“What do you mean?” I ask, enjoying being the one who gets to play dumb for once.
“Never mind.” He growls, pushing his beer away. I’m not used to seeing Callum riled up about anything and I have to say, I’m enjoying it.
“Betty also mentioned that you seemed quite taken with her friend,” I say casually and his eyes shoot up to meet mine.
“That’s bullshit. Yes, I looked at her. You’re supposed to look at someone you’ve just been introduced to. And yeah, maybe my eyes lingered on her for a few extra beats, but Jesus—Have you seen her? She’s great looking.” He’s defensive and I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I have never seen Callum Gallagher so worked up and over a girl he met briefly, no less.
“I love the role reversal that’s just happened here.” I grin and he laughs in his good-natured way.
“Fine. Have your moment.” He chuckles at himself. “Seriously though. Is she seeing anyone?”
“Long-term boyfriend,” I confirm, and he visibly deflates in front of me.
“Well, shit.”
“That’s never stopped you before.” I point out, and Callum’s expression sours.
“You make me sound like a home-wrecker. I can’t help it if a few women have decided to end their relationships after meeting me. As far as I’m concerned, if a conversation with me is all it takes, the breakup was overdue.” He fixes me with a stare, and I raise my hands in defense.
“I didn’t mean it like that, man. You’re the definition of decent and I didn’t mean to imply otherwise. Betty can’t stand the guy if that helps,” I tell him and he brightens a bit.
“It does, actually.” He smiles. “Have I mentioned how much I like that girl of yours?”
Me too, I think.Me too.
Chapter 24
Betty
Opening my eyes on Sunday morning to discover my head no longer feels like a construction site is a major win. To celebrate, I decide to take a shower immediately, something I couldn’t bring myself to do yesterday. I let out a sigh of pure pleasure when the water hits me. I stand under the stream for several minutes, letting the water beat down on me. The water pressure in this apartment is fantastic and I’m especially grateful for it today. I wash my hair and body and then continue to stand around for another five minutes, enjoying the warmth.
Finally, I turn off the shower and wrap myself in a towel. I make myself a quick coffee and then climb back into bed. I am not ready to tackle today’s long to-do list just yet. I’m checking my email on my phone when my dad calls.
“Hey, dad.” I smile into the phone. It’s not a surprise, as he usually calls on Sundays, but it’s always nice to hear his voice.
“Hello, Elizabeth. How are you?”
“I’m very well. How are you?”
“I have little cause for complaint.” He speaks slowly and deliberately. People have told me they find my father intimidating, but I’ve always found his formality oddly comforting. “Colleen and I are going for brunch shortly, but I thought I would check in with you first.”
My father stayed in Maine for a few years after the divorce. Two years ago, he took a faculty position at Brown University in Rhode Island, and he’s been there ever since. He met Colleen, an IT support employee at the university, shortly after. He was having difficulty with the grading software, and she came to his rescue. After she gave him a crash course on the program, he asked her to have dinner with him and they’ve been together ever since. I really like Colleen and my father has never been happier. She’s warm and funny and seems to really care for him, which I’m sure was a welcome change after being married to my mother. It’s not like the divorce left him heartbroken, but it was as if he was lost for a little while.
“Brunch sounds lovely,” I tell him. “I’m getting groceries today, prepping meals for the week, and doing laundry. Oh! And going for a run.”
“You’re going for a run? Deliberately?” He sounds baffled, and I laugh. I explain the company marathon challenge and how I’ve been training for two weeks.
“That’s wonderful Elizabeth. I didn’t mean to sound so surprised, but the last time I saw you run, you were ten and it was because your cousin Marcus was chasing you.” I laugh out loud at the memory. Marcus had been threatening to throw me into the pond behind my Aunt Ruth’s home, so I’d used all my strength to shove him in first and then I’d ran like hell to safety. “Are you training with a co-worker? I don’t love the idea of you running in the city by yourself.”
“Funny you mention that,” I say. “Do you remember Rilla’s brother Josh?”
“Joshua Pine? Rilla’s older brother? The boy you spent your adolescence pining for? That Josh?”
“I wasn’t…” I start to protest but think better of it. “Yes, that’s the one,” I say in resignation. “He’s moved into my building and he’s training me for the marathon.”
“Well, that is an unexpected turn of events,” he says, but makes no further comment. “Everything else is fine with you?”
“Yes, dad. Everything is great.” I kind of mean it. “I had better get started on my to-do list and you need to get to brunch.”
