Page 14 of Flights and Sights

“Yeah.” We were both quiet for a few moments after that. “I’ve never told anyone all of that before. My family still asks what happened sometimes, and I just tell them we grew apart. I hate lying to them, but I’m still so…” My throat tightened and I couldn’t continue.

He reached over and squeezed my hand, the one resting on the gear shifter. My body warmed where he touched me, and I forced myself to stay calm. “I’m glad you told me,” he murmured. “Thank you for trusting me with that.”

I let out a shaky breath and pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant. “Well, here we are.”

Paxton grinned and squeezed my hand again. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

We got out of the car and I tugged at the hem of my polo again, nerves on edge.

Paxton came around to the driver’s side of the car and put his hands on my shoulders. “Hey, it’s going to be great.”

“What if—”

He shook his head. “Don’t what-if yourself. It’s going to be great,” he repeated. “This isn’t my first encounter with a difficult ex. I’ve had a couple of them myself.”

Thinking about Paxton having terrible exes made my chest ache in a way I didn’t quite understand.

He brushed my shoulders and squeezed them gently. “Let’s do this… boyfriend.”

I nodded once, the word making my heart flutter. “Let’s do it.”

Chapter 7 - Paxton

I’d lived in Foggy Basin my whole life, but I’d never been to this restaurant, which wasn’t far outside of town. The building was divided into several smaller dining room sections, with a screened-off private room just beyond the entryway. I held Cal’s hand firmly in mine, hoping the touch grounded him. I wanted to be a reassuring presence in the face of something—some one—he clearly didn’t want to deal with. Frankly, I didn’t blame him. Jacob sounded horrible and I wouldn’t have wanted to see an ex dating a family member even if it had been an amicable breakup, much less one like Cal had described.

We made our way into the private room, which was already crowded with people. Briefly, my stomach fluttered with nerves at the prospect of not only meeting a whole family of people, but convincing them I was dating Cal. I took a deep breath and put a smile on my face.

A woman with dark hair in long, thick curls rushed over to us and wrapped her arms around Cal. He squeezed her back and chuckled, shoulders shaking with laughter. “Hi, Mom.”

The woman pulled back. “Hi, honey. Is this…”

“My boyfriend, yes. Mom, this is Paxton.” He turned to me. “This is my mom, Laura.”

She pulled me into a hug next. “It’s so good to meet you.” The hug was warm and firm, and something about it settled my nerves a bit. When she stepped back, she looked me up and down. “He’s a cutie. Definitely a keeper.”

“Mom!”

Heat crept into my cheeks, but something about it warmed my chest, too, in a different way.

She chuckled and shook her head. “Why don’t you two come on in and get settled. I think just about everyone who’s coming is here.”

“Everyone?” Cal asked.

She took a breath and lowered her voice to a murmur. “Well, Angie isn’t here yet, if that’s what you’re asking.”

He nodded once. “Thanks.”

We sat down next to each other at the far end of the very long table that was comprised of smaller tables pushed together. Cal’s face was drawn tight, his lips pressed together, his shoulders tense. Under the table, I placed a hand on his thigh, just above his knee. Immediately, he took a breath and his shoulders relaxed. I turned to the person next to me, determined to make conversation, when Cal stiffened under my touch again.

I looked toward the entryway. A couple had just walked in, the guy in fitted jeans and a blue linen shirt, his blond hair windswept in a way that screamed “I want to look casual.” The woman who stood next to him was in a sundress, white with flowers all over, her long, dirty blonde hair reaching past her shoulders. They looked like they’d just stepped out of a magazine, expensive and forcing themselves to look relaxed. This must have been Jacob and Angie. There was no doubt in my mind.

Jacob gazed around the room before his eyes landed on Cal and me. His expression twitched just a bit, tense around his eyes, and he murmured something to Angie before they made their way over to us and sat in the chairs directly in front of Cal and me.

“Callum, good to see you again,” Jacob said smoothly.

Cal nodded tightly. “Jacob. Angie.” I squeezed his knee under the table, sliding my foot closer to his until our legs were pressed together. He looked at me and gave me a brave smile before turning back to the couple in front of us. “This is my boyfriend, Paxton.”

Jacob’s brow furrowed immediately. “I didn’t know you were seeing someone.”