Page 41 of Love is Grand
As if hearing a beating heart growing inside another person wasn’t shocking enough, contemplating a marriage proposal was enough to take me down. When I’d said Adam was family, I meant by default.
But then the idea of spending a lifetime with Shell hit me.
Shell—a woman who didn’t care about my money or accolades or prestige or what I could give her financially. Shell—a woman who cared about devotion, which was something I wasn’t sure I had inside me to give anyone.
“You there, Cal?”
“Yeah, sorry ... got distracted. I need you to go over to Shell’s and bring her back here by seven. Taking her to dinner.”
“You coming with?”
Tying the towel around my waist, I said, “No. I’ll meet her in the lobby.”
Jack huffed. “This a date or what?”
“What are you, my mom?” I asked, annoyed. I was paying him to drive, not give his advice.
I looked in the mirror as I spoke and saw a dozen new wrinkles in my forehead, thanks to hearing the baby’s heartbeat. Yeah, men look in the mirror, especially when they’re about to become a father at forty-one with no clue how to handle the responsibility of a dog, let alone a baby.
Jack chuckled. “Nah, just saying if it’s a date, don’t you think you should come with?”
“I’ll meet her here, but thanks.”
I needed time to collect myself, drive off any thoughts of proposing or whatever spell Shell was putting on me. I was going to take her to dinner, treat her right, and make sure everyone knew she was with me ... that she was carrying my baby. Even if I didn’t want to commit full-time, no one else was swooping in on my territory.
Shaking my head at my own awful thoughts, I decided I was who I was.
“Okey-dokey,” Jack said, trying not to laugh.
“See you later.” I disconnected the call and thought about what I meant to achieve by taking Shell out.
I was claiming her. Except, I didn’t think this was the right way, but I didn’t know how else to accomplish it.
“Wait!” I called out to Jack as he was walking toward the Jeep. “I’m coming with you.”
He only nodded. “Saw you driving your brother’s ride earlier. Thought I was out of a job,” he joked as he slid in the car.
“Borrowed it, but Rylan took it back to him.”
“Glad you decided to pick your date up. That was gonna be an awkward ride for me.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “Well, I wouldn’t want that.” I also didn’t want anyone else to make a play for my girl.
When we sped off, I was grateful for the windows being open, so it was too loud to talk.
At Shell’s, I held up a wait right here finger for Jack as I made my way to the door.
I didn’t have to knock because Shell was sitting on the porch, wearing a yellow off-the-shoulder sundress, her hair in long dark waves down her back, and her legs stretched out in front of her, a sad look on her face.
Before I could ask what was wrong, she said, “Weez left about ten minutes ago. She just went off like it was nothing. Holding Adam’s hand and walking toward his car without looking back, a skip in her step. She’s not even concerned over leaving me.”
Shell looked off toward the distance, and I thought for a moment she was going to cry. Then she waved a hand in front of her face and explained. “It’s the hormones. They’re getting the best of me.”
She stood quickly, and I caught a glimpse of the earrings I’d bought her. I smiled, wondering where the anklet was.
I chuckled. “I’m pretty sure Weezie is swayed by bottomless Shirley Temples and chicken fingers when it comes to Adam and Rylan. I don’t think you need to worry,” I said, taking her hand in mine.
Coming along to pick her up had been the right thing to do. Although, I wouldn’t tell Jack that.