Leighton smiles at me and turns to the center stage area. “Oh, Callie, it is beautiful, but I think it suits you more than me. It’s gorgeous.” Leighton glances at me over her shoulder. “Don’t you think so, Foster?”
Her smile says she knows, and if she knows, then I have to think Hayes is next.
Callie said we’d tell him together, but what if he finds out before we have a chance? The two of us decided we’d wait until we go to the doctor because why cause all that turmoil before the doctor confirms everything is okay? Still, something about Hayes not knowing feels like a knife is lodged in my throat.
“Yeah,” I croak.
The entire room giggles.
“Oh, let the poor guy go. He looks like he could throw up,” Kyleigh says.
Just then Hayes and Callie’s mom comes out of the backroom, and her eyes light up when she sees me. My smile widens because I love Mrs. Carlisle.
“Foster!” She rushes over with her arms open, and I try to loosen my muscles and not seem so stiff as she throws her arms around me and buries her head in my chest. “Oh, you’re a lifesaver. Hopefully the caffeine helps take the edge off.”
“We’re fine, Mom,” Callie says with a note of exasperation.
Jennifer Carlisle is like a mom from television. She’s patient, loving, and treats you as if you’re the best person who was ever born. Even me.
Mrs. Carlisle rolls her eyes. “You know my Callie, she likes to get her way.”
Callie inhales deeply, and she steps down from the pedestal. I finally feel as though I can breathe again. I hope she goes in the back and takes off that beautiful fucking dress. But she doesn’t turn toward the back. She walks right over to me.
The dress swooshes as she walks, and the closer she gets, the more my throat closes up. “I was just showing Leighton the dress she’s missing out on.”
“I think you’re missing out on the dress. Buy it for the future.” Leighton sips her coffee, staring at Callie and me. “You never know when you might want to run off to Vegas and marry someone.” She shrugs, looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“She’ll probably sneak off and come back with a wedding ring on her finger and a baby in her belly.” Mrs. Carlisle puts her arm around her daughter’s waist and tugs her to her side. “She’s impulsive, and we love her for it.” She smacks a kiss on Callie’s cheek.
Callie’s eyes drill into mine again. Now my heart feels as though it’s fighting a rip current—kicking for air, desperate to make it back to shore.
“I should go.” I back step toward the door.
“Is Hayes out there?” Mrs. Carlisle asks.
I nod. “Yeah, he’s adamant about not seeing Leighton.”
She laughs. “Tell him I’ll see him at Peeper’s in a little bit? And you come too.”
“Ah… I have some things to do.” I am not going to be in the same room as Callie and everyone else until Hayes knows what’s going on.
“Not anymore. Nothing is more important than spending time with me, your second mother.”
Sadly, she is the closest thing I’ve had to a mother since I was eleven.
“Mom, let him be. He’s a busy guy.” Callie doesn’t say it vindictively, and she’s not throwing laser eyes my way, but still some part of me wants her to be just as uncomfortable as I am.
“I’ll stop by for a little bit,” I say.
“Oh good.” Mrs. Carlisle brings her hands together in front of her.
“Thanks, Foster!” Kyleigh raises her cup. “And tell Hayes thank you too.”
“Yeah… um, good to meet you.”
We all stand there awkwardly, and my eyes soak in Callie one more time before I clear my throat and circle around, getting the hell out of the store.
“You survived!” Hayes pockets his phone and pushes off the brick wall. “I thought they swallowed you up in there.”
