Beware of Bad Boy(66)

Caleb didn’t say anything as we walked out of the trees with his arm around my shoulders. As soon as we get back to the campsite, Caleb kissed me passionately. I knew he was partly doing it for Jared’s benefit, but I didn’t mind because that slut, Hailey, was also watching.

Jared walked up and cleared his throat. I turned my head to look at him and reminded myself I’d never made Jared any promises. All I did was dance in front of him.

Jared glared at Caleb before asking me, “You forgive him just like that?”

Hailey piped in with, “I wouldn’t forgive him.” Like I was going to take advice from her?

“Jared, you heard Hailey explain that nothing happened. Caleb and I have some things we still need to work out, but I’m not breaking up with him over a misunderstanding.” This wasn’t either of their business, especially Hailey.

Hailey propped a hand on one hip. “Can we go now, Caleb?”

I really didn’t like her ordering around my boyfriend. Caleb could feel my tension and squeezed my hip as if it was going to make me feel better.

Caleb pointed a finger at Jared. “Don’t try kissing my girlfriend again. We’re still together, so paws off.” He better say the same thing to Hailey if she tried anything on their way back to the city.

Caleb and I kissed one last time before they left and as I ran my hand through his dark hair, I yanked it gently. “Be good.”

“You too, princess. By the way, since Jared got that little Shakira performance, I’ll be expecting a lap dance, stripper style.”

“You’re so bad,” I told him.

“See you tomorrow,” he whispered.

As they were walking back to wherever Caleb parked, Hailey glanced over her shoulder at me and smirked. Smug bitch. If she touched him, I’d kill her.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE



“Beyond the beauty, the sex, the titillation, the surface,

there is a human being. And that has to emerge.

-Jeanne Moreau



CALEB



I wasn’t happy about leaving Gianna up in the mountains with Jared there. Especially since we hadn’t gotten everything completely resolved between us. Hailey did do me a favor by telling Gianna the truth, however reluctantly she may have done it. I owed it to her to get her home after dragging her around all day.

Before we reached the bottom of the mountain, Hailey started bitching. “She isn’t right for you, Caleb.”

“Oh really, and what makes you the expert on relationships?”

“She’s just having her kicks with you. A girl that beautiful will only dump you when someone better comes along.”

Hailey started messing with the radio and I slapped her hand away, turning it off. “How would you know? Have you been dumped by a girl like Gianna?” Hailey had no right judging Gianna when she didn’t even know her.

“Of course not, dumbass. What I do know is that girls like that don’t end up with guys like you. They may date them for awhile, but in the end she’s going to end up with the quarterback or the class president. The type of guy who’s going to go to college and make something of himself.”

“Thanks a lot. I’m not exactly an idiot, you know,” I told her, stung and strangely worried she was right.

She rolled her eyes. “I know you’re not an idiot, Caleb, but you don’t have the dedication to do things like finish college.”

“Perhaps being with Gianna is what I needed to inspire me. Maybe I want to be a better person for her. I don’t even want any other girls anymore, Hailey.” From the glow of the dashboard, I could see a pained expression on her face. “Besides, Gianna sees me as more than just a fling. She’s opened up to me in a way she does only with those people you met tonight. Maybe even more so with me and that has to mean something.”

“Maybe that’s so, but let me ask you something, Caleb. Have you done the same with her?”

I realized what she referred to. “There’s no reason to tell her about anything in my past.”

“If you can’t do it, she isn’t the right girl for you,” Hailey said confidently.

Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I thought about her words. “She knows I was no angel before I met her.”

“But does she know the worst things you’ve done? What got you expelled this last time?” Hailey questioned with a knowing look on her face.

“She doesn’t need to know.”

“Are you afraid she won’t accept you, Caleb?” She kept talking before I could respond. “Are you worried she’ll realize she can do better?”

“She wouldn’t think that,” I said hotly. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. Turn on the radio.”