She wanted Calvin to stay at the nice place, really she did. But she also wanted an excuse for him to stay the night. Even if it meant camping in her back yard.
“They have a camping ground they just opened up,” Ash said, peering over her shoulder.
“Oh, that’s right!” Diana exclaimed, scrolling through the options. Again, she wasn’t sure whether to rejoice or cry. “It just opened a few weeks ago, not far from the mansion. Here it is. Still several spots available. And they have cooking facilities and showers as well.”
She kicked herself internally as soon as she’d said it, even as she held her phone out to Calvin so he could see all the places he could stay, far away from her, her couch, her bed, and anything else to do with her.
Calvin got up to look down at the phone, even as Bella also got up and forced her head into Diana’s lap, sticking her wet doggy nose into the phone’s screen.
Calvin hummed in approval. “That’s a bit more my style.”
Diana’s heart sank. It was for the best, she knew, but she couldn’t help but be disappointed.
On the other hand, though… that meant that Calvin was going to be in town at least until tomorrow. He wasn’t just passing through, never to be seen again.
She brightened.
“Want me to book you in for tonight?” she asked, looking up at him over her shoulder, and he nodded.
“If you wouldn’t mind, that would be fantastic,” he said, before digging around in his pocket. “Since my phone is shot. But here, let me give you my card details.”
“No way – you’re a guest in this town. I’m treating you,” she said, typing in her credit card number before he could protest. He started to reach for her phone, almost touching it, before, strangely, pulling his hand back as if it had been burned.
Weird,she thought. But his hesitation gave her the time she needed to confirm the booking.
“Ha! All done!” she exclaimed, and the expression on his face as he sank back into his chair – a combination of gratitude and hangdog puppy – had her laughing out loud.
And she had an idea. It was a bit risky, but… what was life without a little risk?
She swallowed hard, before gathering her courage.
“If you’dreallylike to pay me back, you can treat me to breakfast tomorrow.”
His eyes widened for a moment – and then he smiled, a broad, dazzling smile that left her breathless.
“Where do you recommend?” he asked, and while it was an innocent enough question, it almost felt loaded somehow. Like breakfast was somehow a prelude to other things.
“Th-there’s a great diner on the main drag that does breakfasts,” she said, doing her best to keep her voice steady. “It’s super easy to find. We can meet there, if you like?”
“Sounds good,” said Calvin, his voice sounding impossibly deep. “Are you an early bird, or a late riser?”
For you, I’ll be whatever you like.
“Early bird by necessity, late riser by choice,” she said honestly.
Calvin grinned. “How does ten sound to you?”
“Fantastic,” she said with a smile. And that would give her plenty of time to help Ash with his breakfast before he went off for his planned day playing board games at the community center with some of the other kids. She’d make him whatever he wanted, if she was going to be going off and getting treated to a diner breakfast.
“Well, I guess I’d better head over there pretty soon,” Calvin said, sounding reluctant. “It’ll be getting dark before long.”
“Let me give you a ride,” Diana said, standing up and trying to pretend that she hadn’t just given herself averyinteresting mental image.
“Oh – oh, no, that’s fine,” Calvin said, practically stuttering and almost holding his hands out, as if trying to keep her at arm’s length. It was such a sudden turnaround that she stopped in her tracks, confused.
“I mean – it’s just that I don’t think I’d fit in your car,” he went on.
Diana wasn’t sure about that – sure, it would be a little cramped, but she could move the seat back once they’d removed the boxes and bags she’d brought back from the lemonade stand.
