Callie held up a butter knife coated in mayonnaise and faked a look of alarm. “Who are you and what are you doing in my apartment?”
“Very funny.”
“Don’t get defensive.” Callie gave her a coaxing smile. “I’m only kidding. I’m glad you’re having a wonderful summer—and yes, I do consider it my job to give you a hard time.”
“I get that. I mean, what are friends for?”
“Exactly. How about a chicken salad sandwich?”
“I had lunch, thanks. And you’re home early.”
“Evan gave me a few hours off.”
“Wait. Let me guess. You have to work tonight.”
“A couple of rich out-of-towners have booked a large group. And what fun is a ghost tour in daylight? I’ll be lucky to get home by midnight.” She grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl, peeled it and had a bite. “So, I take it things are going well with you and Jameson?” As Van tried to decide how to respond to that, Callie teased, “Can’t do without him, huh?”
“No. Yes. Maybe.”
Callie pointed her bitten-off banana at Van. “I like that you always give me definitive answers.”
Van scoffed at her friend’s teasing and then made a sad face. “I do miss hanging out.”
“Me, too.”
“We need a girls’ night.”
“We do, yes.” Callie finished off her banana and turned to dispose of the peel. “But I have to work and you’re going to the Double J.”
“Yeah. There is that. I just came by to grab a change of clothes. For some reason I seem incapable of getting out of Jameson’s bed when my alarm goes off in the morning.”
“Just take a suitcase. Stop making it so hard on yourself.”
“I should be more...” Van let her voice trail off as she sought the right word. “Disciplined, I guess. Last New Year’s, I made him promise that it was only that one night and no more. And now, here we are, havingmorebecause I want to be with him, and he wants to be with me. This time, I made him agree that it’s only for the summer and nobody else gets to know. And then you figured out that we’re seeing each other and so did Charity.”
“Van. Don’t. It’s not wrong to be with someone you really like.”
“Yeah, but I neednotto get carried away.”
“That’s not true.” Callie regarded her so steadily. “You’reafraidto get carried away.”
Van wanted to go straight to denial. But there was no point. Callie would see right through her. Van trusted Callie and had told her all the painful things she’d never felt ready to share with her own family. Callie knew exactly why she would never return to Bronco to live. “You’re right. Iamafraid. I feel out of control over him.”
“And that scares you, to be out of control?”
“Yeah. When I really fall for someone, it never goes well. I don’t seem to know how to do casual. I get all wrapped up in the guy—and then he messes me over.”
“But that doesn’t mean it will never go well. What’s that old saying? You have to kiss a lot of frogs? I’m thinking that it’s possible you’ve finally met your prince.”
“Ugh! Don’t you even.” Van laughed, but it came out sounding nervous and strange. “I’m a grown woman. I don’t believe in princes anymore.”
“Liar.”
“It’s the truth, I promise you.”
“Tell that to someone who doesn’t know you better.” Callie picked up her sandwich and took a bite.
“I can’t stand here and argue the point with you. I have to get going.” She turned for the hallway to the bedrooms.
