d say you are not single. ”
The man, Jason Delano, went rigid where he sat between two young single moms. I watched as he slowly recognized me as his kid’s teacher from two years earlier.
“Okay, no. I don’t know what this crazy bitch is talking about. I’m single.”
A man on the other side of the room sat up straighter. His relaxed pose had been intimidating enough but when he sat up, his presence commanded attention and demanded respect. I noticed that everyone closest to him went still at the change in him. “Watch your mouth when you’re talking to a lady.”
About half the single moms in the room melted at the deep timbre of his voice and it would’ve been a lie to say that I didn’t appreciate it myself. It didn’t hurt that he was coming to my defense.
Jason scoffed. “What? I’m just supposed to let her lie about me? I’ve never seen this bitch before in my life.”
A deep growl rolled out of the intense guy’s mouth. “Tan line on your ring finger. Your cellphone’s been vibrating every few minutes for the last hour. You look at the door every minute or so like you’re expecting someone to walk through it.”
Another man in the group leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “And honestly, I never trust a man who can so boldly call a woman a bitch.”
The woman closest to Jason hit him with her brochure. “You asshole. Get out of here!”
“This is not a place for cheaters and liars. You can excuse yourself, sir.” The head instructor cleared their throat. “Now.”
Jason stormed out and I managed to keep my mouth closed for the rest of the talk but I couldn’t stop stealing looks at the three men across the room.
The two men who’d spoken up and one other shared looks with each other like they were old friends and there was an energy around them that was hard to look away from.
They were also painfully handsome, like so handsome I wasn’t sure I was even allowed to look.
As soon as the group was dismissed to go do any of the various activities the retreat had planned, I stood up and made a beeline towards the dessert table.
There was this one cupcake towards the back of the table that I couldn’t stop thinking about.
The icing was towered so high that I couldn’t wait to lick it like an ice cream cone.
I was so focused on getting my cupcake that I didn’t see the man stepping into my path until it was too late.
I plowed into what felt like a brick wall warmed in the sun but instead of stopping to catch my breath or apologize, my brain told me that he was going for the cupcake, too.
The feral raccoon living inside me demanded that I beat him to my sweet temptation and I found myself pushing him out of the way and basically diving for the table.
I grabbed the cupcake and shoved the top of it into my mouth while pumping my fist in the air to show my victory.
It was only after my eyes deglazed from the sugar high that I saw that the three men were standing in front of me, giant grins on their faces.
I thought about what I’d just done and slapped my hand over my eyes.
“Oh, god. I just shoved someone to get to the cupcake I wanted. I am so sorry! I’m also mortified so I hope that’s enough justice for you.
If you’d just point me in the direction of the exit, I’ll feel my way out. ”
“Wouldn’t mind a taste myself.” The man who hadn’t spoken up earlier had a slow smile that made my stomach flutter. “Of the cupcake. It looks delicious.”
I turned my body so the cupcake was tucked away. “I just shoved someone for this cupcake. You think I won’t do worst to someone actually trying to take it?”
“I’d love to see it, cupcake.” The scary one reached out and dipped the tip of his finger into my icing. Watching him slip that same finger past his lips had my heart acting up. It was wildly sexual and my dead libido was resurrected with the force of a category five hurricane.
I took a quick breath in and then shoved the rest of the cupcake into my mouth.
Cheeks bulging, I gave a quick wave and then rushed past them and out the front door of the meeting hall.
It was work booking it across campus while trying not to choke but I managed to get back to my temporary housing and lock myself inside.
We had private rooms, thankfully, because I could only imagine trying to explain to a roommate why I was the way I was.
I locked the door behind me and sat on the edge of the bed, breathing hard. Whether it was from my mouth being full, walking too fast, or having my vagina wake up after eight years, I wasn’t sure. I did what I always did when I was stressed or overwhelmed. I called Tessa.
“Why are you calling me? You should be out having fun! I know for a fact that there are so many good things you could be doing! You could be swimming with the other singles! Or making adult themed cookies!” She groaned and I could clearly picture her tugging at her hair.
“You’re hiding in your room, aren’t you? ”
I fell back on the bed and sighed. “You don’t understand. It’s different this time.”
“Explain.”
“There were these three hot guys.” I rolled over onto my stomach and faceplanted on the bed just to see I’d smeared icing on the comforter. “Like…unholy hot.”
“And? You don’t care about hot guys. Your cooter is basically retired to Florida.” Her husband, Vaughn, said something in the background and she snorted. “I’ll call it a cooter if I want to call it a cooter.”
Ignoring the cooter talk, I pressed on. “Yeah, but this time it was different. They’re hot, Tessa. And my body reacted.”
“You got wet for three strangers?!”
I screamed into the bed and only came up when I absolutely had to in order to keep living. “No! I’m not saying that! I’m just saying that I thought they were hot and my body reacted. Nothing more!”
“Your body reacted? What, did you get a damn boner? Of course, not! You got wet. Don’t be weird.”
“I’m not being weird. You’re being weird.” I rolled onto my back and glared at a water stain on the ceiling. “I made a fool of myself. I shoved a cupcake in my mouth and ran away. Not that they would’ve been interested, even if I hadn’t done that super normal thing. They were gods and I’m-”
“A goddamn goddess! If you don’t consider the cupcake thing. Why, Callie? Why do you insist on putting your love of sweets over your desire for men? A cupcake is never going to give you an orgasm, sister.”
“Puh-lease. I’ve had cupcakes so good that they were multi-orgasmic.”
“Shut up, Callie.” Tessa laughed and then moaned. “Gotta go. All this talk of orgasms is getting to Vaughn. Go have hot sex! Bye!”
I faked a gag before hanging up. I was just as restless as I’d felt before calling Tessa, only I had the addition of her moans banging around in my head.
It’d been so many years since I felt any kind of arousal that I wasn’t sure what to do with myself but I just knew I really wanted another cupcake.