Page 41 of Falling Back to You

“I’m not a car guy, okay? Wait, it’s the same model as Stephie’s . . . uh, matador? Margarita?”

“Matrix?”

“That’s it! It has four doors and great gas mileage. That’s as good as I can reckon.” Hailey winked. “I’m running to the ladies’ room. See you in a few.”

Still chuckling, I tugged my ball cap over my eyes and plunged out into the cold night air to bring the car around. I barely pulled to a stop before Hailey flew across the sidewalk, launching herself into the passenger side.

“What are you doing?” I laughed, cranking the heat. “Is the boogeyman chasing you?”

“Forgive me for trying to not draw attention to the fact that I was hopping into a vehicle with you at night.”

I grinned. “You draw attention everywhere, Hails.”

“You’re such a flirt.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment since I’m trying to not make a fool of myself.”

She patted my arm like a grandma. “You’re doing great.”

The hotel was only ten minutes away, and Hailey chattered lightly about her cross-country tour, starting next week. She’d be spending the next six months on the road with only a short break for Christmas. I parked a ways from the main entrance and shifted to glance at my companion.

Her smile was sunny, even in the dimly lit interior. “Thanks for tonight. I had fun.”

“Yeah. Me too.” And I meant it. Hailey was great, and maybe in another world, another lifetime, we could have been more . . . if I didn’t think of her like a sister. Yeah, no. I climbed out of the driver’s seat and jogged around to her side to open the door.

She hopped out with an impish smile. “I’ve been dying to ask all night, so please appreciate my restraint—who is she?”

“Huh?”

Hailey crossed her arms. Probably trying to look fierce, but she failed epically. Even with the heeled boots she was wearing, she was still a foot shorter than me. “I know that look. You’re pining for someone.” She hummed and tapped her lips. “The girl who got away perhaps. A certain Noelle Shepherd?”

My jaw dropped. “How did you—?”

“Juliet.”

“Juliet has a big mouth,” I grumbled.

“I think she didn’t want me to get my hopes up.”

I reared back in surprise. “What now? You mean—”

“C’mon, Cal. I have eyes, and you’re gorgeous. Not my type—”

“What, athletic with a pretty face?” I waggled my eyebrows.

She snorted. “Famous, my dude.”

“Uh, how many musicians have you dated?”

“Exactly my point. I want to date a regular guy without the spotlight. So no, I’m not in any danger of falling in love with you.” She wrinkled her nose apologetically. “And you’re practically family—so, ew.”

“But you still said yes to tonight, knowing that?”

The soft glow from the parking lights reflected in her eyes. “Sometimes it helps getting back in the saddle when you have a familiar face across the table from you. Then if you fall face-first in a cow pie, at least the embarrassment levels are kept to a minimum.”

“Were you expecting me to fail?” I quipped. Because I sure was.

“Nah, you’re suave. But going back to Noelle. Have you seen her? Is she every bit as gorgeous as your dreams?” She batted her eyelashes dramatically.