Getting on my bike, I quickly head to the clubhouse and park in my spot.Most of the guys have already left for work or to clean around the haunted house so it’s ready for tonight when we open.Kreed’s bike is gone so I know he’s at the garage we opened here in Glendale.I won’t be going in today because we really don’t have any big projects on the books.I’ve got a ton of paperwork to do in the office and other shit to do around here for the club.Plus, I have to help Master look into everything regarding Cali.The quicker we figure this situation out, the better everything will be.Cali can move back to her home with the kids and I can try to forget having her in my arms and feeling her wrapped around me.It’s not like I’ll ever forget that moment, but I can try.I just won’t turn to drinking and fucking all the Feral girls again.I was stupid to pull that shit in my pathetic attempt to push Cali out of my head and heart.
Heading straight for my room after parking my bike and entering the common room, I take a shower.While letting the water rain down over me, I let myself picture Cali last night.I see her face as she finds her release, the feel of her smooth skin against mine, and her hair spread out like a halo above her head.A fucking goddess in every way.I hear her moans of pleasure and something in me feels proud as hell because I made her do that.She screamed out my name and it’s so different hearing her say it when I’m buried deep inside her versus her saying it on a daily basis.I can’t describe what I feel knowing I had just a small taste of her because now I want her every day in every single way imaginable.I’m so fucked and don’t know how I’ll handle it because one taste of Cali will never be enough.
After drying off and getting dressed in a pair of shorts and my sneakers, I find a random tee-shirt to put on while I walk through the clubhouse.Instead of going to eat or anything else, I make my way to the gym.I’m not expecting my dad and Tank to be working out.I was really hoping to be alone so I could work my way through the feelings inside me.Now I won’t get that chance.
“Mornin’, Son,” my dad greets me as he finishes his set on the pull up bar.Tank is on the treadmill running like his life depends on it and he’s not even out of breath.The man is a damn beast.
“Mornin’,” I grumble in return, my good mood disappearing completely as the confusion and guilt take over completely.
“What’s goin’ on?”Tank asks me, slowing his run down to a walk before shutting the treadmill off and grabbing his towel.
“Nothin’,” I answer, sitting down on the mat to warm up before starting my workout.
“Caleb, you know you can’t lie to either one of us.We’ve seen you in every damn situation you could be in and know when somethin’ is weighin’ you down.Right now, you have the weight of the world on your shoulders and it’s a heavy burden to carry alone,” my dad says, walking over to me and sitting on the mats with a bottle of water in his hand.“I’m guessin’ it involves Cali since you didn’t come back here last night.I know you’ve been stayin’ up there as long as you can, but you always return at some point durin’ the night.You won’t allow yourself to sleep in the same house as her for more than a night or two.”
“I just fucked everythin’ up.I betrayed my best friend in the worst way possible and made Cali into somethin’ she’s not,” I say, dropping my head and giving up the pretense of working out because this is about to turn into a therapy session with my dad and uncle.Something I desperately need after last night and this morning.
“So, you and Cali had sex last night.Gonna guess you slept with her all night long too,” my uncle states as he sits on the bench right next to us and downs half a bottle of water at once.“Did you take care of her afterwards?That’s my only question.”
“Of course I took care of her.I’d never treat Cali like a Feral girl or some random hookup.Not that I treat them like shit.I ran her a bath and washed her hair and body before puttin’ her to bed.She was asleep the second her head hit the pillow.It was the best night of my life and now the guilt is hittin’ me hard,” I answer my uncle, offended he would think I wouldn’t take care of the girl I’ve loved for as long as I can remember.
“We knew you’d take care of her, Caleb.Tank was just makin’ sure you realized you took care of her the way you should.You’ve always viewed Cali as your queen.It’s why you call her Reina.In your eyes, she’s the perfect woman and will never do anythin’ to change your view of her.She could literally set the world on fire and you’d make sure she was okay before askin’ if she needed help with anythin’ else.You’ve waited a long time to be with her and it’s finally happened.What’s the problem?”my dad questions me and I know why he’s asking me this question.It’s not because he wants to know why I feel this is a bad thing, he wants me to truly think about why this is making me feel so much guilt.
“The problem is Cali is a married woman.You both know everythin’ goin’ on and I’ve turned Cali into a fuckin’ cheater.She’s not a widow if Darren is still alive.Cali can’t stand cheaters because of her father.Now, she is one.Regardless of what’s goin’ on with Darren and her, they are still married.I willneversay I regret last night because I don’t.I could never regret somethin’ so fuckin’ perfect and right.Especially when it was with her.My problem is the guilt is hittin’ me hard.Not only because of what I just turned Cali into, but because I betrayed one of my best friends.It’s why I told Cali we could never be together in the first place.Cali deserves so much more than what last night just did to her,” I tell my dad and uncle while accepting the bottle of water Tank hands over to me.“I took what should have been the most perfect moment in our lives and turned it to shit.I’ve dreamed of it for so damn long and it exceeded every dream I’ve ever had of bein’ with her.Now, it’s all tainted.”
“Did Cali ever once look as if she didn’t want to be with you, Caleb?”Tank asks me as he starts his post workout stretching session.
“No.I got her consent more than once and didn’t take my eyes off of her when we were together.She was right in the moment with me and never once hesitated,” I answer them honestly as my dad also starts stretching.
“Caleb, if Cali didn’t want to be with you, she wouldn’t have stayed in that moment with you.Cali is one of the best girls I’ve ever met in my life.She was essentially raised by the ol’ ladies in the club and knows right from wrong.While she might have gotten shit on in the parent department, Cali has always had strong women in her life to help guide her when she needs it most.Just like you’ve had all of us to help guide you and teach you right from wrong.Cali will talk this out with your mom, aunt, and grandma to help gain a different perspective on what happened last night.
