Not that it should surprise me. He probably buys them all expensive gifts. It’s probably his thing. More points for the platinum card. “So, I can rule out gay then?” I add, and he continues laughing.
“He’s about the least married, least gay, man I know,” he says, finally.
“So, he’s a bootymonster then?”
Jaxon opens his mouth to say something, then snaps it shut again as if to rethink his response. He scrunches his brow, then finally speaks. “I’d be able to answer that if I had the slightest clue what a bootymonster is.”
“A player. A manwhore…You know, a bootymonster.” I throw my hands up as if this is common knowledge.
He tilts his head and studies my face. “Why are you so interested in Cal?”
“I’m not interested in Cal.”
His mouth forms a thin, firm line across his face, and I can tell he doesn’t believe me. I don’t want him thinking I’m the least but interested in this guy.
“I was just curious, that’s all,” I reply, and his eyes widen. “One minute he acts like he can’t stand to be in the same room with me, and the next he’s being all polite, and—” I stop there, deciding not to bring up the card or the gifts. “It’s like he’s playing a game with me, and it’s driving me crazy. I thought the brunette was… “ I shake my head, shaking the thought away. “I thought he had a girlfriend, and that just made it all worse.”
“Look Makenna, all I can tell you is that Cal Suppato doesn’t have a girlfriend because he doesn’t date. He isn’t a player, and he doesn’t play games with people. I would say just let it go. You’re overthinking it. So, he was rude once, felt like shit about it, then decided to be nice.” His face looks pained as he finishes his statement, as if I’ve somehow hurt his feelings.
But he’s right. Carlos tried to tell me the same thing, but my mind wouldn’t let it sink in. The night in the office, when Cal was hurt, I was clearly intruding on a private moment. Why would a wounded man let a waitress he knows nothing about examine him?
I overreacted. His reaction was completely natural. His father obviously scolded him for his behavior, and he felt guilty for it and decided to do something nice.
Perfectly natural.
I sigh and slide two twenties under my empty glass. Then I lean across the counter and place a quick kiss on Jaxon’s cheek, causing him to lose his footing. The act shocks me as much as it does him.
Shit.
Dammit to vodka. I should go before this gets any weirder.
Jaxon clears his throat then swallows. “Do you need me to take you home?”
I grin. “Take me home? Already? It was just a kiss, Jaxon. Haven’t you ever heard of taking it slow?” I’m doing my best to make light of a potentially awkward situation.
He laughs and throws his bar towel at me as I turn and walk out the door.
I’m just about to climb into the driver’s seat of my car when a voice calls out across the dark, empty parking lot.
“You really shouldn’t be driving.”
I whip my head around at the instant recognition.
Cal is standing against the side of the building, leaning against the brick, with his hands in the pockets of his baggy sweats and the hood of his sweatshirt pulled up over his trademark baseball cap. The outline of a perfectly sculpted jaw peeks out at me.
“You really shouldn’t be stalking,” I reply, receiving a very masculine chuckle in response. Then, deciding not to waste my energy entertaining him, I get in my car and follow the road home.