Win Me Over (21 page)

Eric announced himself as having arrived by yelling from the front door and then joined them in the kitchen. After greetings and wine pouring they all began loading up plates of food. They had about twenty minutes before the show started, so they settled around Anne's little kitchen table.

“So, is your winning dance routine ready?” Anne asked Callie.

“Almost. The last few practices have been particularly good and things are really starting to come together. Despite the fact that my student is a grown man that has a deaf ear for music and too many muscles to keep track of.”

“Problems, problems,” Eric said. “I'm so sad for you. So how is it really going?”

All eyes were on Callie. “If you're asking the question I think you are, the answer is no. Not yet anyway.”

“Do you mean … I mean … do you like him? Is there something going on between you?” Anne said, looking a little confused.

Callie felt kind of bad that she hadn't confided in Anne lately. They'd both been so busy, Anne with the conference, Mike, and of course being a full-time mother. And Callie with … all the shit going on in her life. Things had just gotten very complicated for everyone as of late. In good ways for the most part, of course, but still, beside the blog they had all kind of been too busy to just have fun with each other.

The front door burst open and they all turned to look as they heard heavy steps run through the living room and then suddenly Lindsey appeared in the kitchen, her face full of wide-eyed panic. “Where can I hide?”

“Oh my god, Linds, what's going on?” Anne scrambled from her seat.

“I just need to—”

“Lindsey Morales, you can run, but you can't hide,” a deep voice boomed from the living room. The front screen door slammed and once again footsteps came through the house, but these weren't running; they were charging like an angry giant.

“Derek, what's wrong? Where's Mike?” Anne asked in shock as the man stepped into the small kitchen. The frustration emanating from his body nearly sucked the oxygen out of the room. He didn't even acknowledge Anne's questions; his eyes were focused intently on Lindsey.

Callie liked Derek—what she knew of him anyway, which was basically that he was a friend of Mike's. And also the hottest single dad she'd ever met, but the way he was acting at this moment made her question his sanity.

“Were you really going to pretend you didn't see me out there?” he asked, pointing right at Lindsey.

“Yep, that's exactly what I was going to do. But you just ruined it,” Lindsey nearly growled, her body on the verge of shaking, fists clenched at her sides.

Eric and Callie glanced at each other over the table, both showing their extreme shock. They had never heard or seen sweet, quiet little Lindsey behave this way. Callie didn't know their friend was even capable of this kind of passionate behavior; she wasn't sure if she should be impressed or afraid for Lindsey.

“Well, excuse me if I'm a little slow on the uptake,” Derek ground out. His voice was full of sarcasm and venom. “I guess I assumed that we had grown up a little since college. I see I was wrong.”

“Linds,” Callie said, her eyes darting between the angry couple facing off on each side of the kitchen. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine, Callie,” Lindsey bit out. Callie's mouth dropped open. Yep, she was definitely impressed with Lindsey. The girl had some spunk they didn't know about.

“Well, now we've seen each other, so you can leave,” Lindsey said. Her voice was shaking, but she held her ground. Derek looked like he was mad enough to smash something, his lips thinning and nostrils flaring. What the hell was up with these two?

Callie felt Eric kick her under the table. She looked and met his eyes.

Do you know what the hell is going on?

Not a clue, but there's definite history.

For sure.

We are so Team Lindsey if we have to choose.

Obviously … although Derek is hot.

Callie glared at Eric.

Okay, Team Lindsey!

Derek opened his mouth to speak, but Mike came into the kitchen. “What the hell is going on in here?”

Anne stood up. “Lindsey, please tell me what's wrong. It's my fault Derek is here; I told Mike that they could come and make a plate of food and go.” She sent a regretful glance toward Lindsey. “I had no idea it would be a problem.”

“I'm sorry, Anne,” Lindsey said. “It's fine. I'll just … wait with Claire upstairs.” She made for the doorway, but Derek rushed forward and stood in her path.

“Are you really not going to talk to me?” Derek asked. His voice had gone soft.

Lindsey glanced around the room. Everyone pretended to get back to their food as she whispered, “I have nothing to say to you. I won't ever have anything to say to you, Derek.”

