| BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN |
"Well, hey, this has been great, and I'm sorry to have to cut out early." Alec stands, placing a hand on Gillian's back. "Demanding boss," he adds with a laugh that Zoe joins in with but Cal instantly recognizes as fake. For Gillian's sake, he pretends not to notice; but Cal's distrust of Alec has increased tenfold tonight. He has never really liked the guy, considers him well beneath Gillian. Plonker doesn't even seem aware of what a lucky man he is.
Alec leans down to plant a kiss on top of Gillian's head. "I'll be really late, hon. No need to wait up." Then he's looking back at Cal and Zoe. "We should do this again soon."
Cal fixes him with a brief yet piercing look that causes Alec's polished façade to falter just for a moment. I'm on to you, it says to him. Or maybe he only imagines it, because in the next second, Cal is standing and smiling (it doesn't reach his eyes – a thing that Alec and Zoe don't notice, but Gillian does…or thinks she does.) They shake hands, and Cal wishes him a good night with a pat on the shoulder. Then it seems to Gillian that maybe his smile is reaching his eyes after all, and now she's second-guessing what she saw (or thought she saw). But by now, Cal is looking at her. So maybe…maybe that explains the change in his smile…
Zoe certainly doesn't miss how Cal smiles whenever he looks in Gillian's direction. It's sickening and it's starting to piss her off. She doesn't think he even realizes he's doing it, and that makes it worse somehow. It hurts, because there was a time – not all that long ago really (or was it?) – when he used to look at her the way he looks at Gillian now. And that makes her hate that woman just a tiny little bit.
And as if she heard Zoe think her name, Gillian looks at Zoe. So, of course, Zoe gives her the best, most dazzling I-don't-actually-hate-your-guts smile she can muster. Gillian senses something 'off' about Zoe, but they haven't known each other long enough or spent enough time together for Gillian to be able to quite put her finger on it.
Cal listens to the two ladies in his life make small talk while they all finish their dinner, and he can put his finger on it. He knows that when they get home, they will be having it out. Again. Probably won't even make it home first, actually. Most likely get into it in the car on the drive home. Won't be the first time. Won't be the last.