by Ellie Hall
“It’s June,” I say, but the line has already gone dead.
Ryker is right. If this is a surprise party, then I can’t tell Caleb or the whole thing will be ruined. My goodness, he’s going to be so happy when he finds out that Ryker is doing something nice for him. Who knew the guy had a heart after all?
The message I’m sending Caleb has to be serious enough so that he doesn’t show up but not that serious for him to get worried. I tap my finger on my chin. What would be a believable lie? After thinking up several scenarios, I decide to go for the old I’m not feeling too well excuse. Its vagueness is perfect for situations like this.
There. I fire off the text into space. Caleb immediately texts me back, telling me he wants to come over to take care of me. Eek! I can’t let him see me all healthy and happy.
I tell him not to worry and that what I have is highly contagious but that we’ll catch up on Sunday. The last thing I need is for him to find out about his surprise party. What a shame that would be.
I turn off my phone and slide under the covers. I’m so excited about this party and the opportunity to break into the Hollywood catering world that drifting off to sleep seems like an impossible task. After lying awake for a long time, I finally feel my eyes grow heavy, and before long, I drift off into a wonderful dream.
I show up at the trailhead ten minutes early, pumped and ready to go. My bag is filled with notes, ideas, and references. I’m sure it will be enough to convince Ryker to hire me. I rehearse my sales pitch while I wait for him to arrive.
When he hasn’t shown up half an hour later, I’m afraid I got the timing or the day wrong, but then I finally spot him.
“Good morning,” I say in a cheerful tone.
“Early morning, you mean. I get up at six every day to film this movie, and now I had to get up early on a Saturday as well,” he says with a shake of his head.
He takes a sip from the extra-large green juice he’s holding and shudders as he swallows it down. “Yuck,” he says. “It’s a good thing this drink is healthy, because it tastes like poison.”
Okay. None of this is going as well as I expected, but I’m sure his morning mood will ebb away as soon as we’re walking.
“Let’s get going, shall we?” I ask.
He grumbles something inaudible but follows suit. If he hates getting up early this much, then why did he ask me to go hiking with him?
“So, about the party,” I start. “Have you thought about a theme, or do you want to toss some ideas around?”
He frowns. “Party?”
“For Caleb?”
“Oh, sure. I don’t know. You can pick something.”
He takes another sip of his drink and shudders again. “Bleh, this is so gross.”
“Then why are you drinking it?”
He laughs as if I’ve said something completely ridiculous. “Because it’s healthy, of course. I’m a health nut. Everyone and their dog knows that.”
We walk while I ask questions about the party. Unfortunately, he doesn’t give me much to work with. It seems that “whatever” is his favorite answer.
When we arrive at the clearing where Caleb and I met Barbara and Winston last week, he finally seems to cheer up.
“This looks like the perfect spot,” he says as he gets his phone out of his pocket and fiddles with filters.
“Perfect for what?” I ask.
“To take pictures of us.”
What on earth is he talking about? I’m starting to wonder if there isn’t real poison in his juice after all.
“Pictures?”
He frowns. “Girl, you keep questioning everything I say. Please stop.”
Girl? Who does he think he is?
“Excuse me?”
He rolls his eyes. “Here, stand to my left. The light takes off at least five years off from that angle. Smile.”
Before I know what’s happening, he pulls me next to him like we’re best buds or something. He then kisses my cheek and snaps a few pictures.
I push him away. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Relax. This will help you too.”
“Help me? How? Why?”
He rolls his eyes at me again. “I’ve tagged you in my picture. Now everyone will think we’re friends. It helps me because my PR company has been begging me to present a more positive image of myself. What’s more positive than telling the world I forgave the girl who kicked my dog? And it helps you because my fans will check out your profile.”
My head is spinning. I can’t believe this is happening. “So, this hike was nothing but a marketing ploy to you?”
He waves my remark away. “When you say it like that, it sounds bad. Believe me, it’s for the greater good. And I’ll still let you cater one of my parties.”
Oh my goodness. This hike is getting worse by the minute. “One of your parties? What about Caleb’s birthday?”
“You can organize that one too. Only… I’m not sure when his birthday is. It could’ve been two months ago. I don’t know. But don’t worry, I’ll give you the money to do the catering.”
“I… You… Ugh!”
My blood is boiling. I feel like screaming and punching something.
“Shall we head back then?” Ryker asks, oblivious to my rage.
“You know what? I hope a snake bites you.”
I turn around and march away, ignoring his pleas to not leave him alone out there. What do I care? He can follow the trail back. It’s not rocket science.
I open my phone and check out Ryker’s profile. The picture already has seven thousand likes. How is that even possible? I stop in my tracks when I realize what this means. Caleb is going to see that picture. He’s going to know I’ve lied to him.
I scream out loud and turn around again, stomping back to where I came from.
“Good, you came back,” Ryker starts, but I cut him off.
“You’re going to delete that picture. Now,” I say. “Or I swear, I’ll… I’ll…”
He laughs. “You’ll what?”
I take a deep breath in. He’s right. I’ve got no leverage.
