“Uh, nothing. I’m fine.” I tried to escape his embrace but he held on tighter. “The food.”
“It won’t burn.” He turned me around and cupped my face. “I can read you like a book, babe. What just happened?”
I blew out a long breath and met his hazel eyes. “I guess I realized how amazing you are and how lucky I am. It scared me.”
“You, lucky?” He laughed and ran his finger over my lip. “Cal, while I appreciate hearing you say that and it makes me real fucking happy, don’t for one second think that you’re the lucky one. I’m the luckiest son of bitch there is.”
I scrunched my nose at his words and decided to go with honesty. I held my breath, my body tense as hell, and told him, “I think I’m falling in love with you.”
“Cal, I surpassed that weeks ago. I didn’t want to scare you.”
“I’m fucking terrified.” My heart raced and although we didn’t say the words, the feeling remained. “I heard about Aaron’s dad—”
“All the more reason why we shouldn’t hold back. You never know.” He kissed my forehead and frowned. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. He asked me not to.”
“Don’t apologize for that. Ever. I understand. He told me earlier today and that’s how I got roped into cooking dinner for everyone here.” I backed out of his embrace and went to stir the meat. “Honestly, I feel like a house mom right now. I’m cooking thirty tacos where Greta and I probably only eat six total.”
“You’re sexy as hell cooking, though. It makes me feel manly and taken care of.” He sat at the table and watched me. “I’m getting a Fifties housewife vibe.”
“Yeah, lose that vibe.” I threatened him. “I cook because I’m good at it and I enjoy it. As soon as it’s expected, I’ll burn you.”
“Duly noted.”
“Knock it off with those sexy eyes. I need to continue to cook and it’s for Aaron, not for your dick.”
“I like knowing my sexy eyes distract you.”
“Great. Another ego boost for you.” I finished draining the meat. “You know, make yourself useful and get out some bowls and shit.”
“Yes, ma’am. Anything for you, dear.” He swatted my ass and handed me the dishes I needed. Jeff walked in next with a big smile. He tried grabbing some of the meat and I hit his hand with the spoon.
“No.”
“Come on, just a bite.”
“No. I’ll hit harder next time. It’s almost ready, you barbarians.”
Jeff joined Zade at the table and they snatched the food like feral dogs who hadn’t eaten in days.Their poor mothers.I imagined the grocery bill these guys needed, let alone giving birth to the monsters. I shivered at the thought. Zade kept smiling at me and Jeff eventually called him out on it.
“Why are you smiling like a fucking fool?”
“I got a girl who can do it all. Cook, knows baseball and is dynamite in the bed.”
“Zade!” Jeff high-fived him and I threw my hands in the air. “Boys!”
It wasn’t until hours later, when Zade and I were lying in his bed, that I brought up what he’d done for Aaron. The lights were off, we’d spent an hour fooling around and now I lay in his arms with him stroking my bare back.
“Zade, what you did for Aaron…I’m proud of you.” I pressed a kiss to his chest and he hummed in pleasure. “Just when I think I can’t fall any more, you surprise me.” He pulled me tighter to him but didn’t reply. We continued to lie there and after a full ten minutes of silence, he spoke in a rough voice.
“When we drove up to his parents’ house and heard the news, the first thing I thought was how fucking thankful I am that my mom and sister were okay. Does that make me the worst fucking human being ever?”
“What? No!” I propped myself up on my elbow. “I think it’s perfectly normal to be thankful that your family is okay. You never think of something like this happening to you or someone you know. It’s always someone you’re acquainted with. You never think it’d happen to someone close to you. So, don’t feel guilty. Please don’t.”
“I hate how it’s breaking him.” He squeezed his eyes together in pain. “I saw their family and the cloud of doom they all carried. I wish I knew how to help.”
“You are helping.” I put my hand on his face until he opened his eyes. “You are helping by being his friend, by rallying the team around him and caring. I’m really fucking proud of you.”
He kissed my palm and I felt it all the way to my heart. “I’m glad you’re with me, Callie. So fucking glad.”
