Page 55 of Thanks for the Friendship
Gabby looks outside and shakes her head.
My heart starts to pound inside my chest.
They could be anywhere, but I’m trying not to jump to any more conclusions. It wouldn’t shock me if they’re just wandering around, taking their own tour of the house since Sara is still determined to move in here. And would they actually do something with all of us here? Suddenly I’m reminded that Theo said he wouldn’t trust AJ around his girlfriend. A knot is rapidly forming in the pit of my stomach.
Most of the living space including the kitchen is in the middle of the house. The bedrooms are all nestled in opposite corners with their own bathrooms. The floor plan is brilliant, and a seller’s dream come true.
I’m just about to go look for them when Cal walks into the kitchen. “Do you two need any help?”
Holy crap, this is awkward.
“I think we’re good,” Gabby says, holding up both her thumbs. I know she’s trying to diffuse the situation. “Everything is almost ready.”
“We just need to round everyone up in a few minutes,” I tell him. For some reason I can’t take my eyes off him. Cal Sims is back in my kitchen after all these years, and we’re no longer teenagers. This is real life—and real life is messy.
“Where’s Sara?” I ask.
Cal furrows his eyebrows, and I almost see the wheels turning in his head.
Without a word, he takes off to find her. Gabby gives me a look, and I grit my teeth. What type of people have the nerve to sneak off and hook up at a dinner party—with Cal here? Not even two seconds later, AJ and Sara return to the kitchen.
“I might have to consider buying this house,” AJ exclaims.
“We just took a little tour,” Sara adds. “But I told him I have first dibs.”
Sara’s face is flushed, but AJ seems as relaxed as ever. Is it possible they were just checking out the house? Sure. Do I believe that was it? Nope.
I few seconds later, Cal returns. He’s visibly upset, but he doesn’t say anything. The rest of the guests join us in the kitchen, completely oblivious that anything is off.
“Help yourself,” I announce. “We’ll be eating in my mother’s formal dining room which I think has been used ten times in my entire life.”
Didn’t everyone have one of these rooms in their childhood home? Our guests continue chatting as they dig in. Cal hangs back, sipping his wine, a vacant look in his eyes. There’s a part of me that wants to rush to be by his side, but I wait.
After everyone else heads to the dining room, I pick up a plate and hand it to him.
“Are you hungry?”
He shakes his head.
“Not even for one of your mother’s famous orange rolls?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ve already had three, but don’t tell anyone.”
He musters up a faint smile.
I wish there was something I could say, but there’s nothing. I certainly don’t know if something just happened with Sara and AJ, but I have a feeling Cal does. I can’t imagine how he’s feeling. Theo said he and Sara were having issues, and in the back of my mind I keep wondering if there’s a reason he hasn’t proposed to her yet.
“You should get back to your guests,” he says softly. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Okay.” I hesitate. I put some food on my plate and head to my mother’s barely used dining room. Gabby and Reagan both give me curious looks as soon as I walk in.
“How is everything?” I ask as I sit down.
“Where’s Cal?” Sara asks, holding up her wine glass.
Why do you care?
“He said he’d be in here in a minute.”
All of a sudden the front door slams. Sara turns white as a ghost.
