Listen to Your Heart(14)

“I know. I’m going to get my shit together, I promise.”

I just made her a promise that I don’t know I can keep. But I can’t let her leave tonight without having some way to reach her.

Skye studies my face before sighing softly. “Give me your phone.”

I offer her my cell. She quickly adds her number to my contacts before handing it back. Glancing down at the screen, I can’t help but smile when I see her name on it.

“But Caleb?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t call unless you mean it.”

The tone of her voice is unmistakable. Soft but firm. Hopeful but cautious.

Don’t play hot and cold with me.

Don’t be an asshole.

I wish I could promise I won’t be, but the truth is, I already am.

I’m being a jerk to Jules, just by letting Skye add her number to my phone. And I’m going to be a jerk to Skye, because there’s no way I’m not calling her. Not when I’ve been given a second chance.

I don’t want to be that jerk. I don’t want to be that asshole. I have to figure out a way to make this work.

“Understood,” I hear myself say.

Skye nods. “I really need to go.”

“Tell Eli I hope he feels better.”

“I will. Night, Caleb.”

“Goodnight, Skye.”

After she leaves, I walk back to the bar. Jesse’s eyes lock with mine. His face is unreadable, but I can see the question burning in his eyes.

“What are you doing, Caleb?”

Reaching into my wallet, I pull out a twenty and toss it on the bar. “Paying for my drink.”

“That’s not what I meant. What are you doing with that girl?”

What can I say? That I think I’ve met the woman of my dreams? That I need to figure out a way to keep my promise to Jules and explore whatever this is with Skye at the same time?

Sure, that doesn’t make you sound like an asshole at all.

With a heavy sigh, I face my best man who’s standing behind the bar.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, Jess.”

He takes the twenty and doesn’t ask if I want change.

“Well, you’d better figure it out,” he says. “Otherwise, you’re gonna lose them both.”

He hands me another beer before heading to the stage. As he welcomes the crowd to Songwriter’s Night, I glance down at my phone. Seeing her name on the screen gives me the courage to send her a text.

Can I take you out tomorrow night?

I hit send and close my eyes, praying she doesn’t tell me to go to hell. Which she could. And I would probably deserve it.

Seconds later, she replies with a message that makes me laugh harder than I’ve laughed in days.

I’ll cook. My place at seven. I bet we can find Dirty Dancing on cable.





“This place smells like heaven.”

Skye grins and waves me inside. “Thanks. I hope you like lasagna.”

“Love it.”

She leads me to the kitchen and offers me a glass of wine. Suddenly, I remember the small bouquet in my hand.

“Oh, umm, these are for you.”

Why am I nervous? I feel like I’m sixteen and going to the prom.

Skye smiles brightly. “Thanks! They’re so pretty. How did you know I like wildflowers?”

“I might have interrogated your nephew during guitar class. He said you liked daisies.”

“He’s right. Thank you, Caleb.” She points toward the unopened bottle on the table. “Why don’t you pour while I find a vase?”

“I can do that.” I quickly open the wine and fill our glasses. “I have to admit I was a little surprised about the daisies. Don’t most girls prefer roses?”

“I think you’ll learn pretty fast that I’m not like most girls.”

I already know. That’s why I can’t stop thinking about you.

“Honestly, roses bore me,” she says, filling the vase with water before arranging the daisies and placing them in the center of the table. “I mean, they’re beautiful, but I see a lot of roses on a daily basis.”

It dawns on me that I don’t know what she does for a living. She mentioned she owned her own business. Maybe she’s a florist?

Before I can ask, she asks me to get silverware while she grabs the lasagna out of the oven.

“This really looks delicious. Do you like to cook?”

Skye nods. “I wish I could do it more. My job keeps me crazy busy. Plus, it kinda sucks cooking for one. I like to experiment when Eli’s around, but he prefers Burger Palace. I try to ignore the fact that I’m clogging his arteries at an early age. I’m a bad aunt.”

We both laugh. Dinner’s awesome, naturally. In fact, everything about tonight is perfect. The food. The wine. The daisies. The easy conversation. The beautiful girl.

Especially the beautiful girl.

When we’re finished, Skye stands up and starts to clear the table, but I quickly reach for our plates.

“You cooked. I’ll clean.”

“Caleb, you don’t have to.”

“I want to. Go find Dirty Dancing and I’ll do the dishes. It’s the least I can do.”

She laughs and reaches for what’s left of the garlic bread. “I was kidding about the movie. I really just wanted an excuse to cook for you.”