Dinner with the Callahans was nothing like the ones Fritz and I had growing up. We had fancy tablecloths and extra silverware. There were always guests and proper dinner conversation. We took turns speaking, and we had to ask to be dismissed from the table.
The Callahans were loud and messy, and it was beautiful. Christopher’s mom would talk over their dad, and Kayla would interrupt with something absolutely off topic. They each played a different role within their familial unit and seeing them all together made me miss my parents.
They weren’t neglectful or anything, but they lived abroad and traveled all around the world, often too busy to visit. That’s how my upbringing was until high school. Traveling and never being in one place too long. Seeing Christopher smile at his mom or joke around with his dad—even though he was frustrated with his dad’s behavior—just showed how much love the man had for his family. He wouldn’t let his mom carry anything to the table from the kitchen, and his manners just made him sexier.
“My little girl…a teacher like her brother. Isn’t that something?” their dad, Curt, said, patting Kayla’s hand a few times before going back to their pizza. He was built like Christopher, strong and lean, and had graying dark hair that fell over his forehead. His smile was a lot like his son’s, tight but lit up his face.
I also learned pizza was the go-to celebratory dish at their house. Specifically, pineapple and ham, which weirded me out because pineapple on pizza was weird. It was a fruit. Fruit did not belong on pizza, but whatever. I didn’t judge. Not when our family was over the top in our celebrations. We had lobster at ours, usually with some imported wine from France too. But having cheap beer and pizza seemed so much more special.
“I don’t know if I want to teach first grade though. The kids seem messy.” She cringed, giving us an apologetic look, making Christopher and me laugh.
“What grade would you want? Do you have a preference? I could talk to our boss to see about you observing a few classrooms at each level to see what you like best,” I said, taking a long swig of the beer. “I had no idea I wanted first until I student taught second grade and realized yeah, that wasn’t the level for me.”
“That would be amazing!” she gushed, her young face bursting with ideas and potential.
I loved how excited she was. The scholarship wasn’t enough money to pay for a year of school or anything, but it was a starting block.
“Gilly is the reason she even got this grant,” Christopher said, putting his arm around me and scooting his chair closer to mine. “She’s the treasurer for the program and works with the junior high and high school on getting donations.”
“Thank you, Gilly. We cannot tell you how much this means to us,” his mom, Carrie, said, her gaze moving to where his hand rested on my shoulder.
He didn’t introduce me as his girlfriend, but he made it obvious we were together. Her light blue eyes were so similar to Christopher’s. It was quite clear he was a replica of both his parents. He had his mom’s thick brown hair and eyes, but his dad’s build.
“Oh please, this was all Kayla. I heard fifteen students applied for it. Your application and letter of recommendation must have been impressive.”
Kayla burst into a smile again, and I felt her joy in my bones. “This is the coolest, honestly. I didn’t think I’d actually get it, you know? I can’t believe there is like a whole lunch for it, too this weekend.”
“I know! I love how they make a big deal out of it. It’s impressive, and you deserve all the food they’ll provide,” I said, looking forward to the luncheon the high school ran that Saturday. All the sponsors helped out to make it run smoothly, and while I enjoyed seeing students get recognized for their hard work, it would be more special knowing Kayla won.
A brief silence came over the table, and we all took a few bites to finish the food. It amazed me to see their dynamic—how Christopher doted on his sister and mom and obviously loved his dad, but there was tension.
The money. The con man.
I wondered about that night we were together and he’d suspected I stole from him. He never said if the money turned up, and I made a mental note to ask him about it. I finished the beer and looked up to see his mom staring at me with a half-smile on her face. I grinned back, hoping it didn’t come across weird because his mom was totally sizing me up.
Was I good enough for her son? I hoped so. It had been years since I met a guy’s family, and the butterflies made me feel like Kayla. A high school girl meeting her teenaged boyfriend’s parents before a dance. Sweat dripped down my back and pooled just above the waistline of my dress, and I shifted in my seat.
