“He’s on edge,” I explained.
“It’s fine.” Cal sloughed it off and moved on. One more thing I really liked about this man.
“How has the rest of your summer been?” I asked the question as if I was a regular person on a normal date.
“Pretty good. Lots of babies, and I’ve spent some time cycling. At the end of the month I’m in a hundred-mile charity ride.”
“Really?”
“Really. Don’t look so shocked.”
“No, no, I’m not. It’s just something I can’t ever imagine doing. Sounds amazing…”
“It’s a great way to get out there, thinking and being, while doing something for the kids.”
I felt myself nodding and sniffing back an unidentified emotion. “I’m sorry I missed out on the last appointment…” I took a sip of my latte, thinking of the right words to say.
“It was pretty nondescript. You didn’t miss anything,” Cal offered.
“No, I mean it would have been nice to see you.” I skirted around my not answering his text right away and his flattering comment on my movie meaning more than I let on.
“It would have been nice, but I’m pretty sure it’s nicer in Cali this time of year. The bugs, the humidity—it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
I watched his mouth as he took a slug of coffee and couldn’t make my eyes move away. I remembered our kiss and wanted this to be more than small talk in a coffee shop. “After shootingSuper Ladyin Hawaii, I do find myself craving the best of climates.”
This had Cal laughing.
“Can I move closer?” That was what he asked next, sliding his chair around next to mine. “It’s just great to see you. At any of Laura’s appointments or not.” He dragged his coffee across the table. “Cheers,” he said, lifting it to clink with my latte.
I felt my head tilting as I looked at him, trying to solve the riddle:Why does this man like seeing me?
“Because you’re sweet, funny, interesting, and beautiful.” He spoke matter-of-factly, and I wasn’t sure how he knew what I was thinking.
“Did I say that aloud?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I could tell you were thinking it. Was I right?”
“Wow, you have some serious voodoo magic thing happening.”
This got me more laughing. He ran his pointer finger in between my eyes and over the bridge of my nose, and I swore tiny fires broke out along the way. “No voodoo. I admit we are an unlikely match, and I was a fan. I mean, still a fan. But also, I hope, a friend now.”
“We are…friends.” My words came out shaky and wistful, his finger a long way from my nose, but I wanted more contact. I didn’t explain that friends might be the extent of this, because in reality I was just a girl wanting to kiss the boy.So what that I’m fortyish, and so is he?
He took my hand in his, and my fingers sizzled at the contact. With his free index finger he tipped my baseball hat up, catching my eyes better.
“I’d kiss you, but I’m thinking this is a no-kiss zone when it comes to Frank?”
“Yeah, sadly. He’d tell you he can work some miracles, but he’s not Jesus.”
“I’ll settle for you telling me about this new role.”
That was pretty much how the afternoon went after that. Cal asking everything about me, Frank bringing us another round of coffees, and then finally Frank appearing with his hand doing a circular motion in the air to wrap it up.
With an all too quick hug, we began to say our goodbyes.
“Good luck in the bike race,” I told Cal.
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
