He turned and rolled his head in laughter. “Ah, you got me on that one!”
They both laughed. Caleb’s workers started looking at him. He had been acting a bit differently those days, and they definitely weren’t complaining.
“In all seriousness,” Evie said, “thank you. That was so incredibly sweet of you to send me that.”
He smiled and put his hand on his hip, looking down at the floor. He idly scooted a paint pan with his foot. “You’re welcome. How are you today?”
“I am sorry I didn’t respond quicker. I was driving.”
“You’re alright! Besides, if any other guy messes with you, tell ‘em what I do and he’ll leave you alone.”
“That you’re in the Navy?”
He laughed. “Nah, that I’ll take a sander to his face.”
Her mouth widened and she shouted back with hilarity, “You’re a brutal man, Caleb. Can I paint his face with latex-based paint?”
“Oh my God, you’re learning! I’m so proud of you!” he laughed back.
“Yep! But back to your question. I got here fine. I think you’d be proud of me.”
“I’m always proud of you, but why would you say that?”
“I had a fucked-up altercation with a few weird road ragers on the way to work and ended up having to pull over on the shoulder. I skidded a bit, but I’m okay and handled it like a boss!”
His throat tightened. “What the fuck? I mean, I’m proud of you for handling it, but are you alright? Did you call the cops?”
“Yeah, I did. Highway patrol got a hold of them. I thought the truck was Alan, but it wasn’t.”
“What was the other one?”
“A black sedan. They kept wanting to stay behind me but eventually they got off on an exit.”
He took a breath on the other side. She heard it.
“Caleb, it’s okay. Hunt told me about the black Nissan you’ve been seeing on the camera.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you.”
“It’s okay. But…I haven’t noticed anything. And I think I’m alright. You having a good day at work?”
“I’m having a great day!” He walked out on the front porch and sat down. “You make my days a bit better. I can’t stop thinking about what you did for me at the inn the other night.”
He paused. She listened. Then he slowly said, “I never got to thank you for that.”
“You actually did. Besides, that little video was all I needed.”
He smiled on the other end, and so did she. “I better get goin’,” he said. “I got?—”
She smiled. “I know. A lot of work to do.”
“Yep! You got it, girl.”
Her smile never left her lips. “I love you.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. He remembered when it came to him that telling her he loved her could’ve been a bad idea. He had done it so fast and without thinking at all. But maybe he wasn’t thinking.
Maybe this time, Caleb was just feeling.
