Devin laughs at that and I can’t help but wink at him with a small smile before heading up to bed. I peel out of my clothes and nose-dive into my bed, sinking immediately into a deep sleep.
I wake up panicked. The show starts in ten minutes. I almost missed it! I run my hands through my hair and grab a pair of black leggings and an oversize shirt as I rush down the stairs. I should have the place to myself. Devin had mentioned the family was going out to dinner.
I look up as I hit the landing and see Wyatt standing in the middle of the living room. He’s grinning at me as he waves excitedly. He’s surrounded by Devin, Rose, Luc, Donna, Cole, Leah, Jordan and Jessie. There are plates of cheese and crackers and bowls of chips and dip all over the coffee table. Everyone is holding a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. I freeze and can do nothing but blink.
“Surprise!” Rose squeals and everyone laughs except me. I’m still frozen.
“Devin told us your show was airing tonight,” Wyatt says, walking over to me and hugging me tightly before guiding me into the crowded living room. “We wanted to watch it with you and celebrate!”
I look over at Devin. He looks nervous, like he’s scared I might get mad. How could I be mad? This is amazing. I wish I could tell him that but I’m still in shock. Rose hands me a glass of wine. I take a big gulp, which makes everyone laugh, and then grab Jessie in a bear hug. I had no idea she was even in town again.
“Why didn’t you tell us, silly?” Jessie wants to know.
“There’s so much else going on with everyone,” I say, finally finding my voice. “I just didn’t want to add another thing to everyone’s plate.”
“This is just as big as me being traded,” Luc notes and I give him a grateful smile. I can’t believe he just said that. He’s proving once again why Rose loves him.
I hug him tightly and kiss his cheek. “Thank you for saying that, French Disaster.”
The oven makes a louddingsound from the other room. Devin jumps and puts his beer down on a side table. “That’s my wings!”
I watch him hurry by me and head for the kitchen. “His wings?”
“He is cooking for you,” Cole notes with a look that says he’s amazed too. “I don’t know who he is anymore.”
I laugh.
Devin comes back with a platter filled with piping hot teriyaki and buffalo wings, and a few minutes later we all settle down to watch the show. I’m ridiculously nervous. I want them to like it. More important, I want America to like it. If the show doesn’t do well and it gets canceled, I have to leave New York, which means leaving Devin and Conner, and the thought of that makes me feel sick.
I sit on the edge of my seat for half of the hour-long drama. Devin is beside me and Rose is on my other side on the couch. All the outfits look as good as I’d hoped and that’s all that matters to me. One of the main actors, the youngest girl in the cast, is a little stiff in her dialogue and then the main guy actor delivers a cheesy line to his love interest and everyone in the room groans. I raise my hands. “I don’t write it, people!”
As we reach the commercial break midway through, Devin places a hand casually on my lower back and leans forward.
“I’m not hating this teen angst as much as I think I should,” he whispers jokingly. “And the clothes look amazing.”
“Thank you,” I reply with a small laugh.
When it’s over, everyone claps.
“For a teen show, it’s actually kind of intriguing,” Donna says. “I mean, I actually like the story line. It’s smart and there were some witty lines.”
Everyone nods in agreement. I’m relieved they didn’t find it too goofy.
“Okay, that purple slip dress that Tasha character wore to the dance.” Leah grabs my hands. “Please tell me you found that here and I can pick up my own one before I leave.”
“A store in Tribeca,” I tell her happily. “I’ll take you there before the game tomorrow night.”
“Great,” Cole says in mock annoyance. “Just what our bank account needs, a shopping trip.”
Everyone laughs. Later that night I glance around the crowded living room and can’t find Devin. I sneak into the kitchen in search of him. He’s loading some dishes into the dishwasher. I walk up behind him and touch my hand to his hip.
“Thank you,” I say shyly.
He grins at me. “I was worried it might freak you out, but there was no way we were not going to be a part of your special moment. You are such an important part of all of ours.”
His kaleidoscope eyes look so warm and inviting and filled with love. And…it’s not freaking me out. It makes me feel…good. Great, actually. So why do I want to cry?!
“Callie,” he whispers my name and reaches up and cups the side of my face. “Are you going to cry?”