“Now, I completely understand where you’re comin’ from.The last thing you want to do is hurt Cali.None of us want to see her hurt for any reason.While you may feel as if you betrayed Darren because he was married to her, there’s no reason for it.Caleb, we’ve seen their relationship over the years.Darren was never in love with Cali and Cali wasn’t in love with him.She couldn’t ever love Darren as anythin’ more than a best friend because her heart is consumed by the kids and you.There has never been room in her heart for anyone else.The three of you are her entire world while Kreed and Darren always came in second.It’s a simple fact of the situation regardless of how anyone sees it.The two of you are soulmates who never got the chance to be together.Yet.
“Cali and Darren haven’t been together in almost a year.Darren chose to leave her for whatever reason.She might still be legally married, but in everyone’s eyes, she’s separated from her husband.You didn’t make her cheat on anyone if she’s separated.The only thing that needs to be done is the divorce papers need to be signed and filed.Master already has them printed out and he’s just waitin’ to find Darren so you guys can make him sign them.Neither one of you betrayed Darren either.He’s the one who betrayed you the day he took that first kiss from Cali in the school bathroom.You’ve been a loyal friend to him and Cali and have never once crossed the line in any way.You’re stupid for pushin’ her away because of your loyalty.I’ve told you that before.There is no reason for you to feel an ounce of guilt for bein’ with your woman,” my dad says as Tank nods along in agreement while remaining silent for now.
“You don’t understand, Dad.I get that Darren chose to leave Cali when he faked his death on our last mission.He made a choice and didn’t give a fuck what it did to the rest of us.That doesn’t change the fact that Cali will feel like she cheated on him by bein’ with me.She’ll see herself as a married woman whose husband is just away right now.She spent so much time without him, it will be easy for her to think of him as simply being deployed on a mission again instead of a man who left her and their children behind.She’ll view them as still bein’ married.I might know Cali better than you two, but even you can’t deny that’s the truth of our situation.And what if she gets pregnant?I didn’t use a condom with her last night.The thought of grabbin’ one didn’t even cross my mind,” I ask them, knowing it’s a real possibility and something we’ll have to think about until she finds out one way or another.
The thought of having kids with Cali fills me with peace and a joy I’ve never experienced in any other situation before.Unlike Darren, I’d be there for every second of her pregnancy.I’d go to all of her doctor appointments, run out in the middle of the night to get something she’s craving, and be there for the delivery of our son or daughter.I was in the room when Cali had Rory and it was a sight I’ll never forget.Cali fought desperately to bring her daughter into the world.She showed how strong she truly is and never once complained about the pain labor was causing her.My girl can’t stand to be in pain, but it didn’t bother her for a single second that day.When I say I want it all with Cali, it’s the damn truth.I want every piece of her heart and soul to belong to me.She already has my heart and soul and I’ll never take it back from her.Cali owns me and I couldn’t change that if I wanted to.
“If she’s pregnant, you’ll be there for her the way you were just thinkin’ about,” Tank says with a smirk on his face as I snap my head in his direction because he shouldn’t know where my head is right now.“You’re easy to read, Caleb.At least for those of us who have known you your entire life and seen you in every possible situation.Caleb, you really need to stop thinkin’ and feelin’ as if you’re betrayin’ Darren.I don’t know everythin’, but I have a strong feelin’ he’s not the man any of us believe him to be.If he were any kind of man, he never would have abandoned his wife and children.He’s plannin’ somethin’ and it involves Cali and you.Most likely, it involves more than you two, but you’re the main two he’s comin’ for.I don’t know why yet, but he’s always had some plan in mind.Cali and you are simply pawns for him to get what he’s after.”
“I’ve been thinkin’ the same way.Master and Kreed also feel like that’s the truth of the situation.Master is lookin’ into Darren’s past before you met him at football camp.He’s diggin’ into his family and everythin’ he can think of in order to discover what his motives for everythin’ are.This is goin’ to be somethin’ major and I’m thinkin’ none of us will ever see what’s really goin’ on until we get our hands on Darren and he talks,” my dad agrees with my uncle and I have to admit that I can see where they’re coming from.
“I’ll try to think of things that way, but for now, I think Cali and I need some space so we can figure out where we go from here.Things have definitely changed between the two of us and I left her in bed all alone this mornin’.Couldn’t bring myself to wake her up when she hasn’t been sleepin’,” I tell my dad and uncle as I finally start to warm-up for my workout.
“We’re gettin’ in the ring,” my dad states while looking at me as I give him my attention.“I still owe you an ass whoopin’ for bein’ a little fucker when we first got here.Tank’s the only one who got his hands on you.Now, it’s my turn.”
“I’ll beat your ass, Dad.It’s been a while since we’ve been in the ring together,” I tell him, knowing that’s not the truth at all.My dad will kick my ass and I’ll let him.Not because I want my dad to beat my ass.I’d let him because he owes me for the way I was treating Cali and every member of the Feral Dragons MC.
After warming up, I get a quick workout in before letting Tank wrap my hands so I can spar with my dad.We climb in the ring and circle one another as if we don’t know every single move the other one will make.I’ve been in the ring so many times with my dad, there isn’t any way we don’t know what the other one is thinking and how this session will start off.Tank is the only man I’ve ever been in the ring with more than once who never starts a sparring session the same way twice.You literally never know what you’ll get when Tank steps in the ring with you.I’m just glad he already got his hands on me and I don’t have to get my ass beat by him again.At least not yet.If I fuck up again, he won’t hesitate to put me in my place.Though, Tank might let my papa kick my ass first since he still has to get his hands on me.
