I laugh. "Yeah, you might not be able to keep up with me in that area. When I like something, I tend to do it over and over again."
"I can keep up. Let's go find something to eat, then we'll come back here and I'll prove it to you."
And he does. We have sex several more times that night, in between sleeping, and when we wake up the next morning, we do it again. Then I go back to my house to get ready for work.
As I'm getting dressed, my phone rings and I see it's Trina calling. She's been calling ever since I told her to leave my house. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what happened that day, and I've talked about it with Nash, and decided that, in her own way, Trina was just trying to be a friend. She never should've tossed their things in the trash, but it was the only thing she could think of to do at the time. She's not a mean person and would never intentionally try to hurt me. She's just really uncomfortable in difficult situations.
"Hi, Trina."
"Hi." She pauses. "You picked up. I didn't think you would."
"I thought we should talk."
"I'm so sorry, Callie." Her voice quivers. "I really am."
"It's okay. I know you were just trying to help."
"But I made it worse. I don't know what I was thinking. I never should've done what I did. On the drive home, I was so mad at myself. I felt horrible." She sniffles. Is she crying? She never cries. "I've been the worst friend to you, Callie. You have every right to hate me. I just...I didn't know what to do after the accident. I didn't know what to say. I couldn't even imagine what you were going through, and I was afraid that anything I'd say would just make it worse, so I avoided you. But that was wrong and...I'm sorry."
"I'm not mad at you, Trina. Not anymore. I've spent a year being angry at you, but I'm tired of being angry. I'm trying to move on, and I want us to start talking again, but only if we can be honest with each other. I want a real friendship, one in which we can talk to each other about the hard stuff, not just clothes and movies and guys."
"I know. I have to get better at that. I don't know why I get so uncomfortable talking about that stuff, but I'll get better at it. I promise. I'll be back home at the end of August. Could we maybe get together?"
"Yeah. Definitely." I check the clock. "I don't mean to rush you off the phone but I have to get to work. Can I call you later?"
"You better." She laughs. "If you don't, I'll be calling again."
We hang up and I take a deep breath, relieved that we finally got everything out in the open. I got my friend back. And I have a feeling that, even with the distance between us, we're going to be better friends than we ever were before.
When I arrive at work, Lou's out in the dining area, refilling coffees.
"Morning, Callie," he says as I go past him.
"Hi, Lou." I sound different, cheerier, my tone lighter. Is that what happens after a night of endless, mind-blowing sex? If so, I hope Lou doesn't notice. That'd be embarrassing. I'm not ready to tell him I'm dating Nash because I know he'll tease me about it.
Lou walks into the kitchen as I'm tying my apron. "I had a question for you."
"Go ahead." I wash my hands at the sink.
"I'm testing out some new menu items and wondered if you'd be willing to come back here later and try them."
I was hoping to eat dinner with Nash tonight, but I want to help Lou, so I agree to it.
"Sure. What time?"
"Maybe around seven?"
"What are you making?"
"I'm still working that out, but I'll have several items to try so bring your appetite." He takes some clean dish towels from the laundry bin. "I appreciate you doing this. I know you don't like going out at night."
"I don't mind." I used to mind, but now I'm trying to give up my rigid schedule and rigid rules. I'm trying to change.
"You ever see that neighbor of yours?" He glances at me out of the side of his eye as he folds the towels.
"Now and then. Not a lot."
"He's a nice young man. Got a good head on his shoulders."
"He's all right," I say, trying to hide the fact that I'm in love with that nice young man with a good head on his shoulders.
"He seems to really like you."
I shrug. "Maybe. I don't really pay attention." I take the cookie dough from the fridge.
"You don't like him?"
"I like him, but we're just friends." I hope Lou bought that, but I'm not sure if he did, because he's staring at me with this odd expression.
"I've seen how you look at him. I think you like him."
I sigh. "Yeah, I like him, okay? But I'm not looking for a boyfriend right now."
He mumbles something to himself and shakes his head as he walks off to his office.
What was that about? Why is Lou so interested in my love life?
During my lunch break, I call Nash. "Hey, I have to come back here at seven. Lou's testing new recipes and he wants me to taste them, so I won't be able to have dinner with you tonight."
"Can you do other things with me tonight?" His deep voice sounds sexy even over the phone.