“He sure is.” Lisa agrees.
I stand here, staring at them. My mouth must be on the floor. That’s what he was trying to tell me. That there were kids involved and he couldn’t just leave. It wasn’t just any fire. But instead of caring about him, I only cared about myself. Again.
God, I’m a selfish son-of-a-bitch. My husband could have been seriously injured, kids could have been seriously injured and I was only concerned about wasting a sexy outfit and not getting to go to a steakhouse.
I don’t listen to him as much as he hasn’t been listening to me.
My attention is drawn to the front door.
Cal.
I need food. And I can’t cook anything here. I could go to Ms. Patti’s but then I’d miss the opportunity to see Juliette.
Based on my track record here lately maybe I should avoid Juliette.
I pull up The Hidden Hollow’s social media, re-reading their post for the fifteenth time in the last hour. They’re open til eight tonight. Only serving a limited menu. I have an hour.
Slipping my phone in my pocket I get in the truck. I need to just make a fucking choice. And she’s my choice. She can ignore me if she wants to, but I’m going.
The two pieces of advice I got were to make her feel special and keep her in mind. Hiding here isn’t accomplishing either of those.
I spend an embarrassing amount of time trying to convince myself of that parked out front. In the end, I push open the door and walk in.
My eyes immediately start scanning to find Juliette. Only I can’t find her. A tap to my shoulder has me turning around.
“Cal.” She stands behind me with tears welling in her eyes.
Shit. I did the wrong thing again.
“I’m sorry. I’ll leave. This was a mistake.” I step to the side, pushing the double doors open again.
The brisk air hits my face, cooling them from the embarrassment of showing up and being kicked out in front of all those people.
“Wait!” Juliette calls to me in the darkness of the parking lot.
“I’m sorry, Jules. I really am. I don’t fucking know what the right thing to do-”
She shocks me by launching herself at me, taking my face in her hands.
“No. I’m sorry. It’s me. I never want to be the reason you second guess yourself. Your heart is so big, and it tears me up that I did this to you. I love you, Cal Davies. I don’t deserve you.”
“But, you said last night…” I trail off confused by her change of heart.
“I know what I said. I was wrong. I am wrong. And you need to get back on the squad. Lisa just told me what you did yesterday, and you’re a real life Superman. I’m so, so–”
This time I cut her off. Crashing my lips to hers. I fill every single sense with her, holding her tight to me.
“Does this mean you want to work on things with me?” I ask.
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to. I’m just not good at it.”
“Wearen’t good at it. What about couple’s therapy?” I place her back on the ground in front of me.
“That’s the sexiest thing you’ve ever said. Can you forgive me, Cal? I made it sound like all your fault, but it’s not, I’m equally to blame and I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Hey! I’ve got hungry people in here! Can we speed this love fest up?” Dakota yells out to us, but doesn’t stick around.
“I love you so much, babe. I’ll never take you for granted again. Together we can figure this out. Because together is where we belong, nowhere else.”
