The concern was back in her eyes as she tilted her head to the side. “Do you ever get tired of it?”
“Tired of what?”
“People trying to set you up all the time. It seems like it would be…exhausting.”
It was. Sometimes.
“I heard you met Frankie.”
Caleb’s mind went blank. Usually, he was great with names and faces. He counted himself lucky, considering those were great tools to have in his toolbox in his profession. His mind was flipping through a mental Rolodex and coming up with nothing about who Audrey was referring to.
“Mrs. Costas’ granddaughter.”
“Oh, right. Yes, I did.”
“She stopped in for some coffee this morning and mentioned her grandma made up some story about her dishwasher needing fixing to lure you over to her house less than two hours after she got to town.”
“She did,” he confirmed.
“And last week the thing with Barbara-Jean Meyers and her granddaughter.”
“What thing?” Caleb had no clue what Audrey was talking about.
“Oh, sorry, I figured Josh would have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“Barbara-Jean let out the air in her granddaughter Missy’s rear tires after choir practice so she could play the role of damsel in distress and you could be her knight in shining armor coming to her rescue to save her or at least give her a ride home.”
“This is the first I’m hearing about it.” Caleb didn’t notice any vehicles in the parking lot after choir practice last week.
“I know. That’s because Josh unintentionally foiled their plans. He happened to be driving by, saw the tires, knew it was Missy’s car, and fixed them for her so she didn’t come out of choir practice to two flats. He was trying to do a good deed. He left a note on her car, letting her know what he’d done and telling her to be careful where she parked because someone had tampered with her car. Josh forgot about it until he heard Petey had been at JT’s running his mouth, saying Barbara-Jean was making his life miserable at home because Josh screwed everything up trying to be a hero and that if Josh wasn’t Angelo’s kid, he would introduce him to Rocky and Apollo.”
“Rocky and Apollo?” he repeated.
Audrey made fists, then lifted them up one at a time. “Rocky and Apollo are his left and right hooks.”
“Of course they are.” Caleb’s tone was laced with sarcasm.
Audrey’s phone rang, and she pulled it out of her purse. When she saw the screen, the smile that spread on her face told him exactly who was calling.
“Tell Josh I owe him one.” Caleb stepped around Audrey, who crossed the street as she answered the phone.
Caleb was only a few steps past her when he heard her say, “How can you miss me? You saw me two hours ago.”
Josh was surprising Caleb in the best possible way. He’d never pegged his friend as being a secret romantic, but Audrey really brought out that side in him.
Caleb made it to Sue Ann’s without any other interruptions. He stepped beneath the black and white striped awning that covered the entrance, and as he reached for the door, he noticed what he thought was a tremble in his hand. He held it out flat, his fingers splayed, and sure enough it was. Whether it was nerves or adrenaline, he wasn’t sure. One thing he knew it wasn’t from was caffeine. Even though he hadn’t slept at all last night, he hadn’t touched his coffee maker this morning. He didn’t need to.
He took just one moment to recognize the significance of what was about to happen. He had a gut feeling he was walking into Sue Ann’s with one version of his life, and he was going to be walking out with another. After taking a deep breath, he pulled the glass door open and stepped inside. He was hit with the heady mixture of freshly brewed coffee, sweet syrup, caramelizing onions, and something fried. A classic diner soundtrack—plates clinking, silverware scraping, low hum of morning conversation—wrapped him in instant nostalgia, even as a pang of regret settled in his chest for choosing this place.
The dining room was near capacity, with only a few scattered tables that weren’t occupied. He knew it was his own paranoia, but it felt like every eye turned his way. He’d grown up with thisplace being like a second home, but right now he felt exposed, vulnerable.
Caleb suggested meeting at the café for two reasons: one, because it had amazing food and a cozy atmosphere, and two, because it was a public area. His first instinct had been to invite Taylor to his home because he knew his life was under a microscope in this town. Now, he wished he would have. He’d also made the suggestion before he realized who she was and that this wouldn’t be just a get-to-know-you cup of coffee.
“Little early for a pickup,” Sue Ann observed as she approached Caleb with a full pot of coffee in one hand and three plates balancing on the other. “I’m not sure Jack’s prepped for lunch yet.”
At least once a week, Caleb ordered lunch to go from the café. He always ordered the same thing: a pulled pork sandwich, fries, and a side of potato salad. He couldn’t even think about eating right now.
