Dear Heart, I Hate You

We hung out there together, chatting with the guys, who apparently worked at one of the studios in town, and doing some people watching. Tami was flirting with one of the guys, and if I knew my best friend, which I did, she planned on taking him home later.

Feeling like hours had passed, I told Tami I was going to check on Cal before leaving her in the arms, literally, of her future one-night stand. She stood on her tiptoe and whispered something into his ear before she motioned for me to come back.

“What?” I had to practically shout my question over the noise of the crowd.

“I don’t need a ride home. Okay?”

Not happy with the situation, I studied the guy. He was tall, built, and looked sort of sweet with his hipster glasses perched on his nose.

“Are you sure?”

She cocked her head. “I’m sure.”

“Please be safe.” I turned toward the guy, whose name I had already forgotten. “What’s your name, and where do you work again?” His face paled slightly before he answered my questions, and I gave him an evil smile. “Good. You kill her, I turn you in to the cops.”

“Uh . . .” He shot an uncertain glance at Tami, who glared at me.

“She’s joking.”

I leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I’m not. You need to be more careful, please. There are crazy people in this world. Probably here at this party, as a matter of fact.”

She sucked in a breath and a crease formed on her forehead. “You’re right. I’ll text you later when I get home, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Confused, I asked, “Are you leaving already?”

“No. Not yet, but soon.”

I shook my head and left to check on Cal. I had no idea how much time had passed, but it felt like forever. As I turned down the long corridor, I spotted him coming toward me.

“Cal!” I quickened my pace.

He opened his arms and pulled me into a hug before kissing my lips. “I think I just got hired to handle Tabbie’s finances,” he said with an incredulous look on his face.

“Seriously?” I asked, completely surprised.

“I’ll tell you about it on the way home.”

“Okay,” I said, super excited for what all this meant for Cal.

Then a director I recognized tapped Cal on the shoulder and asked if he could speak to him. Cal cast a glance at me before I stepped aside with a smile.

I made my way back through the crowd toward Tami, who forced me to dance with her for the next hour. My body dripped with sweat as we shook our asses and danced like no one was watching.

When someone gripped my waist and turned me toward them, my hands instantly balled into fists and my body turned rigid.

“It’s just me,” Cal said as he released me, and I threw myself into his arms.

“Sorry I’m sweaty.”

“It looks good on you.” He kissed my cheek. “My little salt queen.”

“Gross,” I said with a mock snarl as the guy Tami had picked for the night approached her.

Tami turned to us. “We’re leaving. I’ll talk to you later, girl. ’Bye, Cal. It was nice to meet you.” She gave him a hug and whispered something into his ear. He bit back a smile before turning serious and nodding his head.

We watched her walk away with her guy before I asked, “Did you want to stay and mingle some more?”

“No.” He pulled me close and pressed his lips against my forehead. “I’m ready to go whenever you are.”