Page 17 of Changing Caleb
“I haven’t told you yet, but you look really nice tonight,” I say to Avery as we get out of my truck.
We’re a lot alike. We don’t like dressing up and putting on a façade that we’re someone we aren’t. I know the dress she’s wearing is only so she’ll fit in with the crowd. Same for me. And maybe because Casey always begged me to wear a pink shirt, and I refused.
We walk into the house and see dozens of people mingling. I don’t recognize a single person. Avery grips my arm tightly, and I know she’s uncomfortable here. These aren’t her friends. She came here for me. Hell, she came back home for me. Hollis is a damn nightmare for her. I can see why she’s anxious to get back to L.A.
“We won’t stay long,” I promise, patting her hand.
And I mean it. Mainly because I know she’s ready to get back to her life, but also because I finally see someone I know. She’s smiling, laughing even. Her lips moving against the ear of her boyfriend.
I did a lot of changing while I was away from Hollis. I stopped drinking. I stopped being angry. And there’s only one person who can’t see how much I’ve changed.
And she’s the only one who really matters.
18
Casey
Iadjust the top of the emerald gown Derek insisted I wear. I planned on wearing something lowkey. Pretty, but lowkey. He wasn’t having it, assuring me the dress would be perfect. He wasn’t wrong. I fit right in with the snobs.
“You’re fidgeting,” Derek says.
I lean in to whisper in his ear. “Because I feel like my boobs aren’t doing their job of holding this dress up.”
With a subtle shake of his head, he leads me toward a group of people. I frown, not recognizing anyone. They greet him as though they’re old friends. He introduces me, explaining they’re some old college friends of his. We stand there talking for a while, them reminiscing about the good old days while I wish I was hanging out with my friends.
“Hey, I want to go find Jade and Madden,” I say, and Derek presses a kiss to my cheek.
“I’ll come find you in a bit.”
Wow. I’m a tad stunned, figuring he would want to be with me andmyfriends. This ismyfriends’ party, after all. The Hollis residents all stick out like sore thumbs, making it easyfor me to find them. Sure, we are all dressed up, but there’s a huge difference. I know why Jade never felt comfortable coming around here with Madden.
Brady, being himself, clearly doesn’t give a damn about any type of dress code as he spins Lilly around on the dance floor in his jeans and polo shirt. Lilly’s dressed down in a cute sundress, making Brady’s attire seem somewhat appropriate. I’m certain the Steeles are fuming. This is supposed to be an upscale elegant party. We shouldn’t even be here.
“Looks like Derek is having fun,” Jade quips when I walk up.
“College buddies. And here I thought we wouldn’t be staying long. With my luck, we’ll be here after the two of you leave.”
“Jade, Madden, nice party,” Caleb comments as he approaches.
Our eyes lock, his slowly drifting away to take in my appearance. I do the same, remembering how much he protested wearing pink before.
“Thanks for coming,” Madden replies. “Now, I’m going to steal my fiancé away for a dance.”
Jade squeals in delight as he takes her hand, spinning her around and leaving me alone with Caleb and Avery. I glance over at Derek, who is still engaged in conversation with his friends. It’s a little strange that he didn’t even mention they would be here.
“You look beautiful,” Caleb says, capturing my attention when he licks his lips.
My heart pounds in my chest, my damn knees go weak. It should be a sin for him to look so good. He fills out the pink shirt perfectly, his toned muscles stretching the soft fabric just enough.
Then, there are those khakis of his. I thought the jeans were bad enough — always tight on his ass. But those pants he’s wearing now, they fucking mold to him. He doesn’t do the wholeloose-fitting pants, sagging down his butt. I used to love slipping my hands into his back pocket, giving his cheeks a squeeze.
I lick my lips and suck in a breath. Caleb is my past. Derek is my future. So why does it feel like I’m making a huge mistake with him?
19
Caleb
Casey never expected I would show up here in a pink shirt. I always used to say pink was for pussies. She bought me a few pink shirts back when we were together, and I always told her she wasted her damn money. She would return them, fussing and bitching the entire time. I never gave in and wore them. Not even once.
