Page 155 of Crazy for this Girl

“Not blaming you at all,” he wards off. “However, this place seems to be the only place that makes sense to talk about everything. Where it all started.”

“You thought with my mom around that I’d want to talk about all the stressful shit you’re about to spew? I don’t want to talk about the past right now. I just wanted to relax this weekend.”

He shrugs nonchalantly. “Then let’s talk about the present.”

“I work for you. Cool story.” I round his body, but both of his palms land on my biceps and he holds me right in front of him without a means of leaving.

“That’s not all our story. It won’t be the ending either.” His voice is soft, but there’s an edge to the corner of his words. “You said you’d listen to my side, right?” I hesitate before giving him a curt nod. “Okay, then. Sounds like I need to keep reminding you.”

“Cal Harper?” Both our heads turn to find my not-so-little brother smiling from ear-to-ear at our new visitor. “Dude…” He strides in our direction and bro-hugs it out with Cal. “It’s been forever. How are you?”

“Good to see you.” Cal returns with a genuine smile. “Congratulations on passing the bar.”

“Shit, man, thanks.” Jonah’s blue eyes flick to mine. “Back at taking care of our girl, huh?”

Cal glimpses over his shoulder to look at me. “Trying to. She wouldn’t even come take a walk with me to look around.”

Jonah chuckles. “You don’t deserve it. She moped around for—”

“Is Dad done with lunch yet?” I cut in, not about to go into yet another revealing conversation at how badly I handled Cal’s disappearance.

Jonah isn’t an idiot, thank God. He doesn’t miss my curveball into the subject moving off me and to something lighter.

“Yeah, he is.” My brother looks back to Cal. “I’ll set out another spot at the table. I want you to meet my girlfriend, Ellie.”

“I’ve heard good things about her,” Cal replies. “And that sounds great, I’m starving.”

“Aren’t you always?” I mutter under my breath, so irritated that I might just snap my Kindle in two.

“Awesome, see you inside.” Jonah rounds the house to get back, then I go to follow him except Cal’s muscular forearm reaches up and blocks my route and view. His palm resting on the surface of the wooden siding.

“You know,” he mutters nice and slow, his body mocking those two adjectives as he dissolves space between us. “This is the second time I’ve heard how much you missed me. I just haven’t heard it from the source.”

I lift a brow, meeting the glimmer of bemusement dancing around in his beautiful greens. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m not.”

“Then you’re gonna be waiting a long time.”

His lips hoist, and I know the look of acceptance anywhere. Cal always used to wear it well. And I’m the challenge. “There are other ways to make you talk, Laynee.”

“Remember that restraining order I mentioned a few weeks back?”

Cal remains unfazed as his focus falls down to my lips, causing a swell of goosebumps to line down my arms. “I remember.”

“If you want to talk…we’ll talk after lunch.”

His eyes don’t move from my mouth. “You know I’m holding you to that, Laynee Reese.”

“Do that.”

It must be the slightly cockiness in my tone that tips him off, or the memories of evading things I never wanted to talk about because the delight in his expression fades and transforms into one of disbelief.

He shouldn’t believe me. There were no plans this weekend to where I would be standing in front of a flannel-attired Cal Harper and reminiscing about all the times we spent on this very porch.

I think a trip heading into town is calling my name right now.

“I’m not playing,” he warns, that delicious dip in his tone returning like we’re back in Chicago and I’m his unruly assistant.

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