but a little spark of curiosity made me pick it up.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice was on the other end. “Skylar?”
“Yes.”
“Hi, this is Cara. We met… sometime, I don’t know. I got your phone off Gavin’s number. That’s not right. I got your number off Gavin’s phone.”
“Um, okay?”
“He’s drunk and trying to walk home from the Caboose.” She paused and her voice shifted to a loud whisper. “I’m drunk too.”
“Is he okay?”
“Oh yeah, you know how guys are. But he left and I thought maybe you could go find him. Make sure he gets home okay.”
I was already on my way downstairs. “Yeah, I can do that. Do you need a ride, too?”
“No, I have a ride coming. This is my fault, so I’ll make it up to you. I have a great massage therapist who does in-home appointments. He has magic hands. Do you want a massage?”
“That’s okay, you don’t have to do that. I’ll see if I can find him. Thanks for calling, Cara.”
“You’re welcome. I’ll get your massage later. No, I mean I’ll text you later.”
“No, you don’t—”
But she’d already hung up.
I grabbed my coat and went out to my car, wondering why Cara had called me of all people. Although she’d sounded pretty drunk.
Had he said something to her about me?
There was no way to know, but a sense of resolve shored up my courage. Whatever her reasons for calling, I was going to make the most of the opportunity.
I was going to do what Ginny said and go after what I wanted.
Although maybe I’d do that tomorrow. Having a conversation with a drunk Gavin probably wouldn’t work very well.
He wasn’t hard to find. I drove to the Caboose and found him lying on the sidewalk right next to where he’d been when I’d hit him with my car. He was on his back with his knees bent, his feet flat on the ground. The dark street was empty, so I just stopped in the road and opened my door.
“Gavin?”
His face turned toward me. “Sky?”
I got out and knelt beside him. “What are you doing on the ground? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m walking home.”
“You’re not walking anywhere. You’re lying on the sidewalk.”
“Am I?” He lifted his head and looked around. “I think I got tired.”
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
“Thass so nice of you,” he said, his voice slurring a little. “Why are you so nice? And so pretty. You’re beautiful.”
I laughed. “Can you get up?”
“I think so. It’s very spinny.” He sat up and rubbed his face. “Sky, I have to tell you something.”
“Yeah?”
“I drank too much.”
“I know. Come on, let’s get in the car.”
“Iss not my fault.”
I helped him to his feet and made sure he was steady. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Cara wanted to do shots. I don’t like her.”
“You don’t? I thought you were friends.”
“We are. But I don’t like her that way.” He laughed, like he’d just thought of something amusing. “Did you think I took her out on a date?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t really think about it.” I ushered him into the passenger seat. “She just called and said you were trying to walk home.”
“She called you?”
“Yes. Are you going to fall over?”
Leaning back against the headrest, he closed his eyes. “I don’t think so.”
I reached across him to fasten his seatbelt, then got in the car. He started singing—it wasn’t a song I knew—and waved his arms around like an enthusiastic symphony conductor.
If our conversation earlier hadn’t still stung so much, it would have been pretty funny.
We got to his house and it didn’t look like his brothers were home. I helped him out of the car and he leaned on me, limping on his booted foot. He kept singing, although it was more mumbling now.
I had to fish his keys out of his pants pocket, which made him giggle like a little kid. We went inside and I shut the front door behind us.
“Princess Squeaker,” he called. “Mommy’s home!”
His kitten came out and mewed at him. He stumbled forward, leaning over to pick her up.
“I’ve got her,” I said and scooped her into my hands while she squeaked in protest. “Let’s just get you to bed.”
“This way,” he declared and pointed to the hallway.
I followed him to the bathroom and waited outside the door while he went in. Princess Squeaker squirmed, her tiny claws sharp. Gavin started singing drunk opera while he used the bathroom.
“Your mommy’s a mess.”
He came out, his pants still undone, but I didn’t worry