Page 51 of Fire Island
Em slides an arm around my shoulders and hugs me into his side. “He’ll come back, I promise,” he whispers.
I lean my head on his shoulder at the moment Cal glances back.
He takes in his best friend cozy with his live-in caregiver. God knows what’s going through his mind at the sight. I move out of Em’s hold, and he gives my shoulder a squeeze before removing his arm. We don’t want to create any new narratives in Cal’s head, and this one would be so far off the mark.
“Running to your standards, Cal?” Em says, rising and heading to the console.
“Fine,” he grunts, shifting on his feet.
“You know, you could say thanks for all the hard work and hours we poured into your old tub.” Em winks at him.
Cal’s face is stone as his jaw feathers. “Thanks.”
He returns his face to the water. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Callum McCreary is jealous of his best friend. Em shoots me a cheeky grin over his shoulder. He totally set us up.
Who’d have thought . . .
Fourteen
CALLUM
Iris meets us on the sidewalk by the café. Em drags the cap from his head, giving her his best smile. I see some things never change. She wraps me in a hug before taking Eve inside. Probably wants to quiz her on my every move. She won’t get much out of the woman. We’ve ate together most meals, but apart from that, we stay out of each other’s way.
“I have to head back to the watchhouse, Cal. But I’ll be back to take you to the appointment in an hour.”
“I can take my damn self, Em.”
“Sure, but humor us, will you? If anything happens to you, I don’t think those two wou—” He snaps his gazes away, cursing under his breath. “Iris would have my balls, bud. Just play nice, okay?”
“Whatever.” I wave goodbye and walk through the front door of the café. Iris and Eve sit at a table, heads together as I assumed they would be. “My ears are burning, Irry.”
She flips me off, not breaking her stride as she quizzes Eve on the last week.
I lift the lid to the muffin display case and snatch one up. Blueberry, my favorite.
I round the counter and mess with the coffee machine. Only because I know it gets under her skin. I have no idea how to work this fandangled thing. I’d probably break it before I get a cup of coffee out of the contraption. “Irry, your machine’s acting up.”
“Hold on,” she says to Eve, rising from her chair with a sigh. “You break that and I’ll have your hide, Callum. Step away.” She waves me off. Her fingers fly over the levers, gadgets, and buttons, and a moment later, the thing steams before dark, rich liquid pours from a tiny spout over the mug she placed under it.
“When it stops, add your cream. Then get out of my kitchen.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She narrows her eyes. “I know what you’re up to, and it won’t work.”
“No idea what you’re blithering about.”
She slaps my arm and returns to the table. Eve looks up from her phone as Iris settles in to talk some more. They chatter away, laughing as hand gestures fly with the escalating storytelling. I wander outside and leave them to it. Outside, I sit on the step. Sipping my hard-won coffee, I take in the marina. The small, quaint town I’ve lived, loved, and bled in my entire life.
With the hour up, Em arrives in his truck, and we head to the hospital for the scan. I’m in and out in under fifteen minutes, and the doctor is happy with the results. I’m free to go until the twelve-week checkup, as long as someone is with me.
Great. No escaping the pretty little twentysomething.
Sarcasm drips from my own syllables, like maple syrup seeping into my grey matter.
Huh.
Not getting attached, are we, McCreary?
