by Karin Beery
“I know, but it’s confusing. Why did you touch my hair?” She practically hissed at him, stepping closer. “Are you just trying to mess with me, or are you really thick, because one second I think we’re getting along great, and then I think you can’t wait for me to leave, and most of the time I think you just feel sorry for me.”
Jack couldn’t focus with her that close. “What do you want from me?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. What do you want?”
To help her with her light fixture. To touch her hair again. To be ten years younger. Jack’s chest tightened. “Are we really having this argument in Home Depot?”
Stacey moved back, her shoulders relaxing. “No. I appreciate your offer to help, but I can’t handle—” she waved her arms between them “—this. When you know what you want, give me a call. Goodbye.”
Once again, she walked away. Her goodbye rotted in Jack’s gut like a cheap, greasy burger. If Callie were there, she could explain Stacey to him, but he was on his own. And that goodbye sounded so final. He still didn’t know exactly what was going on, but he knew he didn’t want Stacey walking away from him. He had to do something. Before he could reconsider it, Jack yelled after her.
“I want to ask you out.”
The hours of nail polish fumes must be affecting her brain, because Stacey was imagining things, or at least hearing things. Did Jack just ask her out? She sucked in a shaky breath, crushing her purse against her chest. She needed a hearing aide, and possibly a defibrillator.
“Ma’am, can I help you find anything?” Stacey stared at a round man in an orange vest. “Are you finding everything okay?” he asked.
She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “Is there still a tall man in a baseball cap standing behind me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Oh.” She leaned back. “Okay. Then I’m fine.” Except for the shortness of breath. And the possible hearing loss.
The employee walked away, and Stacey turned around. Jack stood there looking like a lost toddler. She walked right up to him, stopping when she was far enough away to that she couldn’t hit him but close enough to see his dilated pupils. She looked him in the eye. “Did you just say what I think you said?”
He swallowed. “Yes.”
Angels sang. “Then ask me out.”
“I want to, but I can’t.”
“Why?” She stepped closer. “This isn’t getting any less confusing.”
Jack adjusted his hat and looked around. “What happened to my cart?”
“You didn’t bring it over here, and don’t change the subject.”
Jack walked back the way that he came, but even in heels, Stacey was quicker. She stopped in front of him, nearly causing a collision. “Now who’s running away?”
“I need to find my cart.”
Rolling her eyes, Stacey almost plowed over another employee when she ran back down the lighting aisle and dragged Jack’s stupid cart behind her. Maybe this would get him back on track. He met her halfway. She stood toe to toe with him, the cart securely behind her.
“There you go. Now ask me out.”
“I, uh …” He scratched his neck.
“Are you just toying with me?”
Jack’s eyes shifted from her eyes toward her ear. That’s when Stacey realized she’d wound a piece of hair all the way up her index finger, right next to her ear. He smiled.
“Don’t try to charm your way out of this, Jack.” She released the captive hair. “Please. I need to know if this is going anywhere. I deserve that much at least.”
He glanced around. After every other customer and employee disappeared, he cleared his throat. “Callie’s six years younger than me. When she was a freshman in high school, my dad sat me down for a talk. He told me I couldn’t ever date one of her friends until they graduated from high school, even if they were already eighteen. He didn’t want anyone using her to get to see me at home, and he didn’t want me or my friends using her to meet girls. I respected that. I didn’t want to disappoint my dad, and I didn’t want to hurt Callie, so I told myself I would never date anyone Callie’s age. Ever.”
Stacey let the full weight of Jack’s words sink in. He didn’t date younger women. Period. Then reality crashed into her like a Mack truck. “How old is Callie?”
“Twenty-seven.”
“Four years older than me.”
He nodded.
People walked around them as they stood in the middle of Home Depot, finally communicating. The gentleness around Jack’s eyes, the softness of his jaw, the nearness of his whole being assured Stacey that he struggled with the truth he just shared with her. Joy filled her heart that he finally trusted her enough to be honest, even if it tightened the noose around their doomed relationship.