Then, a thought hits me. I smile at him as I scroll through my pictures and select the ones I took when I got locked inside his secret pantry.
I shove my phone under his nose. “Or I’ll post these online, Mister Health Nut.”
His eyes grow wide as he stares at the proof of him being addicted to the unhealthiest snacks ever invented.
“You won’t. Also, I’ll sue you for breaking and entering.”
I put a hand on my hip. “You could, but that won’t erase this image from people’s minds. You’ll be forever known as the guy who claims to be a health nut while he’s secretly eating his weight in sugar.”
He gasps. “You wouldn’t.”
“Watch me,” I say.
My finger hovers over the upload button.
“Fine,” he says between gritted teeth. “I’ll delete the picture.”
I watch as he does what he promised me. Now, I just have to pray Caleb didn’t check his phone and didn’t see that picture for the entire five minutes it was online.
12
Caleb
Despite June’s pleas not to drop by because she doesn’t want me to get sick as well, I jump on my bike and head over to my local corner shop. They sell the best fresh chicken soup in my neighborhood. I know chicken soup is a cliché, but that’s only because it works. I add a box of tissues, some magazines, and two bars of chocolate before heading to the cash register.
As soon as I’ve made sure the soup won’t topple over during my bike ride, I get going again. It’s a sunny day, perfect for a hike. Too bad those plans got canceled, but June’s health is more important. I do hope she’s feeling a bit better today. Being sick is the worst, and I truly feel for her. Let’s hope my gifts will cheer her up.
I park my bike on June’s lawn and get the bags of food. There doesn’t seem to be a family meditation circle today, which puts me at ease.
Last time I dropped by, I didn’t know what to say or how to act. Plus, I still haven’t cleansed my aura, so I’m sure June’s landlord would try to do it for me if he saw me.
I ring the bell twice, but no one answers. The family is probably out, and June must be in bed still. I look through one of the windows. No movement, no people running around. The house seems deserted.
A thought occurs to me when I peek into the backyard. What if I took the ladder that June had me use last time and climb up to her room? Would that be creepy?
I decide to go for it. The ladder is still tucked away under one of the hedges. I pull it out then bump into someone.
“What do you think you’re doing?” June’s landlord stares me in the face with an angry look. Uh-oh. I’m so busted.
“Oh, hey there, um…”
“Mark.”
I extend my hand. “Mark, that’s right. I was just looking for June. She’s sick, and I wanted to cheer her up by bringing her some stuff.”
He frowns. “Sick?”
I nod. “Yeah, something extremely contagious.”
The anger on his face makes way for a look of pity. “I’m sorry to break this to you, but June is anything but sick. She’s out hiking.”
I get his confusion. “Yeah, we were going to go hiking, but she canceled because she’s sick.”
He draws in a breath and shakes his head. “I saw her leave myself, not too long ago. Said she was meeting some celebrity?”
“Oh.” My heart sinks. June lied to me?
Mark nudges toward the bags in my hands. “I can give her your things if you want?”
“Sure,” I say, handing him the bags of food and magazines before speed-walking back to my bike.
Without saying goodbye to Mark, I head off. I can’t believe June lied to me and went hiking with someone else. That’s our thing! How could she do this to me?
I pull the brakes of my bike and get my phone out. What celebrity did she go hiking with? It doesn’t take me long to find an article mentioning her name and… Ryker’s?!
This is unbelievable. I thought she hated him after the way he treated her, when, in reality, she ditched me to go hiking with him?
I should’ve known going out with someone I only just met would end badly. And to think Ryker is my boss. Ugh. The two of them deserve each other.
Back home, I discover a chocolate bar in my bike bag that must’ve slipped from one of the grocery bags. I throw it in the garbage bin and stomp up the stairs. I’m so angry and disappointed I feel like throwing something, but do I really want to end up with a bunch of broken plates? I won’t give June that satisfaction.
Man, what a fool I’ve been. I’ve been so blind, thinking she felt the same way about me as I did about her.
My phone rings. June. She’s got some nerve calling me after lying to me. I decline the call, but she calls again and again. Then, she sends me a message, asking me to please call her back to talk. I grit my teeth. Should I? I decide to pick up when she rings once again.
“Yes?”
“Caleb, I’m so sorry.”
“For lying to me? Or for making me believe you had feelings for me? Or for ditching me to go hiking with my boss? Seriously, June, the options are endless.”
She lets out a frustrated sigh. “Gosh, I’ve been so stupid. I never intended for you to find out.”
“What do you mean?”
Unbelievable. So instead of an explanation or apology, she wants to tell me how sorry she is that I uncovered her lies?
“Ryker wasn’t supposed to put those stupid pics of us online. He ruined everything.”
Is she serious? Blaming someone else? That’s it. I’m done talking to her. As far as I’m concerned, she’s never getting back into my life. If she wanted to go hiking with Ryker, she could’ve just told me. Lying, however, is where I draw a line in the sand.
“Goodbye, June. And stop calling me. I mean it. Take a hike.”
I delete her from my contacts and slide my phone to silent. I’m done.
