I’m still unconvinced. How can Callie be so sure when Brennan hasn’t shown me any more attention than he’s shown anyone else? Unless…
“I thought we might have had a moment when we were deciding what color to paint the convenience store,” I recall. “Like we were reading each other’s minds thinking about the same color. But that’s ridiculous.” I swat a dismissive hand at Callie. “I mean, it’s just paint, right?”
“Maybe it’s not just paint.” Callie wiggles her brows.
“Maybe it’s not.” I brighten. It’s a good thing Brennan signed up as a volunteer to fix the convenience store. Callie may be onto something.
“But you didn’t hear it from me.” She zips her lips.
“Of course.” I zip my lips. So maybe I did get some tea after all.
—
On Monday morning Gavin and I get ready to work on fixing up the convenience store like we planned to. What I didn’t plan on, though, is Mom and Dad joining us.
“You’re coming?” I ask.
“Of course. The town has been generous to us,” Mom says, tying a scarf around her hair. “I couldn’t say no.”
“And attending could be a good networking opportunity,” Dad adds, slipping on his suit jacket.
“Dad we’re going to remove and replace decaying wood,” I remind him, inspecting his attire skeptically. “You might want to reconsider your suit.”
He shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Every encounter is a business opportunity.”
“Suit yourself.” Honestly, if Dad doesn’t care, I shouldn’t either.
“By the way, how is Sonya taking the news?” Dad asks Gavin out of the blue.
Gavin instantly tenses up. “She’s taking it okay.” He fidgets, unable to keep his eyes focused on anything. I can tell he feels like he’s being disloyal to Callie.
“Good.” Dad nods. “Once I’m assigned my new role at It’s Ok! and you go back to USC in the fall, everything should revert to the way it was. Like you and Sonya.”
The last time Gavin and I talked about Callie, we had planned on telling Mom and Dad about his budding relationship with her. But the strained look on Gavin’s face is making me think he’s changed his mind.
“Hey.” Gavin pulls me aside when Mom and Dad walk ahead of us. “Um, so, yeah. Callie’s going to be there today, so…”
“Let me guess. You don’t want to tell Mom and Dad about her.”
“After the way family game night went, I don’t think Dad’s position has changed enough. He wouldn’t be able to handle learning about Callie and my expulsion at the same time. And he’s bound to find out about USC sooner rather than later.”
“Yeah,” I say. I can’t disagree with him there.
“But I’ll tell Mom and Dad the truth soon. I promise.”
“And Brennan and Callie too,” I add. Even though I can understand why the deception is necessary, it doesn’t sit easily with me.
“And Brennan and Callie too,” he promises.
When we get to the convenience store, there’s a large crowd already gathered in front. I find Callie right away and tell her that our parents don’t know yet and that Gavin wants to tell them before they find out.
“I totally understand. I wouldn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with your parents.”
“Really?” I peer over at her. When she nods reassuringly, I feel actual pain in my chest. Ugh, even her willingness to go along with this plan is a testament to her good nature. Gavin owes me. He owesus!
Gavin sticks with Brennan and the rest of the carpentry team, who are busy cutting out and replacing the deteriorated parts of the wood siding, while Callie and I strip the paint off the intact ones. True to her word, she doesn’t go out of the way to interact with Gavin aside from saying hi and goodbye.
I take a break from scraping off the paint and look around. “Where’s Hal?” I ask, noticing I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing his scowling face this morning.