Callie kept her head down but glanced up through her lashes just in time to see a flash of deep pain cross over Derek's eyes. She had no idea what the history was between the two, but history there definitely was. One that no doubt involved strong feelings and a traumatic ending, if she was any kind of expert on body language and soap operas. Which, of course, she was, thanks to Barbara, who had used
All My Children
and
Guiding Light
as babysitters.

“Hey, man, maybe this isn't the time,” Mike said quietly to Derek.

Derek's jaw clenched, his eyes never leaving Lindsey, who was working really hard at not meeting them and fighting off tears at the same time.
Shit.
Callie hated that there was something capable of hurting Lindsey so easily that she hadn't known about. Callie and Anne shared a look of concern.

“You're right.” Derek relaxed a little and turned to the table. “I apologize. I'll go and let you ladies … and uh—” His eyes darted to Eric.

“No worries, man. I'm used to it,” Eric said with a shrug.

Derek nodded, obviously uncomfortable. “Anyway, I'll just go.”

Callie stood up. “Hold on a minute. Lindsey and I will just go check on Claire for a moment. You boys get your dinner to go and scram before we're finished.”

Grabbing Lindsey's sweaty hand, Callie led her out of the kitchen, through the living room, and up the stairs. Before they reached the top Callie heard Lindsey sniffle and turned quickly and pulled her into the bathroom.

“Sweetie, don't let that man make you cry. Tell me what's going on,” Callie said as she moved Claire's pink princess towel and sat on the side of the tub. Lindsey plopped down on the toilet and dropped her head into her hands.

“I can't believe I just reacted that way. How humiliating. I've played that moment over and over in my head so many times. Never did I plan to act like a complete fool.”

“Do you want to talk about it? You know I'm here for you, Linds. I had no idea there was anything between you and Derek. As far as I knew you'd never even met him.”

On a groan Lindsey lifted her head and looked at Callie. “Derek was my first boyfriend, first kiss, first
everything
.”

“Let me guess, first heartbreak, too?” Callie said as she grabbed Lindsey's hand.

A fat tear ran down Lindsey's cheek. “Believe it or not, this is the first time I've seen his face since Christmas break my sophomore year of college. I can't believe it's affecting me this way. It was years ago.”

“That's not
too
long ago,” Callie said, unsure if the words helped or made it worse.

Lindsey blew out a breath and wiped her eyes. “Darn it. I'm so angry that I freaked out like that. Why couldn't I have been cool, indifferent, or, better yet, married! I mean, I'm in no better of a place now than I was then. No man seems to want me.”

“Are you kidding me? You're an artist that runs her own business, you're a popular online presence, and you're beautiful and smart.” Lindsey's Mexican heritage had given her the most gorgeous complexion and dark hair. Anne and Callie had discussed many times how plain they felt in Lindsey's presence. “Plenty of men want you. I see them looking; you're the one who doesn't notice. And what the hell does Derek have going on that's so damn great?”

“Oh, I don't know,” Lindsey said, full of sarcasm. “Maybe he's a rich architect that drives a Mercedes.”

“Uh, he's also a divorced single dad that…” Callie struggled to find anything wrong with Derek. Obviously there was something, because no one was perfect. But he didn't have a beer belly, far from it. He hadn't aged poorly or gone bald prematurely. As far as she was concerned, he was always polite and charming. The Derek she'd just witnessed in Anne's kitchen was not the one Callie was used to seeing.

“See? He's hot. Just a big badass hot version of his young self. I saw him and just fell apart. I had no warning, just
bam,
my past staring at me across Anne's front yard. I had no idea he was friends with Mike. I didn't even know he lived in Preston.” Lindsey chewed her lip, her brows scrunched before she asked. “Is he really divorced?”

Huh. That was an interesting response, but Callie didn't comment, just nodded her head. “He is. Not sure for how long, but I get the feeling that it was messy.”

“I didn't know that. But it doesn't change things. I just made a complete fool of myself.”

“Well, it's over now. You don't have to talk to him again if you don't want to.”