Standing tall, she nodded. “So, that’s that.” She stepped away, but Jack grabbed her hand.
“Would you stop walking away from me?”
“Hey, you walked away too.”
“I know. I’m sorry. This whole thing is a big mess. That’s why I wanted to avoid this conversation.” Stacey pulled her arm, but Jack held tight. “But I don’t really want to avoid it. I want to ask you out, just not right now.”
“Are you two finding everything okay?”
Stacey looked over her shoulder to see the same old, chubby man smiling at her.
She smiled back. “We’re sort of in the middle of something. If you walk away right now, I’ll let you tell me everything you know about light fixtures, but if you don’t leave immediately, this man may never ask me out. So, give me five minutes, okay?”
Jack chuckled. The old man gave her the thumbs up as he turned around. Stacey faced Jack again, and his smile nearly melted her knees. His hand slid down her arm to capture her fingers. She’d never known hand- holding could be so exciting. Stacey never wanted it to end.
“Please. Give me some time too.”
“So you can get over your fear of younger women?”
He squeezed her hand. It pumped up her pulse. “I’m getting used to the idea, but I can only handle one change at a time.”
“What does that mean? What do you want to do?”
“Help you around your house. Sit by you at church. Maybe go to a ball game together.”
Each suggestion broadened Stacey’s smile until she was sure her ears would pop off. “Okay.”
Jack winked. “Thanks. Now let’s get your light fixture.”
“No way.” She spun Jack around and pushed him out of the aisle. “I finally have permission to talk to you. Let’s get out of here before Mr. Light Fixture comes back.”
Callie stood in the parking lot watching so intently for Kyle’s black sedan that she didn’t notice the tan SUV until it stopped in front of her. Her heart thudded, and she threaded her keys between her fingers as she backed up against her car.
The back passenger window rolled down, and Kyle sat there smiling at her. Callie’s hand relaxed. “I hope you weren’t waiting long.”
“Not at all.” She leaned forward, peeking into the vehicle. A thin, dark- haired man waved at her from the driver’s seat. She turned back to Kyle. “Did you want me to drive?”
“No, I thought we’d all go together. These are my co-workers, Ian and Rachel. They took the other two tickets for tonight.”
The other tickets? Callie’s mind raced back to their conversation. Kyle hadn’t actually said they’d be the only two going. As her hopes for the evening fizzled, she put on her best smile. A double date wouldn’t completely ruin the evening.
Kyle opened his door, then slid over to the other side of the seat. Callie climbed in.
Ian reached back, offering her a long, narrow hand. With his rectangular glasses and button-down shirt, he could have walked right off the pages of J. Crew. “Nice to meet you. I get to play chauffeur tonigh
t.”
Callie shook his hand. “Thanks.”
He nodded before turning around and pulling out of the parking lot.
“I’m Rachel,” said the other passenger. A curtain of glossy auburn hair swung around the front passenger seat. Emerald eyes. Ruby lips. Creamy skin. Callie smiled at beauty incarnate.
“I’m Callie.”
“I’m glad you could join us. Kyle said you’re a fan of musicals.” Rachel smiled at Kyle.
He smiled back.
Callie reminded herself not to overreact. “I’m a fan of music in general. What about you?”
Rachel shrugged. “I like plays, but I’m more excited to spend some time with Kyle and Ian outside of work. We’ve been on this project together for almost six months, and it’s always conferences or business luncheons. Seeing everyone outside of our natural habitat should be fun.”
Callie looked between Rachel and Ian. Only conferences and business luncheons? “So, you two aren’t …” Callie motioned between the seats.
Ian laughed. “No, but it’s not for a lack of trying. I just keep telling her no, but she’s persistent.”
The trio laughed together. Callie forced a smile, but she wasn’t exactly sure why. She looked at Kyle for an explanation. He was busy laughing.
