Page 89 of Holiday Star
“Ask me out,” I demand, my chin lifted in challenge.
He blinks and shakes his head like he’s heard me wrong. “Wh—what?”
I push my index finger against his chest, poking him hard enough to set his tall frame swaying. “I said, Ask. Me. Out.” I glare up at him. When he still looks confused, I clarify, “like on a date.”
That snaps him out of it. “Oh!” he exclaims. “Oh! I see.” He gathers himself together. With a glint of humor in his eyes, he relaxes back onto his heels. Overly dramatic, he clears his throat and lowers his eyebrows. In an unnaturally deep voice, he says, “Dr. Gwen Wright. Will you do me the honor of going on a date with me?”
I huff, annoyed that he’s not taking this seriously even though I’ve waited days to tell him, even though I’m nervous as hell, not sure if this is the right thing to do. “Well, if that’s how you’re going to ask me, the answer is no.”
Spinning on my heel, I lunge for the stairs, but Caleb catches my elbow and drags me back, laughing so hard his eyes water. “Wait! Wait. I’m sorry. I was just so stunned. After all this time, I’d almost given up hope that you’d ever say those words. I’ve been wanting to ask but promised myself not to rush you.”
Mad, and a little embarrassed, I cross my arms over my chest, petulant like a child.
Caleb is still chuckling as he reels me into his body. He envelops me in a hug, surrounding me with his familiar cinnamon scent. At first, I stay stiff and unyielding, but slowly his warmth melts away all my bad feelings, leaving a sense of relief to be there in his arms. I sigh and snuggle closer.
Caleb’s sigh matches mine as he buries his nose in my hair and inhales deeply. “I missed how you smell, like strawberry sunshine.” His grip on me tightens. “Will youpleaselet me take you out? I’ve been wanting to for so long.”
I nod, liking the way his stubble scratches against my scalp with the movement. “This doesn’t mean we’re getting back together,” I warn. “I still haven’t gotten over everything. This is more like a test…a chance to see if we can merge our worlds a little better.” Hastily, I add, “Also, you have to meet me here, at my place.”
“I’ll meet you anywhere you want.” He pulls away to stare at me, his aqua eyes deep enough to drown in. His expression solemn, Caleb speaks slowly, like he wants to make sure I absorb each word. He says, “As long as you are there, that’s where I’ll go.”
60
Phase two of my plan requires some help from Alvina and Wayne, but they are quick to pitch in and deliver on my requests.
That Sunday morning, Caleb rings the bell from my apartment lobby. I buzz him in and wait nervously, chewing on my bottom lip. Glancing around my small studio, I wonder what he will think of it.
Everything is in one room. My queen bed, nightstand, loveseat couch, and old bulky TV. Beyond that is my tiny kitchen with its undersized refrigerator and two-burner stove. I’ve paired a round bistro table with a couple of mismatched chairs.
My place is a far cry from whatever luxury penthouse Caleb no doubt lives in. I don’t worry about it too much, though. He’s never struck me as the snooty type.
At his knock, I open the door and almost fall over. Caleb wears a pair of tight dark washed jeans that cling to every muscular bulge of his legs. He’s got on a form-fitting gray shirt that I recognize because I helped him wash it in my mother’s laundry room about a hundred times.
The sight of that shirt brings back so many memories. How it felt to pull it over his head. How it looked tangled with my clothing on the bedroom floor.
Recently, he’s been wearing a baseball cap, pulled down low, to limit how much of his face the reporters can see. But today, he wears no hat. His hair shines brightly, the sun coming in through the window highlighting its subtle wave.
He’s perfect. Utterly beautifully perfect. It makes me catch my breath, and the craziest part of it all is that he’s looking at me the way I’m looking at him. LikeI’mthe miracle, the one he can’t quite believe exists.
A bashful “Hello” and that tender smile he made for me as he walks into the room.
There’s a flash of tan fur at my feet, followed by loud barking. Pip runs in circles around Caleb’s legs, yipping happily.
“Pip!” Caleb exclaims with a joyous grin. He reaches down to pick up the tiny dog. Once she’s in his arms, Pip covers his chin with slobbery dog kisses while Caleb laughs loudly, the sound ringing like a bell through my small space.
Pip shoots a big doggie smile over to me, clearly thrilled to see Caleb. In response, I narrow my eyes at her.
Traitor dog.
I’m trying to hold on to my anger at Caleb, but it’s getting slippery. Its twisted red knots are fraying in my hands and in my heart. Another thread unravels as I watch them together. Caleb and Pip. Friends reunited.
After Caleb finally lowers Pip to the floor and gives her one last petting, he rises and then stills, realizing we aren’t alone. He sends me a questioning glance. “Um. You didn’t mention this is a double date?”
I laugh, not recognizing myself in that moment. How light and airy that sound is. It’s been a long time since I laughed like that.
“It’s not a double date, silly. This is Jacob, who works in the special effects department of the Empire Theater and knows Wayne.” A burly Asian man holds up a hand in greeting.
“And this is Joal, Alvina’s cousin. She does make-up, mostly for weddings, but she can do it for anything.” I point to a woman who looks like a skinner version of Alvina.
