Chapter 3 #2
Don’t give up on me, Cal. I’m here. I’m not leaving.
“Not exactly.” His stare lifts, steady, locking with mine. “I stopped pretending I could have both. The work and the someone. But maybe…”
He stops his thought, taking a swig of his water. I press some more. “You sound like you don’t think you deserve it.”
He doesn’t answer. But his silence speaks volumes.
I want to reach across the table, touch his hand and tell him he’s wrong. Instead, I take the path of least resistance and sip my drink, swallowing the words with the burn of liquor.
After some more tense conversation, Cal suggests ending the evening. He gulps down the rest of his water. “I hate to do this, but I have an early morning meeting tomorrow.”
Well, okay then. I guess that’s his way of saying, ‘We’re done here.’
“Ummm … sure.” With major disappointment coursing through me, I reach around to grab my purse. All the chemistry and desire of the evening seems like it was weeks in the past and not minutes ago. Even the once sensual atmosphere of the bar now feels suffocating.
We both stand at the same time. “I’ll walk you out,” he offers, not meeting my face.
Touchy-feely Cal has vanished because he guides me out of the bar and into the noisy street without laying a finger on me. Instantly, something has shifted. The flirty, tender, teasing version of Cal I’d been wrapped up in moments ago is gone.
Maybe it was the mention of his dating life. Dragging that up—like the absolute idiot I am—hit a nerve I didn’t know was there. It might’ve stirred up something painful, or maybe he’s wrestling with his own history, things he’s not ready to share.
I don’t know. But I wish I did.
All I know is the mood is different now. Distant. Like we’ve slipped backward a few steps without meaning to. And now I’m terrified of losing whatever fragile thing we’ve started to build.
We linger on the sidewalk outside, neither of us talking. The night air is cool, the street buzzing faintly with passing cars. His bike is right in front of us, so I wonder if he’s going to bolt without so much as a hug.
Which will really twist me in knots.
I pull my keys out of my purse. “My car is parked right down there,” I tell him, even though we had this discussion earlier, but I’m at a loss for words with his weird vibe. He offers me a tight grin and gestures for me to walk on.
Side by side, we trudge down the bustling street. He shoves his hand into his pocket as the other clutches his helmet. A quick glance his way, and I can see the conflict simmering beneath.
We stride in awkward silence until we get to my car, which feels like an eternity, even though it was only half a block away. I hit the unlock button on my key fob, swallowing down the unease. The car chirps.
This isn’t ending the way I thought it would, but I have to at least say goodbye and thank him for the evening.
As I reach for the car door, he moves in. His shadow slips over me, swallowing the space that separated us. He’s so close, and the heat rolling off him curls around me, slow and intoxicating.
My breath stutters. Words vanish. “Um … th-thank you for—”
Without warning, he catches my wrist and spins me. Our bodies collide, chest to chest, and the impact sends an electric spark racing straight through my body.
We lock eyes.
We stare.
We breathe.
The war raging inside him is something I can’t unsee. He’s so torn and lost.
His fingertips trace up my arm. Goosebumps erupt with his slow touch. Gorgeous green eyes pierce through me, then they skim to my lips and back again. My pulse stutters as his other arm hooks around my waist, tugging me to him.
He moves closer, inch my inch.
The world narrows, and I forget to breathe.
This is it.
Finally.
My eyes shut, waiting. Hot breath skates over my face as his lips brush over mine. Featherlight and brief.
I wait.
And wait.
And wait.
He pulls back.
I blink as his jaw tightens. “We shouldn’t,” he mumbles as he swallows, squeezing his eyes. "This isn't professional."
What the heck?
The words land like a physical blow. I force a nod, pretending this isn’t shattering me. When I step back, his arms fall limp at his side, taking his warmth with him. Then the anger flares. I huff out a laugh. “You’re joking?”
He hesitates, rubbing the back of his neck, and I know he wants to say more. I mean, my God, an explanation would be nice. But he only stares as his jaw tightens. Then he winces and shakes his head. “Goodnight, Rose.”
“Wait, what? You’re leaving?” I spit out, the rejection morphing into annoyance.
And in a split second, he’s gone. I watch him retreat, walking to his bike.
Head down, shoulders slumped, hand in his pocket.
“Cal!” I cry out. He doesn’t look back. His bike roars to life as he zooms away in the darkness, his taillights disappearing, leaving me with a ton of questions.
I stand there numb, angry, and dejected. Did I do something wrong? Why? Why did he change his mind so quickly?
This is going to drive me bonkers because now I’m rehashing and doubting what I said, how I acted, all of it. Plus, I’m angry. How dare he toy with my emotions like that!
My feet won’t move, cemented to the concrete as I process the last few minutes. Every part of me hums with a mix of wanting him and needing him. Desire and outrage blur together until I don’t know where one ends and the other begins.
That’s when a voice cuts through.
“Rose?”
The sound of my name being called through the heartbreak forces me to whip around. And shock of all shocks … Niko is here. He looks at me the way someone does when they care too much but won’t say it out loud. “You okay?” he asks, his tone sweet.
Niko and I had been talking for a while. He’s sweet, charming, and the kind of guy you could almost picture a future with. Almost.
But then Cal showed up, and suddenly it was … Niko who?
Now he’s here.
And Cal’s ... not.
I swallow hard, blinking back the sting. “Yeah. I’m tired. That’s all.”
He steps closer cautiously, his presence feeling secure where Cal’s absence left me unsteady. “I don’t believe you,” he says with a knowing smirk on his face. How did he know I was lying? “Tell me, what happened?”
With a dismissive motion, I wave my hand. “Oh nothing. You know … rejection.” I shrug. “It can sting.”
Another step and, with a tentative reach, he swipes the stray tear tracking down my cheek that I didn’t even realize was there. Then he smiles. His big blue eyes are searching, full of concern and longing. They are beautiful, and I could get lost in them.
It’s small, but my heart cracks open. Just a little.
“You don’t have to be alone tonight.” His words are soothing, husky, circling me like a blanket. “Come out with me. The evening doesn’t have to end. What do you say?”
And with the way he’s looking at me right now, I know he could. Plus, I can’t drive yet.
I glance down the street where Cal disappeared. It’s empty. All hope I had for us twists, and is now torn and heavy.
I turn back to Niko, at the kindness he’s showing. This isn’t how I envisioned my night going.
But Cal left.
“Yes,” I whisper.