“I don’t think I ever hated him. Not really.” She’d been thinking about that over the past few days. A lot. “I’ve had a hard couple of years, and changing jobs is really stressful. Not to mention how bad things got with Andre in the end. I think I was looking for a scapegoat, and Thomas served that purpose.”
She flicked on the water to wash some stray highlighter from her fingers, and the plumbing made an odd sort of thunk.
“I hear what you’re saying.” Tess’s words almost dripped with doubt. “But Cal, during almost every conversation we’ve had over the past four months, you’ve either raged or cried about how he’s screwing you over at the library. Because of him, you’ve spent your workdays stressed to the point where you might as well buy stock in anti-anxiety meds.”
Callie bit her lip and stared down into the sink, rinsing away the soap and letting the cool water rush over her wrists. Sometimes that trick helped calm her when she got overwhelmed, and sometimes it didn’t. But it was worth a try.
Tess wasn’t finished. “Those complaints weren’t the product of any frustration and loneliness you were experiencing in other areas of your life. Andre didn’t somehow make certain you never had a moment to breathe on the desk, and job transition stress didn’t ensure you were always scheduled alongside Thomas. One man caused those problems, Cal. Thomas. I can’t count how many times you told me you couldn’t stand to see his face behind the desk. That you loathed working with him.”
Swallowing over such a dry throat hurt.
“And after three days sharing a hotel room, you’re apparently dating the man. So please forgive me if I’m a bit confused and concerned.” Tess’s Vice Principal Voice softened and lowered. “I don’t want you hurt. I don’t like the idea of someone taking advantage of a fraught situation to get closer to you. And I don’t see how you could make a relationship with him work when you want to rip out his throat after every shift together.”
At that, Callie’s spine stiffened, and she turned off the water. Which made a weird thump again, but whatever. They could call maintenance later.
“He didn’t take advantage of me.” When Tess started to say something, Callie overrode her. “I mean it. He didn’t even want to kiss me during this trip, because he wanted to be absolutely sure our circumstances weren’t responsible for my attraction to him.”
“Well, I guess that’s something,” Tess muttered.
“And he doesn’t mean any harm at work. He just doesn’t multitask well, and I don’t know if he could change that even if he wanted to.” Callie drummed an eyeliner pencil against the vanity. “I understand him better now, so I don’t think I’ll get as frustrated as I used to.”
“Okay.” Tess didn’t sound convinced.
To be fair, the argument did sound a bit weak when spoken aloud.
Callie checked the time on her phone display and gave a little, panicked shriek. “Oh, shit. I need to go, Tess. We’ll talk later, all right?”
“Sounds good.” Her friend hesitated. “Just…take good care of yourself, sweetie. Please.”
Callie couldn’t help but smile, despite the renewed worries crowding her mind. “Such a mother hen.”
They said goodbye, and Callie tried to concentrate on finishing her eye makeup. Just after she emerged from the bathroom, a loud knock sounded at the door.
She looked through the peephole. Good Lord, had Thomas lost his keycard again?
“You’re a mess, McKinney. We need to clip your card to your pocket somehow,” she said as she opened the door. “Do you remember where you last saw it?”
Thomas didn’t answer, and he didn’t come inside the room.
Instead, he handed her one of two paper bags and glanced down at the subtle swirls of the carpet. His mouth opened, but he pressed it shut again.
Oh, no. She’d hurt his feelings.
She laid a hand on his cheek, still smooth from his morning shave. It was hot beneath her palm, brushed with hectic color as if he too had stayed out in the sun too long. “I was just teasing, Thomas. You’re not a mess. People lose their keycards all the time. If you need another one, we’ll get it. And I don’t mind keeping mine handy for the both of us.”
He stepped back from the contact, and her hand fell to her side.
“I’ll give you some privacy to keep getting ready.” He was so quiet, she could barely hear him. “Take your time, and I’ll meet you and the crew in the lobby.”
When he finally met her eyes, he offered her a smile.
It was weak and fleeting and not at all like Thomas, and she felt like a monster.
Oh, God, they were going to have to talk about this, weren’t they? “But?—”
She’d waited too long.
“But I am ready,” she told the closed door.
