Page 34 of Paging Dr. Breakup
“Want some leftovers to take home?” Aggie said.
“No, I’m good, but thank you.”
Bruce pushed back from the table and stood, keeping his hand on the edge for a few seconds too long. “You still coming out tomorrow, son?”
Calvin nodded, but there was weariness in the lines of his shoulders. “I’m planning on it. We’ll get the garage repaired and prep for the roofing job later this spring.” His voice held a note of resignation she hadn’t heard before.
“You still know how to swing a hammer?”
He chuckled. “We’re going to find out soon enough, aren’t we?”
“Yep,” Bruce said. “Well, you two stay out of trouble.” Once a father, always a father.
After hugging Bruce and Aggie and exiting the house, Deirdre’s heart ached. In the cooler night breeze, she zipped up her coat. Once in the car and buckled in, she turned to Calvin. “Are we sure about this?”
His face was illuminated by the dashboard light. “That’s a super vague question with no definitive subject.”
“This”—she motioned toward him and patted her sternum—“this fake… us. Stringing your folks along. Giving hope.”
For a split second, he froze like she had slapped him. Then his brows slammed down. “You heard how much they’re prying and pushing. If we didn’t create a smokescreen, they’d be ten times worse. Never-ending questions. Concerns. Same with Maverick and everyone at work.” He put the car into gear and drove away from his parents’ home.
“I know. It’s just…”
“Too real?” Calvin’s exhale was harsh in the vehicle.
Too close.
A shiver worked through her in response. “Yes.”
He rested both hands on the wheel, sinews flexing beneath the skin. “What if we weren’t pretending?”
Her stomach clenched. Past and present smashed together in confusing and conflicting ways. If this was real, then she risked losing someone she cared about again. Calvin wasn’t staying in Yukon Valley. “I… don’t know. It seems like a bad idea.”
He drove back to her place in painful silence. At her house, he parked and jogged around, opening her door and again helping her from the car.
“You don’t have to do this,” she whispered.
“It needs to look good, right?” The hard edge to his words sent a shiver down her back.
Peeking around, she spied a few neighbors’ heads in windows, backlit. Once again, the lie felt wrong. Like she was using him. Lying to everyone.
Lying to herself.
“Let me walk you to the door.” His low voice cut through the cold night air. He kept his hand at her elbow, his grip firm but not painful. Just there. Helpful. Available.
She fumbled with the keys until the door opened. “Um.”
He leaned down until his breath feathered her cheek. “Appearances, right?”
“R-right.”
Tucking one finger under her chin, he tilted her face up. His face only an inch away made her heart stutter.
“Calvin?”
“Is this okay?”
She paused, thousands of thoughts whirling through her mind until they all settled on the man in front of her. “Yes.”
