Page 66 of Just Add Friendship

Okay, so he did mind. But he wasn’t going to push her. He wasn’t interested in becoming ghosted again.

It had been a week since the barbecue and a week since he’d seen her in person. But she’d been texting him regular updates on Pops, and a few times they texted about other things. Today, though, it was Cal’s turn to watch over Pops while Steph spent a half day working, then the afternoon wedding dress shopping with Everly.

He hoped Steph would let herself have fun and not worry about anything. Strangely, he was also looking forward to hanging out with the old man. It seemed to fill a void he’d had with his dad, and he’d never known either of his grandparents.

The weather should be warm enough to hang out at the park and have lunch there. Cal wanted to get Pops outside for a bit. A change of scenery and pace.

He left Grandin extra early so he could stop and pick up breakfast for everyone. He’d text Steph right before so that she didn’t have time to protest. As he drove, his thoughts drifted to Aunt Rachel. He’d told her he’d be in town, but she was working this weekend and didn’t need help with anything.

Cal decided he liked being needed, which was probably why he was always offering to help Steph and her grandpa. Living on his own and not having much family had made his world feel very small sometimes. But there was more … much more involving his feelings for Steph. He hadn’t forgotten a thing about her in ten years, and he didn’t want to be apart from her for even a few days. So the past week had been pretty much torture.

Once Cal arrived at Steph’s home, he parked on the street and headed to the front door, bag of food in hand.

When Steph answered the door, she said, “You didn’t have to bring breakfast,” but she was smiling.

She was wearing a nut-brown dress that set off her red hair and made her blue eyes brilliant. She moved from the doorway, and he stepped inside. Pops was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is he?”

“Sleeping in,” Steph said. “I checked on him a few minutes ago, and he’s sawing away at a bunch of logs.”

Cal chuckled. “Good for him. All that physical therapy this week must have worn him out. I’ll take it easy on him today.”

She touched his arm and stopped him before he could head into the kitchen. “Thanks again for coming, Cal. I think you’re the one who Pops needs to take it easy on. Don’t let him boss you around into doing chores.”

Cal met her gaze. “Let me worry about that. You go ahead and enjoy your day.”

She bit her lip, and he was almost positive she was going to say something more, but instead, she moved into the kitchen. “Breakfast smells good, what did you get?”

“Pancakes and hashbrowns. Also a fruit bowl.”

Steph opened a cupboard and pulled down plates. “Sounds yummy. I packed a bagel since I don’t get hungry this early in the morning.”

“There will probably be leftovers if you want them later.”

“That sounds good.”

He watched her bring utensils to the table as he unloaded the food. “Everything all right?”

She paused. “Sure, why do you ask?”

He slipped his hands into his pockets. “You seem … I don’t know. Like something’s bothering you.”

Her gaze assessed him. “I’m fine, but I guess I’m kind of jealous of Pops getting to spend the day with you. And not me.”

Cal lifted his brows. “Really?”

She shrugged. “Really.” She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you smiling?”

“I think that’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.” He moved around the table to where she stood. “I could crash at Rachel’s, and we could hang out tomorrow.”

“Don’t you have a job and a life to get back to?”

Cal smirked. “I have all of that, but I also have my priorities.”

Steph set a hand on her hip. “I told you, no flirting.”

“I’m speaking the truth, Bee,” he said in a low voice. “How you choose to take it is on you, not me.” Cal wanted to pull her close, lean in, and really flirt. Which of course included kissing.

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