Page 14 of Changing Caleb
“I’m sorry, Casey,” I mumble and leave her standing there with her mouth open in shock.
Brady is standing with Lilly in my living room when I come out. She wears a guilty expression on her face. I point down the hall in the direction of Casey. I want to mend things, make it right, but for now, I just want her out of my house.
“Please, just get her out of my house.”
14
Casey
This week has been so nice hanging out with the girls. Even if it was just cleaning this nasty shithole of a house. The fact that I was having my girl time, no pressure from Derek or Caleb, was wonderful.
I didn’t expect to see him come in. Don’t even know why he’s here. Determined to get answers, I march out to the living room.
“Why is he here?”
“Yeah, Lilly, why is he here?” Brady repeats. “Better yet, why isshehere?”
“Why am I here? I’m helping clean this shit hole up!”
“This shit hole just so happens to be Caleb’s place!” Brady shoots back.
My eyes narrow at Lilly, and Brady steps between us. Probably a good thing. In the mood I’m in, there’s no telling what I might do. I got duped. Simple as that.
“I’m sorry, Casey. I really am. I just thought this would be a fun project to help get your mind off Caleb.”
“Get my mind off of him? My mind is not on him!”
“Oh, bullshit!” Avery steps up. Her hair is swept up, and she’s just as dirty as Lilly and me. “You’ve been obsessed with him since we got back into town. Fuck, since the day you met him.”
I brush past Lilly and stand directly in front of Avery. Maybe Lilly was just trying to help, but Avery damn sure knew I’d be pissed off about this. “Trust me, I’m over your fucking brother. You have no idea what’s happened between us. How the hell could you let me clean his house? Do you know how demeaning that is?”
She shrugs. Just fucking shrugs her shoulders like it’s no skin off her ass. “We needed the help. You know, charity.”
“Do you have any idea how many times I’ve defended you? But you’ve never had my back! Not one fucking time.”
“All right, just calm down.” Caleb’s deep, loud voice booms from behind where we are all standing.
“Did you know about this? Huh? When you were out of town did you assholes just laugh at my ignorance?”
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Oh, you wouldn’t? You’d fuck another girl while we’re together, but you wouldn’t have me clean your house?”
“You know what? Any time you want to be on your knees in my house, that’s fine by me, but I can guarantee you won’t be scrubbing my fucking bathtub.”
“There he is. There’s the Caleb I know.”
His jaw clenches, obviously frustrated that I got to him. This whole holier than thou person he’s claiming to be is just an act. That proves it.
“Casey,” Jade says quietly, shaking her head.
“So glad this fucking charade you’re putting on didn’t last too long.”
With a frustrated groan, he runs his fingers through his hair as he walks away. He walks away. Now, that’s not the Caleb I know.
“You know, Case, if you’re so over my fucking brother, then how come you love seeing him in pain?” Avery questions. “No, wait. I know that answer. Because you are. You’re in pain, and misery loves company.”
Perhaps she’s right. Seeing him happy, seeing him put on this show, isn’t fair. I’m still hurting. I still wake up crying in the middle of the night. I still fantasize about what could’ve been. It kills me that he isn’t doing the same thing.