“So, Gilly, Christopher seems quite fond of you.”
“Mom, stop it,” he said, the tips of his ears getting red. “I told you, none of this. That was the deal. I’d invite her over, but you don’t say a word.”
Kayla giggled and rested her chin on her hands, watching us like a tennis match.
I winked at her before leaning into Christopher’s side. “Aw, you’re blushing. How adorable. You’re fond of me, huh?”
His gaze sliced to me, but amusement circled around those mesmerizing eyes. “You damn well know how I feel.”
“Well, would you enlighten us about it? It seems Kayla knew all about her, yet I know nothing,” his mom said, making it really dramatic and elongating her words. “Sorry, dear, my son just thinks that being an adult means he doesn’t have to share things with me.”
“No, that’s totally fine. I like it when he’s off-balance. He’s too in control at work, so I like when he’s flustered. Makes me feel more normal.”
Everyone snorted at that, and his mom’s eyes warmed. “You work right next to each other? So, this has been going on since the beginning of the year?”
“Not exactly,” I said, smirking as Christopher’s thigh tensed against mine. “We were enemies at first.”
“Wait, is my brother the guy you were telling me about that day?” Kayla asked, her eyes big and wide as she stared back and forth between Christopher and me. “No way!”
“Yup. Sure was.”
Christopher groaned and finished his beer before running a hand over his eyes. “Okay, we’re leaving. We came here to celebrate Kayla’s accomplishment, not embarrass me and talk about feelings.”
“Oh, but it’s so fun,” I said, pulling his shirt when he tried to get up. He let me pull him back down because he was obviously larger and stronger than me, and my stomach swooped like I went upside down on a roller coaster when he kissed me right there, at the table, in front of his family.
That was a message.
I blinked at him, something like love dancing along my skin at his attention and sweetness. It was exhilarating and terrifying to feel my body being attuned to it.
He sat back down with a loud sigh and kept his hand on the back of my chair. “Thirty more minutes. That’s it and no grilling her, please.”
They followed his wish, and the rest of the time was spent chatting about Kayla’s senior year and how they liked living in the house. I told them all about their neighbors, my best friends, and their dad knew who Brock was and was a huge fan. I might’ve led him to believe Brock was really friendly. I snickered to myself, already imagining him getting grumpy.
“Ready to head out?” Christopher said, hugging both his parents and sister before coming to stand next to me. “I have to finish reading my book tonight.”
“Like you have homework,” Kayla scoffed, rolling her eyes and leaning in to give me a side hug.
“We have a book club. You should try it sometime. Might learn something, kid,” he said, high-fiving her with a grin. “Seriously, congrats again. You deserve it. Can’t wait for the ceremony.”
She smiled and looked at me. “I get the check next week. I appreciate not waiting until the end of the year because it could help pay for the college application fees. It’s stupid that they charge just for an application. Don’t they get enough money?”
I cringed at the truth to her words. This wasn’t an issue I even knew about or thought about, yet it was very real for a lot of students. “So glad you got it, Kayla. Happy for you.”
“Thank you, Ms. Carter.” She smiled at me before pulling out her phone and walking away without a glance. It made me laugh. Kids were still kids, no matter the age. They could be talking to an adult one second and technology or something more exciting pulling their attention the next second.
Christopher put his hand at my lower back as we said good-bye to his parents and walked outside. It was just after eight, and the evening had already begun. Fall would be here soon, and that meant scarves and pumpkins and bonfires. I smiled up into the air, taking a deep breath at the fresh scents.
“That wasn’t so bad, right?” he asked, giving me a weird look when I opened my eyes and smiled at him. “Are you smelling the air?”
“Yes. It almost smells like fall. It’s my favorite.”
He shook his head, pulling me up against his chest and hugging me. My body warmed at how close we were. I reached up to run my fingers through his hair. He trembled a bit, and I made up my mind then and there.
