Page 28 of Caleb's Salvation
He moved around the front of the truck and I hopped into the passenger seat. Once we were on our way, I thought about setting some ground rules. Making sure he didn’t have any expectations about what tonight was. Only the words seemed to get stuck in my throat
Glancing at Ty, he wasn’t any smoother about the whole thing. He kept swallowing, which made his pronounced Adam’s apple move up and down. I knew this was the part where I was supposed to make small talk, but for the life of me, I could not come up with anything that didn’t sound totally stupid.
Since it was only a short ride to town that meant we hadn’t spoken a word before he was pulling up in front of Bud’s. I hopped out of the truck and headed for the door without waiting for Ty to catch up.
As soon as I opened the door, heads turned in my direction. Since I knew everyone in the place, I gave a little wave to everyone. I got some head nods, and hellos from the guys, but I also saw some checking me out, knowing that there was something different about me tonight, but not able to pinpoint it. Or maybe, they could. I wasn’t sure.
Ty came in behind me and pointed to an empty table. I took my coat off then tried to fuss with my hair the way Shelby had done it over my shoulders.
“This is strange,” I said. “Being here and not working.”
“Yeah,” Ty agreed. But he didn’t say anything after that. There was a “menu” on the table, which was just a sheet of paper letting everyone know what fish Bud was cooking as the special.
It’d been my idea. Figure out what the fresh catch was for the day, then run over to Gert’s, who had a computer and printer. She’d print out about twenty copies or so and I would set them on the table as an incentive to order food with their beer.
Which ultimately meant a bigger bill and better tips.
“I guess I’ll get us some beers,” Ty announced.
“Great,” I said, trying to be optimistic when already we were off to a pretty rocky start. Was it me? Was I giving off a vibe? Or maybe Ty was also realizing there was a difference between hanging out having a coffee and being on an actual date. Casually, I looked around the bar, but I didn’t see Caleb or any of the guys.
Then the door blew open and like a wave, they poured in. Eli, Jackson, Kate and behind her, Caleb. I didn’t know what to do with myself so I grabbed the menu and studied it like I hadn’t been the one to type it up.
They settled at their usual table across from where Ty and I were sitting. I forced myself not to look over at them. Inside, however, my stomach was in knots. What would he think? What if he didn’t care? What if he was actually relieved I was dating someone else?
“What are you doing, Vivienne?”
I startled as Caleb came up behind me. He took Ty’s seat and I could see him check out my hair and the button Shelby had undone at the top of my shirt. I’d stopped nursing Sam, but all of the sudden, I had that full, achy feeling back.
“What do you mean?”
He raised his eyebrow. His right one.
I lifted my chin a little defensively. “I’m on a date. With Ty.”
“A date,” he repeated.
“Yes, he asked me, and I said yes. Because it seemed no one else was going to do the asking.”
He looked away then and I knew I’d made my point. But he didn’t get up and leave. Wish me good luck or goodnight or anything of the things I would have thought he’d do. He just stared at me, so I stared back.
We might have stayed that way for hours if Ty hadn’t returned with our beers.
“Hey, Cal, what’s up?” Ty set a beer in front of me but kept his in his hand as if waiting for Cal to get up.
Cal looked at him, but he didn’t move.
“Hate to tell you, Vivy’s not working to night.”
“Her name is Vivienne,” he growled at Ty.
How did he know I hated that nickname? It didn’t matter. I’d made my point. Now it was time for him to leave us to our date so that he could go stew about it.
“Caleb just wanted to come over and say hi,” I said, giving him a pointed stare to let him know he’d worn out his welcome.
I could hear the scrape of the chair as he pushed away from the table. Then he stood, slowly almost reluctantly. He only had about two inches on Ty but the difference between them stood out in so much contrast. Caleb was powerful to Ty’s lean frame, making Ty look even younger than I knew he was.
“Have a good…night,” he said, between clenched teeth.