13
June
Caleb has ignored me all week. He left me a bag full of food and magazines last Saturday while I was out with Ryker. The gesture was incredibly sweet. I can only imagine how hurt he must’ve felt when he found out I lied to him. If only he knew it was all a big mistake and that I did it to surprise him.
None of that matters because he doesn’t know why I did it. And he told me he never wants to speak to me again, so I can’t even explain.
Tears fill my eyes. I don’t want to cry, though. Not here. Not while I’m trying to enjoy a cup of coffee.
“June?” I hear a familiar voice call out. “Yoo-hoo, over here.”
I turn around to see Barbara waving at me. I wave back at her and try to offer her a smile. She accepts her drink order from the barista and rushes over to my table.
“Do you mind if I sit here? Is your beau with you?” she asks. “You two make such a fine couple.”
Her referencing Caleb as my beau makes me cry after all. I just can’t help it. The tears stream down my cheeks.
“Oh, honey, what’s wrong?” she asks.
“Everything. I’m never seeing him again.”
She lets out a gasp and puts her hand over her mouth. “He’s dead?”
A couple of people turn their heads in our direction.
“No, he’s not dead,” I reassure her. “But he might as well be. I messed up, Barbara. Everything is lost.”
She rolls her eyes at me—while I’m crying! Does she think this is funny or something?
“Now come on, there’s no need to be this dramatic. Nothing is ever lost.”
I wipe my tears away with the palm of my hand and shrug. “This is. I lied to Caleb about being sick because I thought I would be planning a surprise party for him, but things went south. Anyway, he told me he never wants to speak to me again.”
“So what? You’re just going to give up?”
“Yeah.”
She tsks. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I should respect his wishes.”
She lets out a hearty laugh. “Respect his wishes? You’re talking about him as if this is some postmortem decision. He’s alive and kicking, which means this can be fixed. You two were so in love. I’ve never seen anything like it! Well, except for myself and my dear Winston, of course. Don’t tell me you’re going to let him get away without a fight. He could be the one! Are you really going to let the one slip between your fingers?”
“What other choice do I have?”
She slams her hand on the table, causing my coffee to spill on its saucer. I jump in my seat. “Is that necessary?”
“It is. I don’t know how else to make you listen. Look, I might be old, but that doesn’t mean I know nothing about love. Life is too short to mope about some guy without even trying to make up with him.”
“I do want to be with him. And I think he is the one,” I say, my voice choking.
She scrapes her chair back and swings her bag over her shoulder. “Then let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see,” she says with a grin.
I gather my stuff and follow her outside. It’s not like I’ve got anything more to lose at this point. She stops at an old yellow car. “Get in.”
She sure is bossy when she’s determined. I slide into the faded brown seat. Barb gets in as well and clicks her seatbelt into place.
“Where is Caleb now?” she asks.
“At work. I took the day off and asked a temp to man the craft table.”
She turns on the engine and flips the rearview mirror into place. “Show me the way.”
My words are not even cold as she backs out of her parking spot as if she’s a Formula One racer. When she sees me grabbing the edges of my seat, she laughs. “Will you relax already? I’m a great driver.”
She swerves left, missing a passing car by just an inch. “Okay,” I squeak. What else can I do but sit tight?
When we arrive,
I feel nauseated. Not only because of Barb’s reckless driving style but also because I’m about to talk to Caleb. I don’t think I can do it.
“Come on, what are you waiting for? Get in there and show that boy how much you love him.” Before I can protest again, Barb opens the door to the sound stage and marches inside.
“Yoo-hoo, everyone. Please stop filming. This is important,” she shouts.
I cringe. What is she doing? She’s going to get me fired. Absolutely no one is allowed to interrupt filming.
“Don’t worry, everyone. Please keep doing what you were doing. From the top,” I say, grabbing Barb by the arm and trying to whisk her away. Too bad she doesn’t budge.
“Don’t be silly. We’re here on an important mission, remember?”
Every single actor and crew member stares at us in silence. I scan the crowd until I find Caleb. His eyes lock with mine, and I can feel my legs wobble. If I could wipe the hurt from his gaze, I would. Barbara’s right. I should at least try.
I take a step forward, ready to speak, when Ryker cuts in.
“Excuse me? What do you think you’re doing? This is a movie set. You have to get out and let us stars do the work,” he spits out.
Barbara puts her hands on her hips. “Stars?”
He walks over to her, crossing his arms over his chest, a smug look on his face. “Yeah, I’m the lead actor. And I need you to go so I can make some magic here.”
She laughs. “You’re what? Thirty? You’re a baby. Show some respect for your elders. You can do your magic tricks later after this lady has said what needs to be said.”
Ryker shakes his head and turns to the director. “Paul, come on. Call security.”
He shrugs. “Maybe later. I’m actually curious to see what she’s got to say.”
“Ugh.” Ryker storms away, pulls his cap further down his forehead, and slumps down in his chair, his back turned to the rest of us.
I can’t care about him, though. I’m here for Caleb.
“Caleb, I’m so sorry for everything,” I start.
He shakes his head. “June, please. We’ve been through this. We’re over. You lied to me. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of everyone here.”