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“Nah. We’ve got plenty of money.”

Cal’s so flippant about it, which immediately rubs me the wrong way. The guy’s generosity is admirable, sure, but what are his motives here? Is he just trying to impress Beth? It’s one thing to have money, but I’ve never thought it’s a good look to flaunt what you’ve got. It’s one of the things I’ve tried to avoid.

“And,” Calvin goes on, nodding at his parents, “as the new VP of Marketing for Kell Corp., I think this will be good for our brand, as well. A win-win.”

“Wow.” Beth’s eyes are wide behind her glasses. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you.”

“Sure thing.” Calvin checks his watch. “I have to hop on a call here shortly, but, Beth”—he reaches for her hand and tugs her his way—“let me take you out for dinner. We have some catching up to do.”

“Like”—Beth glances first at Calvin’s parents and then at me as she drops her voice—“out on a date?”

How do I arrange my face to look like I’m a supportive friend in this moment when really I feel like tackling someone? Not a clue. I raise my eyebrows and hope I appear reassuring.

“Yep. How ’bout it?” Calvin smiles at Beth.

This is fine. This is good. Beth and Calvin. Calvin and Beth. Two turtle doves.

I am totally cool with it. Cooler than a cucumber. Cooler than the North Pole.

“Okay. Sure,” Beth agrees.

Calvin grins. “I’ll text you later.” He kisses her on the cheek again and then nods at me. “Nice to meet you, man.”

“Likewise,” I lie.

Calvin retreats to the office.

“Well!” Lorissa beams. “That’s settled, then. Beth, I’m happy to handle decorating for the ball if that helps you. We have all items in-house.”

“That would be amazing if you don’t mind. I’ll come and help with the setup, of course. Thank you so much.”

We spend a couple more minutes talking logistics with Lorissa and Richie before heading back outside and loading up into the gondola orb that’ll either take us to the base of the hill or to our deaths.

Beth settles the knit blanket across both our laps and rearranges the plush pillows on the bench behind her.

When I sit down next to her, she says, “That went better than I expected.”

I swallow hard as the wires suspending the gondola in midair start churning and we begin our descent.

As soon as I feel like I can open my mouth while keeping the contents of my stomach in place, I say, “So, you and Calvin, huh?”

Beth glances over at me. “I can’t believe he was there. I have a feeling Lorissa and Richie would have been a much harder sell. Thank goodness for Cal.”

“I take it you and Cal dated.”

“We did.”

“Then you can clear something up for me. Does he honestly go by Cal?”

Her eyes crinkle. “Why wouldn’t he?”

“Cal Kell?” I can’t help my incredulous tone. “Who’s he trying to be, Duran Duran?”

Beth laughs and shrugs. Her arm brushes mine, and I resist the urge to press myself closer to her.

Not my place.

“I don’t know,” she says. “I’ve always called him Cal. Guess I never really thought about how it worked with his last name.”