“Maybe,” I said, feeling a little uneasy. I wasn’t sure if she was ready to tell everyone on such a grand scale, but I could run it by her. The worst thing she could do was say no, and we’d just put off coming out with our relationship another week or two.
Evan grinned at the uncomfortable look on my face. He turned to look at Cal. “Will Ellery be there?”
“Yes. She will. We also invited Raina, although I don’t know if she’ll stay after dropping Nik off.”
“The waitress who moved into Harper’s place?” I asked, surprised.
Calum nodded. “She’s a friend of Harper’s, and her son, Nik, is Asher’s best friend. And…” he trailed off, his face clouding for a moment as he warred with himself on whether or not he should keep talking. He swallowed, seeming to come to a decision. “She’s kind of…my half-sister.”
Whatever I’d expected Cal to say, it hadn’t been this. I gaped at him, Evan did too. “Wait, what?” Evan shook his head like he hadn’t heard right.
“Turns out the old man had an…encounter…early on in my parents’ relationship.” He frowned darkly. “Raina is the result of that encounter.”
“Does Connor know?” My question had Cal looking at me a little closer.
“No. Not yet. I don’t know how to tell her. Or my mom.” Cal shook his head, his eyes darkening with anger. “I haven’t even confronted Michael about it. Raina doesn’t want me to.”
“Why not?”
“I really don’t think she planned on being found.” Calum shrugged, looking as if that thought perplexed him. “It’s going to break my mom’s heart when she finds out. Who the hell knows what it will do to my parents’ marriage? I don’t want to be the smoking gun in this.”
I ran my hand along my jaw, trying to digest the news. I disliked that I had this knowledge before Connor, but I understood why he hadn’t told her yet. It was a complicated situation and it seemed that Cal was in the thick of it.
“I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with all this, man.” I said, clapping my hand on his shoulder. “What can we do?”
“It’s fine, I’m fine. Just bracing for the impending shitstorm when everyone else finds out. Michael recognized her at Asher’s party; he suspects. I know he does. I’ve just been waiting to see what he’s going to do about it.”
“Wait, will your parents be at this housewarming?” Evan asked, his eyes shooting to mine with sympathy.
“Hell no.” He shook his head. “We’ve had both our parents over for dinner and to check out the place already. This is just a hang out night with friends. Kid friendly, since Asher and Nik will be there. Though we probably won’t see much of them.” He chuckled.
We’d helped Calum set up a playroom in the finished basement, filling it with all of Asher’s LEGO and other various toys. When we’d finished, we had to drag Evan to get him away from the LEGO, he’d had such a fun time setting it up.
“Do we have to get you a housewarming gift?” Evan ribbed, earning a chuckle from Cal.
“No gifts required. I’ve got everything I need already,” Calum insisted, a warmth in his eyes that hadn’t been there a few short months ago. “Just bring that girlfriend of yours so we can all meet her, Dare.”
My phone buzzed again, another incoming text message from Connor asking me if I could pick up food on the way in, as there wasn’t anything to eat there. I fired out a response, letting her know I would.
“Speaking off, I need to go. I’ll talk to her about next Saturday.”
“See you guys later,” I promised, grabbing my jacket off the painter’s ladder in the middle of the room.
Calum and Evan followed me out to the gravel driveway, where the SUV was parked.
“I think I’ll get out of your hair too, Cal,” Evan said before glancing at me. “Can you give me a lift back home?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure,” I replied, hitting unlock on the key fob.
“Thanks again for all your help lately, boys,” Cal told us. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. We’re happy to help you, Cal, with whatever you need,” I said before opening the driver’s door. Evan and I climbed into the SUV, leaving Calum standing on the front porch. I backed out of the driveway, feeling Evan’s unwavering gaze on me.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Evan demanded once we were on the road. “Are you and Connor going to show up to this thing as a couple?”
“No clue. I need to talk to her and see where she’s at with everything,” I sighed. “But the Raina thing complicates things. The last thing I want to do is push for a relationship reveal with another shitstorm pending in the Jacobses’ world.”
“Although, in hindsight,thisdrama should overshadow your drama. You dating Connor isn’t so bad in comparison. Michael can’t say jack shit, given the circumstances.”
