Page 19 of Changing Caleb
“Me too,” I reply, adjusting my dress.
“You know what? I’m not. I’m not fucking sorry, Case. I deserve another chance. I can show you that I’m different, better.”
“And what would it change? Huh? You still hooked up with Tori, whether it was a blow job or more. We still lost…still lost…” my voice trails, unable to even say it out loud.
“Our baby.”
“We can’t get that back.”
“No, but we can getusback.”
I shake my head. “There is no us anymore, Caleb. We aren’t good for each other. We never were.”
“Things will be different,” he argues. “I promise.”
He steps to me, cupping my face in his hands. Brushing his lips over mine, he gives me the softest kiss. I want to give in. I desperately want to give in and hold him to that promise.
“I can’t. I just can’t.”
He rests his forehead against mine. “Please.”
His tone is as desperate as I am. He’s breaking just the way I am. But the pain is still too much for me. It still overwhelms me.
“You have to let me go, Caleb.”
Reluctantly, he drops his hands to his sides and takes a step back. Part of me wants him to fight for me. To rage out that no one else can ever have me, the way he used to do. To tell me he’s keeping me forever, the way he did before.
But he doesn’t do that. He stands there saying nothing. Letting me go, just as I asked him to. Refusing to look back, I leave him there. This is for the best. We can stop destroying each other. Finally.
21
Caleb
Iwait a few minutes, giving her time to get downstairs and myself time to cool off before rejoining our friends. Casey didn’t waste any time running to Derek. She clutches his arm, pressing her body against his side. It was only moments ago she was against me.
It was like old times. Like we never skipped a damn beat. Our bodies knew exactly what to do. What we both liked. Her fingers had gripped my hair as she nipped my bottom lip. Just like I always loved for her to do.
I tasted her neck as my cock rubbed against her center. Just like she always loved for me to do. Casey loves sex. That’s all there is to it. Together we were fucking explosive. If only the chemistry we had with our bodies would spill over everywhere else. If only she would believe we could be good together.
“Oh goodness, Casey, your lipstick is smeared,” Jade laughs, completely oblivious as to what just happened upstairs. “You’ve eaten too many hors d'oeuvres!”
Casey lets out a nervous laugh, her green eyes flickering over to me. I bring my hand to my mouth and wipe it over my lips. The remnants of her lipstick leave a mark on my skin. Fuck.
She’s standing here pretending to be in love with this asshole while I’m wiping her lipstick off my mouth. Go fucking figure.
I tear my gaze away from the two of them and walk away. It’s the only thing I know to do. As I’m fleeing, I grab a champagne flute off the tray of a passing waiter and exit out the front door. I’m still holding the glass when Brady finds me. I haven’t had a single sip.
“You alright, man?” he questions, arching an eyebrow at me and pointing to my lipstick-stained hand. “I don’t know if red is your color, but hey, give it a shot.”
“Fuck you, Brady,” I deadpan, and toss the glass over onto the immaculately cut bushes. The gardener will love that, I’m sure.
“I get it,” Brady remarks. “Pink is more your style, but red is more Casey.”
Of course, Brady picked up on what happened. No one else at that party has a clue, but Brady knows. Doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.
“Did you see how she just cozied right up to him? She came down and went straight to him like we hadn’t just crossed paths. Like the fucking kiss didn’t mean anything.”
“People do stupid shit.”
