Page 39 of Running Into You
“I like him.” She smiles and I roll my eyes.
“Everyone does. It’s kind of his thing.” The guy had more charisma than any one person should. “I’m not going to tell him that you like him after one brief introduction, it’ll go straight to his head and the last thing he needs is an ego boost.” I grin at her.
“I also talked to him when I ran into him last weekend in the park,” she says.
“Really?” Neither of them had mentioned that to me. “Did he flirt with you?” I say joking but also not.
“No, he couldn’t take his eyes off of Maggie though.” She wiggles her eyebrows, and from the expression on her face, wished she hadn’t. She’s so hungover.
“Her boyfriend better watch out,” I say, shaking my head. “Girls in relationships don’t often stay in relationships when Callum is around.”
“If only,” she mutters, rubbing her temples. “Tell him I say, hi.”
“I had better get going,” I say, not wanting to leave.
“I had better get dying.” She rolls over and snuggles into her blanket. I get up and kiss the top of her head before walking to the door. “Thank you for taking care of me, Josh,” she says, looking over her shoulder at me as I leave.
“Always,” I say, almost scared by how much I mean it.
Chapter 23
Josh
Callum had texted me to be at Bleacher Bar at eight and it’s a few minutes past when I get there. There wasn’t a home game at Fenway today, and even though it’s still busy, it could be much worse. I spot his blond head in a corner at a small table and head in his direction. He’s chatting up a waitress and when she walks back to the bar, she’s beaming.
“Did you have a reservation? Or did you score a table on charm alone?” I ask sitting down opposite him.
“What do you think?” He chuckles, leaning back in his chair, completely at ease. “I saw you coming and ordered a pitcher.”
“So chivalrous.”
“I thought so,” he says with a lazy smile.
I take in our dimly lit surroundings and spot a table of women openly staring at my friend. If he’s noticed, he doesn’t let on. He’s used to the attention. I’m sure some of it is due to his looks. He could pass for a former boy band member, with his wavy hair and dimples. But I think what people are actually drawn to is his personality. He has a way of making whoever he’s talking to feel like they’re the very person he wanted to see.
Within minutes of being there, I’m more serene than I have been in weeks. Callum has that effect on people. He’s so relaxed that he relaxes everyone around him. I’ve seen him diffuse a number of hostile situations without breaking a sweat. It came in handy back in college when guys who’d drunk too much suddenly felt the need to let their testosterone take the wheel.
It was no surprise to anyone who knew him when he’d majored in business and even less of a surprise when he’d done very well for himself. He’s got a mind built for innovation and the ability to sell to anyone without breaking a sweat. He’d built and sold two very successful start-ups by the time he was twenty five. He’s currently in-between projects, waiting for the next thing to spark his interest. I’m filling him in on my new job when our beer arrives, along with a large plate of nachos. The server actually touches his shoulder when she tells him to let her know if he needs anything.
“Did you order these?” I ask after she’s left the table.
“No, I did not.” He shrugs, pouring beer into a glass and handing it to me.
“It’s great to be your friend sometimes,” I admit, raising my glass to his.
“I think you meant to say, ‘all the time.’” He grins, digging into the food. We spend the next hour eating, drinking, and catching up. The cold beer goes down easily and after two pints, I’ve got a pretty good buzz. I didn’t eat that much today and I’m grateful for the complementary greasy food.
I wonder if Betty has made it off the couch yet. She looked adorable when I left her, wrapped up in her blanket like a burrito. The urge to text her is strong, but I resist it.
My phone buzzes on the table as if it knew I was thinking about it, but the text is from my mom, not Betty. She’s sent me a selfie of herself and Rilla eating ice cream. I can tell from the background that they’re sitting on the loveseat in my parent’s living room. Rilla’s over-the-top screwed-up expression next to my mom’s sweet pose makes me smile.
“Who’s that look for?” Callum asks, trying to get a look at my phone. I turn the screen to him, showing him the picture.
“Aww. Nancy’s looking great. How is she?” Callum asks with a smirk. “Does she still ask about me?”
“She’s great. And no, you haven’t come up.” Callum had met my mom once when she came to visit me at school. She told him he was the loveliest young man she’s ever met, and he hasn’t let me forget it.
“I don’t believe you.” He grins and finishes his beer. He takes his time pouring his next one before asking his next question. “Talked to Eleanor lately?”