I was telling him this weekend. Before this got deeper.
“Any way I can convince you to come to my place tonight?” he asked, his voice deep and sweet and so tempting.
I shook my head. “I need to see my brother. We haven’t caught up in weeks, and that thing I was telling you about? It’s not cleared up.”
He frowned and nodded in understanding. “Yeah, you better take care of that. I know it’s bothering you.”
“But this weekend…” I said, waiting for him to make the move. He did, and I sighed when his lips touched mine. It was a polite kiss, but it wasn’t enough. It didn’t matter that we were outside his parents’ house and that they could be watching. He tasted like beer when his warm mouth parted, and I took advantage and kissed him hard.
He groaned into my mouth and clung to me harder, like he couldn’t get close enough to me, and my body hummed with emotion, for him. He pulled back, breathless, and let out a strangled breath. “Okay, don’t kiss me like that and leave me alone. Not fair.”
“Didn’t mean to go that far,” I said, wiping the back of my hand over my mouth. “Damn. You tasted good, and kissing you makes me forget to think.”
He hummed in response and pulled me in for a tight hug. “Go talk to your brother. I’ll see you tomorrow, and I swear, you better not have plans tomorrow night.”
“Not even with you?”
“That’s my girl.” He patted my ass and watched as I got into my car. My body felt heavy with dread, and I wished I could hold on to this joy for a few minutes longer. Putting on the radio, I made my way toward Fritz’s place, chewing my lip to the point it stung.
But when I got there, I thought I might throw up that pizza and beer.
Gilly: I’m outside Fritz’s place. I can’t do it.
Grace: You don’t have a choice. Get it over with.
Gilly: I might be halfway in love with Christopher. The truth could make them both hate me.
Gilly: I’m shaking.
My phone buzzed, and I answered it, almost on the verge of tears. “Hey.”
“Fritz will be furious with you, but it won’t last. You keeping this from him and he finds out another way…that is what you’re avoiding. Don’t back out. I know he has this new girl, but we both know it’s a rebound. That man thinks love is a joke now.”
“It could ruin our relationship.”
“You already are by lying,” she said, her voice curt and unhappy. “Call me when it’s over, but Gil, this is me playing the best friend card. Suck it up. You did it—you tell him the truth.”
“Right,” I said, my throat throbbing from the nerves. “Okay. Okay, I can do this.”
“I love you, no matter what. Now stop stalling.” She hung up, and I called my brother.
“Gilbert, what’s up?”
“You home?”
“Almost. Why?”
“I’m outside your place. I need to talk to you about something, in person.” I cleared my throat, and I swore I heard him suck in a breath. “Everything is fine…just…how soon?”
“Ten minutes. What’s going on?”
“We’ll talk when you get here. It’s about…Samantha.”
“Not making me want to drive faster.”
“Please, Fritz. This is important.”
“Okay, be there soon.” He hung up, leaving me with ten awful minutes to fill my time.
I scrolled through my phone and checked work emails, replying to the NHS sponsor for the high school, saying I’d deposit the money that I collected tomorrow so it could go to the winner. Thinking about Kayla and her smile made me feel a little better. Not a lot though. Headlights appeared on the street, and I gripped the wheel a few times before getting out and leaning against my car door.
Fritz parked his Beemer, got out of the car with his tie loosened, and narrowed his eyes at me. “Okay, what is it?”
“Let’s talk inside?”
“You’re freaking me the fuck out, but fine.” He rushed to get the door open to his place, and once he shut it, he crossed his arms and stared me down with the same intensity he did to anyone who messed with us.
He just didn’t know it was me who screwed up this time.
“What did that woman do?”
“It’s…about me, actually.” I twisted my fingers together as every part of my body told me to lie, to avoid this, but I couldn’t. “I’m the reason she left you.”
“How do you figure?”
“Because I paid her ten thousand dollars.”