Page 48 of In Good Company

After he insisted this morning that I teach him to cook, he left me alone for the most part. Every now and then, I’d hear his voice filtering out from his office as he took meeting after meeting, but he rarely came out. At one point, he even went to Pembroke for a couple of hours, but now he’s back, and it’s time for his cooking lesson.

I’m so nervous I could throw up.

“Take a deep breath,” Cal tells me from across the kitchen. I was nowhere near prepared to start recording myself, so I didn’t bring a tripod or any kind of fancy equipment to record with. He built a makeshift stand for my phone out of different things he found in his kitchen.

“I’m nervous,” I admit, giving him a shy smile. His tall frame hunches over the phone as he waits to press Record. Or maybe he’s already started recording. The thought makes my stomach drop.

Cal runs a hand through the hair at the top of his head. He’s wearing a cream-colored polo shirt and a pair of darkjeans. With him in the video, maybe I will actually get some views. No one will care about the cooking lesson—they’ll be too focused on how good he looks.

Or maybe that’s just me.

I should’ve fought him harder on teaching him to cook. With the setting sun outside and the candles he lit for video ambience, it’s feeling a little too romantic.

“Stop freaking out.” Cal’s words snap me out of my thoughts. When my eyes meet his, I find him watching me carefully. There’s a hint of a smile on his lips.

“I’m not freaking out,” I lie, wiping my hands down the front of my apron.

His laugh sends tingles down my spine. I don’t know how there can be an entire kitchen island between us and the man still manages to send shivers throughout my entire body. Despite agreeing this morning that we won’t kiss again, the tension is still there.

The sound of my vibrating phone fills the kitchen. Cal looks down at my screen. “It says it’s your mom calling. Do you want to take it?”

There’s a sinking feeling in my stomach as I nod. “Yeah, I probably need to take it real quick.”

Cal grabs my phone and reaches to hand it to me. My pulse spikes with anxiety as I take it and swipe to answer.

I turn and walk to the opposite side of the kitchen, trying to get as far away from Cal as possible.

“Is everything okay?”

My mom knows my work schedule pretty well at this point. I try to give it to her every week, when I know the days and times I’ll be working, so she can have an idea of when I might not be able to answer my phone in case of an emergency. The fact she’s called has my stomach in knots.

My mom takes a deep breath on the other line, only furtherfueling my nerves. “Yes, honey, it’s just that I’m at the pharmacy picking up your father’s prescription.” She pauses. There’s a rustling sound as she seems to say something to someone. I wait anxiously for her to keep talking. “Our insurance is getting denied again, and they’re telling me the only way I can get it tonight is to pay out of pocket. I’m so sorry to ask. I know you just sent money for the store’s rent, but is there any way you could?—”

“I’ll transfer the money,” I say, trying to keep my voice quiet so Cal doesn’t overhear. The last thing I need is for him to ask questions I’m not ready to give answers to.

I can picture my mother’s face so easily. I know the wrinkles between her brows are probably more pronounced than normal. Anytime she gets stressed, they deepen. And the stress in her shaky exhale is obvious on the other line. “I’m so sorry to ask, honey. You know I wouldn’t if I had another option.”

I nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. “It’s fine, Mom, I promise. I’ll get it sent right away.” Sometimes I feel guilty for taking this time to pursue my own dream. I’ve left my mom to deal with all of Dad’s stuff on her own, but I try to remind myself that the money I’m making this summer is far more than what we bring in at the store. Finishing up this job before returning home is the best thing for everyone. It allows me to earn enough money for us to have actual savings. “Are you sure? I can see if we have extra cash. I just?—”

“Mom, I’m going to transfer it immediately. It’ll be okay, promise. Just make sure you get a receipt so we have it for our records with the insurance.” I speak slowly and quietly, trying to not only calm my mom’s nerves but ensure that Cal doesn’t hear anything.

“I will,” Mom answers, the relief evident in her voice. “Thank you, Lu. I promise we’ll pay you back.”

I shake my head, even though she can’t see it. Guilt washesover me at the thought that she thinks I’d ever ask her or Dad to pay me back anything. They gave me time to follow my dream before coming home. The least I can do is give them some of my paychecks. “Tell Dad hi for me.” I try to keep my voice composed, but it’s hard. Emotion clogs my throat, making me sound more hoarse than normal. “I love you both,” I add, barely above a whisper.

“I will. We love you. I’m going to tell the pharmacist to go ahead and fill the medication now.”

“Bye, Mom.”

“Bye, honey,” she responds before hanging up the phone.

I stay there, facing away from Cal, for a few seconds to compose myself. I don’t know if he heard any of the conversation or not. I hope he didn’t, or if he did, he’ll pretend he didn’t.

With a loud exhale, I try to loosen my muscles. I still feel a little stiff as I turn to face Cal, but I plaster a smile on my face anyway.

He hasn’t moved, but his furrowed eyebrows and the intense way he keeps his eyes trained on me tell me enough. Even if he didn’t hear the extent of my conversation with my mom, he’s still worried. “Everything okay?” he asks, his voice low and sincere.

I try not to think too deeply about the concern written all over his face. It’s better if I think this tension between Cal and me is only physical. The last thing I need is to convince myself that he actually cares about me.

---