Yet here I am, going to get coffee with him to see what he’s really about. I want to see him without a camera on, when I can ask questions that aren’t for an interview.
And see if he’s as incredible as I think he might be.
I grab my perfume bottle off the marble countertop and spritz some on my neck and my nape. The scent of sea salt with ahint of caramel fills the air, and I can’t help but wonder if Caleb will like it.
I glance down at my watch and note it’s about fifteen minutes until I’m supposed to meet him. I leave the bathroom, drape my purse over my shoulder, and retrieve the key card that I had lying out on the dresser. I leave the room and make my way toward the elevator, my stomach tingling the entire time.
I still can’t believe this whole day happened. I interviewed Caleb for The Downforce Network. I stood my ground on a closed set and won. I had an early dinner with Derna, Allyson, and Melody at a little café not far from here and it was fun. They were welcoming and kind, and Derna and Melody really liked how I approached the interview today. Both of them have been working for the network for years, and they had never seen Caleb look so relaxed and happy when talking to the media, which made me so happy inside.
Then came the surprise, which I can’t wait to tell Caleb about over coffee.
I punch the button for a down elevator. Caleb has gone to great lengths to meet tonight. He’s rented aconference roomhere at the hotel so we’re ensured privacy. Which is smart because The Downforce Network has a lot of crew members staying here, and we would be super obvious hanging out in a restaurant or bar. I also appreciate that he didn’t invite me back to his motorhome, which I would have had to decline. I wouldn’t want all the other drivers seeing me going in or coming out, not when I’m still getting to know Caleb.
I do still feel a bit of anxiety about being seen tonight. I’m going to have to be incredibly careful and alert, making sure the coast is clear before I make my way to the conference room.
No pressure.
As an elevator chimes in front of me, I step inside and press the button for the lobby. As soon as the doors close, my phone vibrates in my hand. I turn it over and see it’s a text from Caleb:
I’ve just parked, will be there in a few minutes. You can go inside the conference room if you’re ready. I have to warn you, I’ve come straight from a sponsor dinner, so I’m overdressed. Note this is NOT how I would dress for a coffee date.
A coffee date. This is really about to happen.
I text him back:
I’m on my way down now. I’ll head straight for the Oliva room. And I won’t judge you for not being dressed appropriately.
Ding!
The elevators open on the ground floor to a lobby full of people. No doubt a mix of tourists and The Downforce Network crew members. I take a moment and look around. Nobody has noticed me. Okay, so far, so good. I follow the signs to the corridor that houses all the conference rooms, my heart pounding in fear of being discovered. I find one marked “Oliva,” and a hotel staff person is standing outside.
“Hello, I have a meeting here this evening,” I say.
She smiles at me. “Your name, please?”
“Isla Foley.”
Her smile broadens. “Yes, Ms. Foley, please come in. My name is Bianca, and I’ll be taking care of you this evening.”
“Thank you.”
She opens the door for me, and I step inside the conference room. It’s small, set up for a meeting. The floors are light hardwood, and a modern rectangular conference table is in the middle. There’s also a seating area with two leather club chairs and a small table in between them. Large windows give a view of the lush lawn and bubbling fountain, all lit up for nighttime.
And along one wall, the catering staff has set up a coffee bar. Carafes of hot coffee—both regular and decaf—along with pitchers of milk and packets of sugar. There are ceramic cups and saucers, along with a pitcher of water and glasses.
“Does everything look okay?” Bianca asks me.
I turn back to her and nod. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
“I’ll be back to check on you later.”
Then Bianca exits the room, the door softly clicking behind her, and my anxiety about being spotted evaporates, but it’s replaced by nerves for this date.
I set my purse down and walk around the room. I’m excited for Caleb to get here. But I’m also scared. If I like him half as much as I suspect I will, it’s going to throw a whole bunch of difficulties into my plans for the future.
But Hadleigh was right. There are some things you have to trust your gut on. If I didn’t explore this chemistry with Caleb, I know I would wonder about it for the rest of my life.
And I can’t live with a what-if about Caleb Collings.