“For the record, I’ve never asked Ian for more than a pencil,” said Rachel. “He’s a happily engaged man.”
“Oh, congratulations,” said Callie. “Is your fiancée meeting us there?”
“Not tonight. She’s in California visiting her sister.”
Callie nodded. So, it wasn’t a double date. Just a bunch of coworkers trying to get to know each other better. How did she fit into the mix?
“Someone needs to decide where we’re eating,” Ian said as he wove the SUV through summer rush hour. “I’m going to have to pick a lane soon.”
“Greenies Café?” Rachel said.
Kyle shook his head. “We lunch there once a week. What’s the name of the place Ted took us to last week? The one with the fish?”
Rachel cringed and stuck out her tongue. “I don’t want to go anywhere that reminds me of Ted.”
Callie couldn’t find a good place to pipe in as the trio debated and laughed about all of the places that reminded them of this work day or that work event. By the time they pulled into a familiar parking lot, Callie had almost convinced herself to never eat out again—each meal apparently came with a side of emotional baggage.
She climbed out of the back seat and looked at an unfamiliar building. The terracotta walls and giant sombrero were gone. Now the restaurant looked like a giant, square heifer. “When did Little Foots close? They had the best tacos.”
“Last summer.” Kyle stepped up beside her and offered his arm. “This is actually the second restaurant to be here since then. I hear they have great hoagies, but no one stays in this building long. We should try a sandwich before they move or close shop.”
“With a name like Holy Cow, I’m guessing it’ll be the second option.” Rachel sauntered ahead of them.
Ian said something to her. She smacked his arm and laughed.
Another inside joke. Before Cal could slip into self-pity, however, her phone chirped. Thankful for the interruption, she dug the phone out of her purse and flipped it open.
“Need 2 talk. Call me. ASAP. Jan”
Callie checked the number. The same Alma number that had been calling her for the last couple of weeks. If she’d known it was her co-worker she would have answered earlier. Too late now. Of course, Callie normally wouldn’t interrupt a night out for a call from Jan, but if things continued as they were, a text conversation might salvage the evening.
Kyle patted Callie’s hand, pulling her back into the moment. “Are you okay?”
She dropped the phone back into her purse and nodded. “I just didn’t realize we were riding with anyone else. That surprised me, but it’s not a big deal.”
“I wasn’t trying to surprise you.”
“It’s okay, really.”
When they stepped onto the sidewalk, Kyle stopped moving. Callie stopped beside him and looked up at him. He pressed her hand where it rested between his hand and his arm. “We won’t talk about work all night, I promise. That was one of our goals for tonight.”
An evening with goals. Not exactly romantic, but Callie couldn’t argue with that type of planning.
The restaurant door whooshed open, jingling the bells on its hinge. Rachel popped her head around the solid wood. “You guys coming?”
Kyle dropped his arms and motioned for Callie to walk ahead of him. She stepped into the clangy atmosphere and back to reality. It wasn’t a date. She was the tag-along. Depression threatened to party-crash the night, but she focused on where they were going. West Side Story. Nothing could ruin the evening.
When Rachel and Kyle stepped in line beside Callie, Rachel had her perfectly manicured hand on Kyle’s shoulder as she gave him her magazine-worthy smile. Kyle smiled back.
Well, almost nothing could ruin the evening.
“That was amazing.” Callie smiled as she closed her eyes, listening to the rich harmonies that replayed in her mind.
“I knew you’d enjoy it.” Kyle chuckled, his familiar baritone blending with the imaginary tunes. “You haven’t stopped smiling since we left.”
“I can’t help it.” She opened her eyes, looking at the handsome man beside her. “This whole night has been wonderful.”
“It has, hasn’t it?” Rachel’s face peeked out from the other side of Kyle.
Well, not the whole night.
