Page 29 of Changing Caleb
Caleb
It’s nearly lunchtime, and if I don’t take a break soon, I swear I will strangle Tate. I’ve heard him talk about how much fun he had at Madden and Jade’s party all damn morning, and I honestly just want him to shut the fuck up.
After Casey and I hooked up in the bathroom, I went back to the party. It wasn’t long before she returned too. Her face was slightly puffy, and her eyes were red. She’d been crying, but you wouldn’t know it from the way she started downing shots. If anyone knew what happened between us, they didn’t say a word.
I called it a night after watching Tate practically grope Casey right in front of me. I have no idea how the rest of her night went, but according to Tate, they had a great fucking time. Fucker even bragged that it was the best party in Hollis since our prom after-party that Brady threw.
“Are you finished talking about the lame bachelor party Madden had because I’m ready to go get some damn lunch,” I snap when Tate brags about Casey’s keg stand skills.
Brady arches an eyebrow at me, and Madden shakes his head, a slight smirk on his pretty-boy face. I’m irritable and well aware of it too. I don’t give a fuck who else knows it either.
“You should’ve stayed, Caleb,” Tate says.Again.“We all know you love a good keg stand.”
“I don’t do that childish bullshit anymore,” I mutter, rolling my eyes.
I don’t dare admit that I would’ve loved to see Casey doing one. She always kicked ass at them, and then her face would be all flushed, damn near the color of her hair.
“Shit, man, you really have changed,” Tate grumbles. “The old you would’ve been holding Casey up, and then the two of you would’ve been off somewhere to fuck like bunnies, making us all jealous.”
“Yeah? Well, it looked to me like it was you who was trying to drag her off to ‘fuck like bunnies’!”
I toss the hammer I’m holding down and stomp off. I don’t wait for them to call it quits before I climb into my truck and spin out of the parking lot. I know where we’re going for lunch. We fucking always go to Jack’s for lunch.
Shoving the door open, I hear the bell chime erratically with the jolt and head over to our usual table. I’m still pissed. Still aggravated. I try to simmer the anger inside me by telling myself that I have no claim to Casey, despite what happened last night.
I slam my fist on the table, drawing attention from the other patrons, and get up without even ordering anything. When I walk outside, the crew is headed inside. Tate is chatting with Brady, a shit-eating grin on his face. Rage bubbles inside me as I approach him. I roughly grab his collar and sling him against the side of the building, pinning him there.
“What the fuck, Caleb?” he yells.
Brady shakes his head but doesn’t intervene. I lean over and growl a warning into Tate’s ear. I feel him shudder at my words because he knows I’m not fucking around.
“If you ever touch what’s mine again, I will fucking end you.”
I release him and walk to my truck without another word. This is what Casey Wells does to me. She turns me into a jealous lunatic. Has me ready to fight any man who even thinks about her.
I suppose the old Caleb is back.
34
Casey
Madden and Jade's wedding is growing nearer every day, and as happy as I am for my best friend, I’ve never felt more lost. I wear this mask of confidence, pretending that I have all my shit together, but I don’t.
When I broke up with Derek, I felt empowered and stronger than ever, and then I fucked it up by letting Caleb back in between my legs. And now my mind, and okay, maybe even my heart, are fucked. I could take all the time in the world and never get over him.
I go to work, and I find myself staring at the door and willing him to walk through that door. My skin feels hot, and my mouth goes dry every time the door swings open. Goosebumps cover my flesh with intense anticipation, and then disappointment floods my soul when it’s not him.
I cannot get involved with Caleb Randall again. I just can't. There has been too much pain and heartache, too much loss. But it’s just as painful staying away from him. Just as heartbreaking to deny him.
The door opens, and this time, I’m not disappointed. He walks in after having stayed away for nearly two weeks. The crew always showed up, but not Caleb. But he’s back. They go sit at their usual table and Jade walks over to take their order.
Caleb glances over at me, and there goes that heat to my skin. The dryness to my mouth. I’m drowning in anticipation.
The hell with this. Why should I deny him any longer? I fucking love him, and isn’t there some saying about love conquering all? It’s about time I put that saying to the test.
I start toward their table when it opens again. A pretty brunette waltzes in, clearly not from around here. She scans the room and then heads straight toward the guys’ table.
“Holy shit,” Caleb says, rising from his seat.
