Page 47 of Wolf's Chance

“The other way was hiring a truck. You don’t have a license, so we can’t.”

“Then we use yours.”

“Don’t have one.”

He was piling the paintings for easier transportation, I assumed. “Thenhoware you going to drive a truck!”

Caleb glanced up at me. “I can drive; I just don’t have a license.”

“Who doesn’t have a license?” I demanded.

“You, apparently.”

When he handed me my phone, I snatched it out of hishand. “You’re going to regret this,” I told him as I pressed call on Lily’s number.

“I already do.”

He was saved from my scathing reply when Lily answered the phone.

“Willow! Hi, are you okay, do you need me?” I felt worse than I already had for what I was about to lie about.

“Hi,” I started. Conscious of Caleb watching and listening, I turned my back. “I’m good,” I lied. Rolling my head from side to side, I stretched my neck, trying to loosen the knot of tension at the base of my skull. “I need a favor.”

“Anything, you know that.”

I startled when Caleb reached around and took the phone from me, pressing the speaker icon and holding the phone in his hand as he stood behind me. I could feel the heat from his body, his front almost touching my back. I quickly stepped away from him, turning to face him, and I saw how easily my reaction had amused him.

“Willow?” Lily’s voice snapped my attention back to the phone. “What’s the favor?”

“I need a car.” I hesitated when Caleb made a hand motion to suggest bigger. “A truck maybe?” He nodded. “I need to borrow a truck.”

“Um…why? You can’t drive.”

“I know, I have a…” I couldn’t sayfriendwhen it came to Caleb; the word would choke me first. He saw me struggle and rubbed his finger and thumb together. “Buyer. I have a buyer for some artwork. He?—”

“Oh my God, Willow, that’s amazing!”

Caleb winced at Lily’s shriek, and I couldn’t stop my smile. “Yeah, it’s really exciting.” The lie tasted like ash on my tongue. “But he’s?” Caleb nodded quickly, confirming the sex of mybuyer. “He’s not from here and wants to see the paintings and a few drawings and things first before he commits. So I said I would take them to him.”

“But you can’t drive! And I just started my new job!” Lily wailed, and Caleb was too slow to hide his smug look. He knew she couldn’t take me? How? He pointed to himself and then made a talking motion with his hand, pointing at the phone.

Asshole.

“I, well, um…” As I watched him, he raised an eyebrow, and I shook my head at his shit-eating grin. “I have someone who can help.”

“You do? Who?”

“Well…remember the guy?”

“Hotcakes?” Lily was shrieking again, and this time, it was me who winced.

“Caleb,” I stressed. “His name is Caleb.”

“Oh my God, is it like a date? Wait! Are you dating?How could you be dating and not tell me!” I knew my face was on fire, and Caleb was struggling to hide his amusement as Lily went on…and on. “Have you kissed him? Was it good? I bet it was good. I bet he knows what he’s doing.”

“Lily! Can youpleasestop?” I had to shout to be heard. When I had silence, I continued. “It isnota date. We have not kissed. It’s just that he knows the situation and offered to drive.”

Lily was now quiet for so long it was unsettling. “Lil?”

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