Page 13 of Callahan's Haven

“Yeah,” he answered—his voice strained.

“Yourgirl is fine. I like her.”

“Who said she was my girl?” He let out a huff. “She’s just little and I don’t like bullies.”

Solace sighed as she disappeared into the house. “If you say so.”

Cal paused and did a final sweep of the area while Garrett grumbled about women and jumping to conclusions. He was good to go. The van was less than five minutes away, so he hoofed it down the hill to the point where he could make his way back to where it was parked. The Colonel had said his daughter could take care of herself, and he hadn’t been kidding. So…

He faltered in his steps. Maybe she wasn’t so delicate after all.

And there he went getting hard again. He adjusted himself and kept walking.

5

“Hope,as your friend, I’m not letting you go out like that.”

Haven sat on the edge of her bed and grinned at Destiny complaining outside her open doorway in the three-bedroom dorm suite they shared with Hope. She pulled on her Mukluks and stuffed the bottoms of her jeans down inside the calf-high faux fur cuffs before standing up and grabbing her belt.

“I like them,” Hope could be heard saying from her room. “They match my dress.”

“Right. You’re wearing adress.” Destiny put one fist on her hip and gestured with the other holding her spike-heeled leather boots. “With tennis shoes.”

Ah, the great shoe debate. Not everyone was as comfortable in five-inch heels as Destiny, especially Hope who didn’t want to add any additional inches to her five-foot-eleven height. Destiny caught Haven’s gaze, her dark brown eyes with flecks of gold flashing their irritation. “Help me out here.”

“Leave me out of it,” Haven said, shaking her head and snickering when Destiny cast a disgusted look at her own footwear.

“What am I saying?” Destiny said with a grimace. “You’re just as bad.”

Haven ran her belt through the loops of her jeans while walking over to Destiny in the hallway where the doors to their three rooms converged. She peeked into Hope’s middle room to find her other friend dressed in a sleeveless paisley corduroy dress with a purple long-sleeved turtleneck underneath and a pair of purple sneakers. Her waist-length, wavy hair was twisted up in a hair clip.

“Awww… You look cute.”

Hope grinned at her and did a little pirouette. “I thought so.” Hope turned, picked up her heavy jacket and book bag off the bed, and then left her room. She walked past Destiny and Haven, going down the hallway toward their combination kitchen, dining, and living area.

“Come on,” Destiny cajoled, following after, with Haven taking up the rear of their small entourage while tightening her belt, “at least wear a pair of pumps.”

Hope shook her head. “I refuse to tower over my Historical Foundations instructor.” She set her book bag down to put on her jacket. “He gives me the stink eye when he has to look up at me. Besides, it’s what I’m expected to wear. Kindergarten teachers should look casual and approachable.” Hope lifted one foot out in front of her and moved it back and forth. “You know what?” She smiled over at Destiny while giving a covert wink at Haven, her bright green eyes twinkling with mischief. “I think I’m going to get a pair of these in every color.”

Destiny groaned and pulled out a chair from their small dinette set and sat down hard. “Why do I even try?” She took her time putting on her boots and gave Haven and Hope a broad smile after she’d zipped them up. “Now these,” she said, sticking her feet out in front of her—her cheeks flushing in pleasure, “these are what I call appropriate footwear.” She stood up and adjusted her skirt. Haven’s diminutive friend was all of five foot—almost—and just managed to meet Haven eye to eye in all of her shoes of choice.

The woman didn’t own a pair of flats.

“I’d twist an ankle in those and have farther to fall than you do,” Hope said, giving a wary glance at Destiny’s feet.

“Yes, but you’d look fabulous on the way down.” Destiny laughed and grabbed the matching jacket to her boots, and then slipped it on over her slightly curved frame.

Haven glanced at the clock. The three of them still had a few minutes before needing to leave. Monday morning classes always seemed to be the hardest to get themselves out the door for, and most of the time they waited until the last second. It was also a colder morning than usual and they’d already discussed how they weren’t looking forward to going outside.

“Anyone want coffee to take with?” Haven went over to their kitchen and turned on the Keurig.

“Not me,” Hope said, heading to the door. “I think I’m going to make tracks. Dr. Shortstuff likes us there early. Says it shows a good work ethic.” Haven grinned over at Hope’s grimacing face. “But if you ask me, I think he’s there early because his mom throws him out of her basement.”

Haven and Destiny laughed at Hope’s wide-eyed expression.

“I did not mean to say that. I’vegotto start watching my mouth.” She let out a nervous laugh. “Anyhow, gotta go. Love you guys,” she said, giving Destiny a head nod and what Haven could only describe as a meaningful look before walking out the door and shutting it behind her.

Haven put a pod in the coffee maker, placed a small to-go cup under the dispenser, and then glanced at Destiny who had come up beside her. “You want this one?”

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