Page 24 of Changing Caleb
Caleb
How weird is it to be working for your ex-girlfriend’s boyfriend? I mean, when I agreed to take the job to do an addition on Derek’s house, it was before I nearly lost control with Casey in the fucking supply closet at Jack’s. I had her pants unzipped. Had Lilly not interrupted, I know I wouldn’t have stopped. Casey’s whimpers let me know she wouldn’t have stopped me either. She fucking wanted it, and I wanted to give it to her. Wanted to hear her scream my name again.
Now, I’m standing in her boyfriend’s house taking measurements and making notes to order supplies. Definitely weird.
I’ve steered clear of Casey since the whole supply room incident, which is difficult considering Jack’s is one of the few places that serve lunch in Hollis. I’m honestly tired of eating damn peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch. But she needs some space, so I’ll give her that. I’m not giving up on her though.
“How’s it looking, Mr. Randall?” Derek pops in.
Mr. Randall?“You can call me Caleb. I’m pretty sure I can get started on this in a couple of weeks. Need to order some supplies now that we have proper measurements for the addition.”
He contacted Brady and told him he was adding to the job. Wants an addition. We didn’t have the supplies ordered for that, but we’ll take the work, even if it’s a bit of a drive to the job site.
“That’ll work. There’s no big rush on it. I just figured one day Casey and I will have children, and I want to add on the extra space now while I can afford it.”
“Kids, huh?”
That statement is like a punch to the gut. We were supposed to have a kid. Us. Not the two of them.
“At least two,” he replies. “But not in the near future. It’s necessary for Casey to complete her education before we get married. No one wants to marry a college drop-out.”
Wow.That definitely sounds like true love. Sounds like he’s concerned with how she’ll look on his arm at his social events with all of his professor buds. Can’t have an uneducated loser for a wife, now can he?
“She’ll finish. She doesn’t quit on something once she starts it.”
Derek laughs a little. “Except for you, right?”
I drop the notebook I’m holding down to my side, fighting back my anger. “She didn’t quit on me, Derek.”
“I apologize for that. It’s just that I saw the way you looked at her at the engagement party. I’m a very smart man, Caleb, and I’m not blind. I would prefer to be assured that I don’t have anything to worry about when it comes to you.”
“Take that up with Casey.”
“I’ll do that,” he smiles. “And I’ll leave you to your work.”
I watch him walk out of the room, and I look back at the notebook, trying to focus on the reason I’m here. I’m not herefor Casey. I’m not here to think about her or what her future holds with Derek. If being with Derek is what really makes her happy, then fine. I’ll build them the best damn nursery they’ve ever seen.
28
Casey
You ever have one of those days where everything that could possibly go wrong does? Well, that’s the day I’m having. I dropped a whole tray of glasses full of sweet tea, and then sliced my finger on a shard. Then, immediately after I cleaned up that mess, a kid got sick and puked in one of the booths.
Could this day get any worse?
The bell on the door chimes, and in walks Caleb, Brady, and Logan. Yes. Yes, it absolutely can get worse.
I’ve been a mess since the whole storage room debacle. I want to tell Derek what happened. Get it off my chest and get rid of this guilt I’m feeling. But I’m afraid if I do that, he’ll end things, and I won’t have him as a buffer between Caleb and me. Selfish. I know. He deserves so much better. Thing is, so do I. I want a happy ending just like every other girl I know. Derek can give me that, for the most part.
“If you want something other than your usual, tough luck. I’ve had a shit day, and seeing the three of you walk in here only makes it shitter.”
Logan arches his eyebrows and mumbles that he’ll take his usual. Brady throws his arm around me, getting my shirt all sweaty.
“Case, you have to learn to ease into bitch mode,” he teases and then looks to Caleb. “Save me a seat, sweetie. Be right back.”
Caleb rolls his eyes, a smirk playing at his lips. “The usual is fine with me.”
It’s been a few days since they’ve come into Jack’s. That’s because they’re working on the renovation at Derek’s house. My ex is renovating my boyfriend’s house.Awkward.Needless to say, I haven’t seen much of Derek this week either.
