“Did you say Cal? Cal is here?”
Carlos looks over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed. “He is.” He turns his body to face me, while he leans against the bar. He’s staring at me the way you stare at someone when you’re trying to read the thoughts behind their eyes. “Why?” he asks, finally.
My heart hammers. I feel as if my answer could either finally give me closure or have me one foot in the grave. Because I want to ask him what I’ve done to offend him. Because I want to know why he sneaks in back doors. Because I want to know what happened to him that night to make him bleed. Because I need to know why I feel like he has some kind of power over me when I don’t even know him.
I swallow and avoid his question. “He’s your son, right?” Carlos tilts his head but doesn’t answer. “Some of the other girls were talking about it. I was just wondering.”
He straightens his head and smiles like he knows the punchline to an inside joke. “Yes. Cal is my son.”
I was right. I didn’t imagine hearing it.
Jaxon sets two glasses of amber liquid on the bar, then looks at me. His eyes narrow, and I swear I see him shake his head. Don’t. It’s a ghost of a movement, but it was there. I know it.
I don’t heed his warning. “Is he okay? Last time I saw him, he was—”
Carlos turns to take the drinks from the bar, dismissing me. “He’s fine,” he cuts me off. When he turns back around, he’s smiling, but this time it doesn’t reflect in his eyes. “Thank you for asking.”
Jaxon rakes his fingers through his hair, so I decide that’s enough for one night. I suppose I’ve learned all I need to know about Cal Suppato.
“Enjoy your weekend, Makenna. Clear your head,” Carlos says as he begins walking back to the hallway that leads to his office.
I force a smile. “Thanks. I’ll try.”
A woman I recognize as the snooty brunette who refers to me as “Max” stops me as I’m walking out.
“Sam?” Her voice is every bit as aggravating as it was the first time I met her.
I keep walking and ignore her failed attempt to remember my name.
She lets out a loud huff and follows me across the parking lot. “Hellooo?”
I don’t stop to acknowledge her until I’m at my car. “Are you talking to me?”
She rolls her eyes, “Who else would I be talking to?”
I shrug. “I don’t know… Sam, maybe?”
“Isn’t that what they call you?”
Fake a smile.
I press the unlock button on my key fob. “My name is Makenna. Do you need something?”
“I need to see Cal. Can you let me in?” she asks, a hint of desperation in her voice.
Cal? I thought she was here for Jaxon. I guess I was wrong. Or maybe she’s a double-dipper. Or maybe they have freaky threesome sex with snooty hoochies.
“I’m not sure who you’re talking about,” I lie, hoping she’ll leave me alone.
“Cal. Suppato,” she says, as if saying the words slower will suddenly make me know someone I just told her I don’t know.
Technically, I don’t know him. And I just found out who he was a few minutes ago. It’s not a total lie.
“Sorry. I can’t help you. But if he asked you to meet him, maybe you should just call and let him know you’re here.”
“Forget it. I’ll take care of it myself.” She throws her hands up, then storms off toward the entrance of the restaurant.
“That’s kinda what I just told you to do,” I mumble behind her as I climb in my Honda and head home.