Stolen Course(66)
“Oh wow,” I gasp.
“It was the worst night of my life, but we are all better for it—that includes Sarah.”
“Yeah, she definitely is. What about Caleb?”
“You want my personal opinion on what changed for him? Because really that is all I have to offer.”
“Yeah. I’m just curious about his actions that night. Knowing him like I do now, I can’t see him being in the same room with Sarah, much less rushing into a traumatic situation to carry her out. He said he did it for Manda, but the very next day, he went right back to hating her.”
“That was Caleb’s first experience with letting love triumph over hate. You should probably remind him of that sometimes.” She gives me a gentle smile, and I have no idea what her last statement means, but before I can overanalyze it, Kara comes back.
“Well as very entertaining as you boring people are, Devon is coming to pick me up,” she announces.
“Wait, what happened to the bartender?”
“No! Don’t get her started on him!” Jesse yells just as Kara sits down to enlighten me.
“Okay, so we were finally getting down to business when, all of the sudden, his mom called. Okay, fine. Whatever. We’ve all got a mom. However, his mom was pissed, all screaming over the phone. Come to find out—”
“He bought her dinner using his mom’s credit card while cruising around town in her Mustang,” Brett finishes, interrupting her.
“Damn it, Hot Ass! You ruined the best part.”
“Sorry, I have a seven-story limit, and that was number eight.”
“Oh whatever. You suck,” she says, heading to the front door. “Okay, ladies and sexy men, my chariot awaits. See you guys later.” She smiles.
“Night, Kara!” we all yell in unison.
I turn to Caleb, who came in with Brett and parked beside me. “I freaking love her.”
“Why does that not surprise me?” He gently kisses me.
“Okay, gorgeous. We need to get going,” Brett announces, pulling Jesse to her feet.
“Why? It’s still early.” I whine.
“We’ll hang out again soon,” Jesse says over her shoulder as Brett pushes her out the door.
“Where’s Eli?” I ask, turning to Caleb.
“He went out the back a while ago,” he says, leaning in for another kiss.
“So what do you want to do tonight?” I move over on the couch and lie down with my head in his lap.
“It depends. How are you feeling?” he asks, sneaking a hand down the top of my shirt. Caleb may not talk about the baby, but he takes full advantage of my overly sensitive nipples and increased sex drive.
“Can we watch a movie or something then talk about that? It’s still early.” I pull his hand out of my shirt.
“Sure. What is the shortest movie ever made? I’ll rent that.”
I laugh, and he smiles down at me, licking his lips.
“I love you,” I say, pulling his hand down to my stomach.
I really don’t think too much about the implications until he snatches his hand away like my stomach burned him. I can’t decide if I want to be pissed, hurt, or some wicked combination of the two. Regardless, I know I need a few minutes alone.
“I’ll be right back.” I try to keep myself from running to the bathroom.
I lean against the sink, hating myself for hiding away instead of asking him about it, but I don’t want to hear his answer. I’m insecure right now, and it’s an overwhelming and new feeling for me.
“Emmy, you okay?” Caleb knocks on the door. “You want some ginger ale or something?”
“Nah, I’m fine.” I try to collect myself but give up and decide to confront him instead. I pull open the door and almost run into his chest.
“Hey, you all right?” He looks concerned.
“Why’d you pull your hand away?”
“What?” he asks, but he gives me a fake laugh that tells me that he knows exactly what I’m talking about.
“Start talking or I’m going to bed.”
“It’s weird,” he says sheepishly.
“What’s weird? My stomach? Because that’s going to get a whole lot more weird over the next few months.”
This time he doesn’t even try to hide it—he openly laughs.
“Laugh it up. I’m going to bed.” I push past him.
“Emmy, wait!” He follows behind me. “I just mean that it’s weird that you’re pregnant.”
“Awesome!” I say sarcastically over my shoulder, but I don’t get two steps before I’m plucked off my feet. He swings me up into his arms. I scream and try to fight his hold, but it’s useless. “Put me down.”