“Maybe not wonderful, but I sure appreciate the ride home.” An older man smiled back at them from the front seat. “I can’t believe my spare was flat too. It would have taken forever for a wrecker to get through that traffic.”
“Not a problem, Phil.” Kyle leaned forward, patting his neighbor’s arm. “I’ll take you back tomorrow before work. Save you the cost of a tow. Did you enjoy the show?”
“I didn’t get to see it. I was just working late and got caught in the traffic.”
“I didn’t realize you still worked there.”
As Kyle chatted with their additional passenger, Callie’s mind wandered. Every now and then Kyle turned his head just right and she could see the little scar on his jaw where he’d cut himself shaving in high school. He told her that he’d shaved for her, having heard a rumor that she didn’t like facial hair. She didn’t even know his name at the time.
Callie couldn’t hide the smile that crept up.
Kyle’s rich voice rang in her ears. Ian laughed at something. Rachel yammered. The group slipped into a friendly conversation. Callie tried to focus. She should contribute. Kyle turned toward her, smiling that crooked smile. He leaned into her and winked.
Focus. Focus!
Ian pulled the SUV into the church parking lot, right next to her car. How did they get there so quickly? Callie willed her legs to move.
“Thank you so much for the tickets and for the ride. I had a great time.”
Ian offered a hand into the back seat. “A pleasure.”
Phil nodded.
Rachel smiled. Perfectly straight and white. “It was so nice to meet you. I hope we run into each other again.”
“That would be nice.” And it probably would, but Callie didn’t need to admit that. Instead, she opened the door and slid out of the vehicle. When she turned around, Kyle was climbing out behind her. Something shifted in her chest. “Thanks again for the invite.”
“I couldn’t go to Interlochen without you.” His arms wrapped around her. Callie’s body responded without thinking, remembering the strength of his chest, the clean scent of his skin. “Drive safe.” His arms loosened.
The warmth of his arms clung to her skin. “You too.”
He climbed back into the S
UV, right next to Rachel. The supermodel leaned forward, patting him on the knee. They both looked at Callie, waving. Like a beautiful, happy couple.
Callie rolled over again. Any minute now she’d fall asleep. She had to. She’d been up most of the night trying to figure out whether or not her plan was working. She still wasn’t sure, but she knew one thing for certain—lying in bed and hoping to fall asleep wasn’t working. Kicking off her covers, Callie popped out of bed, exhausted but fully awake. The clock said five thirty. Too early to start working around the house, so she pulled a hoodie on over her t-shirt and blue pajama shorts before slipping her feet into a faded pair of flip flops. Shuffling through the house, she grabbed a muffin on her way out the door.
Blessed silence greeted her. Not a car in the visitor’s parking lot. No tour groups or family reunions. Callie closed her eyes. The gulls chattering, crickets twittering, and a few frogs picking up the bass line. Nature’s song.
The crisp air bit at Callie’s legs, but she ignored it as she shuffled through the damp grass toward the shore line. She bit into the cranberry walnut muffin. Tart but sweet. Soft yet crunchy. Different but delightful. Maybe she could make all of the seemingly contradictory parts of her life blend together as nicely.
As she stuffed the last bit of breakfast into her mouth, Callie refocused her attention on the rippling surface of the bay. The early morning sun painted the waves, tempting her into the frigid water. Before she could talk herself out of it, Callie dipped her feet in the water, flip flops and all. The waves crept in and out, tickling her toes and enveloping her feet with slimy, wet sand. She stepped farther in.
With each step, the water deepened, chilling more of her feet, ankles, shins. The waves kissed her knees as Callie reached a large pile of smooth rocks. An early-morning sunbeam peeked through the leaves on the trees, illuminating the largest boulder. She waded toward it and sat.
The sun had warmed the stone, so she pulled her freezing feet up to rest on the hard surface. Callie stretched the sweatshirt over her legs, simultaneously drying and warming them. A rough night with Kyle was no reason to give herself hypothermia.