It was a weird thought for me to have. I was usually all about keeping my options open. But even as I thought the words, they felt right. WhoeverHotCrossBunswas, I doubted we'd have the same instantaneous attraction I'd found withCal.
"What's the problem?" Karen demanded into the phone. "Margo? Whatproblem?"
"Well..." I could practically feel my mom wringing her hands over thephone.
"Tell us Margo!" Karenyelled.
I pulled away to give her a severe look. "Karen, for real.Chill."
"Sorry!" She threw her hands up and looked a little chastened, but notmuch.
You know how they say some men marry people who are just like their mothers, and others marry the exact opposite? Well, Mackie was clearly chaining himself to high-maintenance.
Meanwhile, I avoided serious relationships like the plague. Every person you loved was another person who'd lean on you. Drove me up the fuckingwall.
I cleared my throat. "Go on,Mom."
"You know how Mackie's been working so hard, saving up for the wedding, and he hasn't had time to do the last fewthings..."
The last few things, meaning planning the entire rehearsal dinner, including thecake.
"Yeah, youmentioned."
"Well, I guess he was also supposed to make sure his groomsmen hadtuxedos?"
I squeezed my eyes shut and rubbed a hand over my forehead, which was still slightly damp with meltedsnow.
"The tuxedos are fucked up?" Karen demanded. "JesusChrist."
"Well, no, hedidget them," my mother insisted. "Sort of." She hesitated. "He didn't getyours,Ashley. And you know that you're a custom order, on account of yoursize."
My eyes popped open. "That's not a problem. I'll wear my jeans." Or better yet, stay home. I really had no clue what Mackie was thinking, planning to commit himself to this woman forever when he couldn't manage a bachelor party weekend in Vegas without landing in hotwater.
Cal was openly staring now, not even trying to hide his speculation. I liked the feel of his eyes on me. It was hot andbracing.
"Oh, no!" Karen said. "No fucking way are you wearing jeans. You can wear your Navyuniform."
She was clearly trying to be menacing, but it wouldn't have worked, even if I didn't have a solid foot of height and a hundred pounds of muscle on her. Some people couldn't be commanding no matter how physically intimidating they were, and others could make you want to obey, even when you were twice theirsize.
I stole another glance at Cal, who wasmaybetwo inches taller than Karen and strong, but in a lean way that didn't run to bulk like my body did.Hecould make me want toobey.
"I can't wear my uniform. It's packed away with all the stuff that's being shipped. But I can check at the tuxedo shop tomorrow," I sighed, speaking to both Karen and my mom at the same time. "Maybe they have something that'll work and they can customize it on arush."
Cal frowned and motioned for me to put the phone down, and I did it withouthesitation.
"Are you talking about Albright Formals over in Camden?" heasked.
I hadn't the first fucking clue, but Karennodded.
"I know Ken, the head tailor there. I'll see what he can do for you. He owes me afavor."
I blinked, more stunned than if Cal had suddenly stripped naked in this bakery... and almost nearly as pleased. "You... youthink?"
Cal nodded. "Trustme."
It was a throwaway phrase, the kind of thing people said every day. But when Cal said it, I almost felt like maybe it wasreal.That maybe he was the kind of person Icouldtrust. Someone I could counton.
"Yeah," I told him, grinning. "Okay."