“I can't believe this. Of all the people. I love Mike, and now I know he consorts with the enemy!”

Callie gave a sheepish smile. “Well, if we're being honest, so do I. Derek is a really nice guy. He brings his son to the shop sometimes.”

On that note, Lindsey's lip wobbled, as she finally gave way to fresh tears. “What I don't understand is why Derek didn't seem that surprised to see me.”

“Anne wouldn't set you up like that, no way. But Linds, you're gonna have to come to terms with this. I mean, yeah, Derek doesn't come around a lot, but you're bound to cross paths. He's Mike's best friend. Maybe it would help to hear him out. Get some closure.”

“Oh no, no way. It took me two years to finally get over him; I can't revisit those feelings. I can barely look into his eyes.”

After what had jus transpired downstairs, Callie wondered if
over him
was the right way to describe Lindsey's feelings but didn't say so. She was pretty sure that wouldn't go over well. “I can't tell you what to do, but you can't let your past define you. Take control of it. I'll be here for you. Plus, how fun will it be to show off how awesome you are now?”

“Yeah, I really showed him I'm awesome by running in the house like my heels were on fire. I came off like a total psycho.”

“Sweetie, if we were judged solely by our crazy times, I'd never have any friends.” Callie grinned and squeezed Lindsey's hand.

“Thanks, Cal. I'm so glad I have you guys.”

A soft knock at the door preceded Anne's entrance. “Hey.” Anne knelt down next to them in the small bathroom. “I'm so sorry that happened. They're gone. Did you guys … date?”

Lindsey nodded, her lip threatening to quiver again. Callie patted Lindsey's knee.

“I think he really wanted to see you,” Anne said.

“Well, that's too bad,” Lindsey said. “I'm not interested in talking to him at all.”

Anne looked a little concerned but went on. “Well, I didn't want to do this in the bathroom. But the real reason I invited him here was because Mike and I sort of arranged for everyone to stop by tonight because … we wanted to announce our engagement.”

Anne held up her hand; it was sporting a dazzling cushion-cut diamond. Not huge, but on the healthy side of modest. It was gorgeous and looked slightly vintage. Derek drama quickly forgotten, the three women erupted into screams and hugs.

A moment later Anne collected herself and took a deep breath. “Linds, I want you and Cal in my wedding more than anything. But Derek is Mike's best friend. If you don't want to—”

“Stop.” Lindsey put up a hand. “Don't say another word. I'm a big girl, I can handle this. I won't let what happened between us take anything away from you and Mike's day. I promise, Anne.”

Anne teared up and then pulled Lindsey in for a hug. “Thank you.” When they separated Anne was swiping at her eyes. “I'm just so happy.”

At those words Callie was shedding a tear also. “We're so happy for you both. I'm doing your cake, right?”

“Of course, oh my gosh, the whole event will be a collaboration between the three of us.”

“Oh god, the readers are going to shit when they find out about this. Can we cover the entire planning on the blog?” Callie asked, ideas crashing around in her brain. “It would be amazing.”

Anne grinned. “Actually, Mike and I discussed the same thing. It would be a really fun series. We even thought we could let the readers vote on some things. Of course, we'd have already approved all the options, but how fun would that be? And we're getting married at the farmhouse. In fact … wait for it.… Mike bought it for us! That's where he proposed, in the garden. He even had Claire videotape it. It was so sweet.”

The tiny bathroom erupted into another round of giggling and hugs.

“A rustic barn wedding. That is right up my alley.” Lindsey fanned her face. “Oh, Anne, this will be so wonderful.”

Eric's voice called to them from downstairs that
Celebrity Dance Off
was starting.

The three women all held hands now. “I love you both,” Callie said. “But right now, men in tight pants are calling my name. So let's revisit this moment over pizza this week.”

*   *   *

Bennett stood up from the desk chair he'd been sitting on for the past twenty minutes and glanced at the clock. About seven of his first-hour biology students had missed that morning due to a band field trip, so five of them had come in during his planning period to get the day's assignment done. “Looks like you've got about twenty minutes left before the bell rings to get that finished if you don't want to have homework.”