Page 63 of Crossed Sticks

Harper sat straighter. “Luca? You’re scaring me a little. What’s wrong?”

Caleb hadn’t been in touch for weeks, and even if I’d remembered about their visit, I’d have thought their plans had changed. I glanced at Harp. “Give me a sec, babe.”

As they say, a good offense is the best defense, so I typed accordingly.

LUCA: You’re here? I thought your plans had changed.

CALEB: Why think that? I’d have let you know.

LUCA: I guess I expected you to confirm.

Typing bubbles started, and I fought the impulse to throw my phone out the window. No phone, no texts. No texts, no Caleb.

CALEB: I know we weren’t due until Monday, and I was planning to get in touch this weekend. But Daniel and I had a huge fight, so I’m here alone. I’m sorry if I’m interfering, and I know I should’ve called, but it’s like a steam room out here. Is there somewhere I could wait while you drive home? How long will it be? I’ll explain everything when I see you.

LUCA: Harper lives in the building too. Give me a minute, and I’ll come down to get you.

Acid flooded my stomach, and while I thought about what to tell Harper, my heart pounded, desperate to break free from my chest. Hell, I wanted to escape, too. If I ran out of the apartment, down the stairs, and out the back door, it would take Harper a while to catch me.

If he still wanted to catch me.

Shit.

“Harp, I uh… I need to tell you. I forgot…”

He placed a hand on my leg. “Just say it.”

I took a deep breath and talked fast. “I’ve been so excited about what we were doing that… Well, a long time ago, Caleb and Daniel planned to come here for the last week of August. Then you and I got serious. Things have been going so well, and… I forgot, and now they’re here. Or at least Caleb’s here. They had a fight, and he’s alone. Please… I’m so sorry. I can’t?—”

“It’s okay, sweetheart.”

I couldn’t remember him calling me that before, and the word put the brakes on my heart’s frantic pounding.

He squeezed my knee. “To be sure I understand, Caleb is in town and expecting to stay for a week?”

“Yes, but we’ll figure something out. He can stay here by himself, or he could go to New York City. Our friend Adam lives there. Can we?—”

“Luca!” Harper raised his voice but didn’t sound angry. “Where is Caleb?”

“Downstairs.”

“In this weather? Go get him, and we’ll work something out. If he’s your best friend, he’ll understand what happened, and we’ll still go to Maine. The important thing is for everyone to stay calm.”

I hurried downstairs and rescued Caleb from the sidewalk. It was too hot to hug, so I picked up his suitcase and carried it to the elevator.

“Thanks for coming so quickly,” he said.

I couldn’t tell if his voice had an edge or he was just tired, so I said simply, “You’re welcome.”

His blond hair was matted to his head, and his face was slick with perspiration. Even though he was a sweaty mess, he was as handsome as ever, but he was no Harper. We went to my apartment, and as soon as I set his suitcase down, I noticed his red-rimmed, puffy eyes. Had he cried all the way to Buffalo? I wondered what could have happened between him and Daniel that was so serious, considering the cloying romance they’d had for years.

Caleb remained silent, and I realized I was being an asshole. He looked so small and frail, obviously heartbroken. It didn’t seem possible that Caleb could be so unhappy he’d leave Daniel behind. When I held out my arms, he collapsed into them.

“It’s okay, Cale,” I said, using an old nickname. “Whatever’s wrong, we’ll fix it. Don’t worry.”

That was all it took to make him burst into tears. He held on to me as he cried—hard, wrenching sobs that shook his entire body. Afraid of losing my grip, I eased him into a chair andknelt in front of him. He clutched my hands, gasping for breath. Although Caleb’s sudden appearance had upset my plans, I instinctively wanted to protect him. When he and Daniel started dating, I told Daniel I’d support them as long as he treated Caleb well. I’d stood by those words for years, but if he’d cheated on Caleb, I’d kick Daniel’s ass into hell.

Caleb eventually calmed down and dried his eyes before leaning back in the chair.

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