“Absolutely.”
I stood in front of the full-length mirror assessing my outfit: skinny jeans tucked into knee-high brown boots accessorized with large buckles around my ankles and upper calves. My favorite boots. The heel was the perfect height. They were the only shoes I owned with a perfect heel, adding two inches to my 5-foot-4 frame. I wore a floral button top with a fitted cranberry color corduroy jacket. I looked cute and casual, long straight blond hair pulled back with a thin, clear headband. I wore gold hoop earrings and gold bangles on my wrist. It was my version of a police uniform. I was ready to serve and protect.
I informed Dad that Gretchen and I were hanging out. I failed to tell him we would be attending Cal’s party. I figured he didn’t need to know. It would only confuse him. I felt mildly guilty lying to Ryan, though. He asked if I was free tonight, and I told him I already made plans with Gretchen. He seemed oblivious to my lie that we were having a girls night at her house, and it only made me feel worse.
I picked up Gretchen around ten, and we made our way to the party. I had no idea what to expect when we pulled up to Cal’s house. I’d never seen it. We parked down the street and walked to his house. It was one of those ridiculous $900,000 homes with the brick and stone and every other design element you could think of decorating the façade. Overly manicured lawn. I thought I was standing in an office park.
It was already dressed up for Christmas. White lights all over the trees, outlining the house. Wreaths on the windows; candles inside them. I liked the decorations, but I was tempted to come back another evening and put up one strand of colored lights on a bush. The house needed a rebel strand.
We knocked on the door, but no one answered. I heard music from inside, and thought it was loud enough to keep the guests inside from hearing anyone on the outside. I pushed open the door.
This party was much more subdued than Tanner’s. Cal’s house was expensive. The furniture looked expensive. The floor we were standing on looked expensive. Hell, the paint color on the walls looked expensive, and everyone seemed to understand. No one would be getting rowdy in this house. There was still dancing, but Cal made sure to push the furniture to the side, covering it with sheets. I suspected he put away all the expensive glassware and accessories. The tables and bookcases were bare. He was careful, and that made sense. He was careful about everything he did.
“Hey, Brooke,” Cal said, approaching us.
“Hi,” I replied. I flashed a sweet smile, and that seemed to encourage him.
“So, um, I’m sorry about ordering beer on our date. I should have apologized days ago, but you looked busy,” he said. It was cryptic, but I knew exactly what he was talking about. He spotted me several times chatting with Ryan in between classes. He knew there was something going on between us.
“No worries,” I replied.
“No no. I was a total dick. I shouldn’t have drank all that,” Cal said.
Shouldn’t have drunk.
I didn’t know what to say. “It happens.”
“No, Brooke.” Cal was insistent. “It doesn’t happen. I have manners. I know better, and I feel like a complete jerk. I just freaked out about the whole Parker situation. I had no idea he was being mean to you. Did you girls get home okay?”
Cal was difficult to understand. There were instances of complete idiocy followed by knight-in-shining-armor acts. It’s like he had split personalities.
“Yeah. But you owe us cab fare,” Gretchen said.
I tensed.
Cal furrowed his brows for a half second before relaxing his face once more into a pleasant smile. “You’re right.”
“No, she’s not,” I objected. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“No, I want to give you cab fare,” Cal said. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Please, Cal,” I said. “I cannot take your money. I won’t take your money.”
I watched him pull out his wallet and placed my hand over his.
“I won’t take it,” I whispered. “It’s okay. The apology was all I needed.”
Cal hesitated. He wanted to argue, but instead, he tucked his wallet back in his pocket.
“You girls thirsty?” he asked, looking towards the kitchen.
“Um, just a water for me,” I said. “I’m DD tonight.”
“Gotcha. And for you, Gretchen?” he asked.
“I’ll have a water as well,” she said.
Cal looked at her strangely. “You’re the DD, too?”
“I can party without drinking,” she said, staring him down like prey she was ready to maul.
Cal chuckled. “I didn’t know that was possible.”
Gretchen opened her mouth to reply, but I cut her off.