The Good and The Bad (Complicated Love Story)

Chapter Eight: Catch Me If You Can

One missed call and three texts later Cal finally decided to answer.

“What.”

“Well, hey…” Dotty had no idea why she was contacting Cal. It seemed like a good idea they hadn’t talked in a few days, Dotty didn’t have to stress over doing something else unholy. Scott was at work while Dotty lounged around the apartment. Fall Break was coming up soon and Dotty felt nervous. She and Scott were going to do the deed but, a part of her felt a bit uncertain. Dotty had mentally slapped herself she didn’t know how many times for finding a way to back out. And the fact that she was calling Cal obviously meant her moral compass was going south.

“Hey.” Cal’s hoarse voice brought her out of thought.

“Look, I’m sorry…for accusing you…of that…certain thing.”

“Don’t be.”

“So, it’s true?” Dotty forced a laugh to try and show she was joking. No answer. “I was kidding, Cal!”

“So, is there anything else you wanted?”

“I know why you’re doing this Cal. You think I should come crawling to you and beg you to talk to me because I left…I get it, okay?”

“I have to go.”

“C’mon Cal! Can we at least hang out soon?”

“Maybe.” Before Dotty could get another word in the other end went silent.

“What the f…” A beep from her phone interrupted.

Text from Cal:

I really did have to go, Dotty. You can come by tomorrow.

“Ugh!” That was Cal. Always had to be in control. As if. He always had to pretend he didn’t have a care in the world.

“Seriously!” Dotty yelled to her ringing phone.

“Hey, I can see you. I know what you're doing.”

“Scott!” Dotty said, laughing.

“Just wanted to call you on my lunch break, I forgot to mention Greg and Shay invited us to bowling this weekend on Friday.”

Crud, Dotty thought. Tomorrow was Friday and she planned on doing what Cal wanted, heading over. Maybe this will teach him a lesson, she thought, no way was she going to ditch a night out with Scott.

“Sounds fun!”

“All right, I’ll let them know. Love you.”

“Love you, have fun at work!”

Dotty texted Cal to let him know she couldn’t make it tomorrow. In no way would she let him make her feel guilty. As if.

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“Curse him and his way with words!” Dotty yelled as she drove the hour and a half to Langley from Clinton. Cal had convinced her to do an early morning run in return for not being able to spend the day with him. It was almost seven in the morning and Dotty felt as if she would fall asleep at the wheel any minute. Scott knew her where abouts but found it completely irrational she was heading out so early.

She reached Cal’s house and he quickly pulled her towards the starting point. He lived on the golf course, or much less a poor excuse for a golf course considering Langley’s town size. They would usually run the whole course a few times before retiring. But never this early. Cal was obviously toying with her.

“I hate you.”

“No, you love me.” Cal replied starting off with a jog.

“Hey, I need to stretch!”