CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
“The heart is forever making the head its fool.”
-Francois de la Rochefoucauld
GIANNA
“I’m not making you tacos, lazy boy!” Cece exclaimed. “I’m the one who’s pregnant, you should be cooking for me!”
Caleb held up both hands, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. “I’m not the one who knocked you up!”
“No, that was your jerkface best friend!” she shouted.
Caleb pulled out his phone, his fingers moving over the keys. “Jerkface, that’s a new one.”
Cece tried to grab his phone away but he lifted it in the air out of her limited reach. My best friend jumped for it and failed. “Quit texting Dante all the names I call him!” She spun around on sock covered feet. “Gigi, do something about your jerkface boyfriend!”
Eating out of the ice cream container Cece had abandoned, I told her, “He’s not my boyfriend anymore and I can’t even kick him out of my life, how am I supposed to control his sense of humor?”
Caleb laughed, returning to text messaging Dante. “If you aren’t going to cook for me, Cece, then get your shoes on because I’m hungry.”
This was the second day of Caleb’s bodyguard duty. My dad was at work and the instant he walked in the door, Caleb would be sent packing. He’d pretended to be hurt as I’d kicked him out last night, but I knew he was pleased with maneuvering his way into the position.
I loved him, but how do you forgive someone for memorializing the worst moment of your life?
Cece sat on the stairs and pushed her small feet into a pair of purple Converse that matched the tank top she wore. Casually dress in jean shorts and a white t-shirt, I slipped my feet into a pair of sandals by the front door.
“I want KFC,” Cece declared, regarding Caleb as if gearing up for another argument.
“Aw, Cece, it’s so greasy!” I complained.
“It’s a pregnancy craving!” she argued, stomping a little purple shoe. “You have to give in to it.”
“Why are you here?” Caleb asked rudely.
“To make sure you don’t seduce Gianna into getting back together with you.”
“Cece!” I shouted, embarrassed she’d blabbed to him what I’d told her in confidence.
“Well, now I really don’t want you here,” he muttered. “I’ll get you your greasy chicken and stop by someplace else for Gianna and me.”
Making sure to lock the front door, we went out to Caleb’s car and Cece climbed into the back. I was pretty sure Cece wasn’t only hanging out with me to help me keep Caleb at arm’s length. She was also hiding out from Dante. He loved her as much as she did him, but his abortion suggestion had really hurt my best friend.
If Caleb and I were in the same situation, I’d be heartbroken if he didn’t want to keep the baby. Dante needed to think about the repercussions of abortion and what it would mean to their future as a couple. Caleb might have made a few mistakes over the course of our relationship, but I was sure he’d never want me to abort his baby.
At a stoplight, Caleb’s eyes strayed to my bare legs. “Eyes on the road,” I teased him.
Those hot eyes lifted to mine. “Then stop wearing stuff that turns me on.” His head tilted to the side as he put the car in gear when the light turned green. “Scratch that, don’t ever stop turning me on.”
“Ah, hello?” Cece called from the backseat. “You have an audience.”
“I’m sure you heard a lot worse when Dante was knocking you up,” Caleb told her.
“Jerkface!”
“Leave her alone, Caleb. She’s hormonal,” I scolded.
He shrugged, unrepentant. “What do you feel like eating, princess?”
After the ice cream, I wasn’t very hungry. “Maybe a burrito from somewhere.”
“We could just go to the restaurant,” Cece offered. The restaurant always referred to her parents’ place.
“Sounds good,” Caleb said, making a right turn toward the freeway. It’d take about twenty or so minutes to get there.
I spotted Jared coming out of the kitchen as we were led to a booth by the hostess. The restaurant had been newly remodeled last March and closed down during that time. Even the kitchen had gotten a rehaul. The place made a good profit, but Jared and Cece’s parents were hoping to bring in more customers with the new look.
Jared didn’t appear surprised to see Caleb with us. I hadn’t spoken with him much lately since he’d been busy with graduation and a new girlfriend. The crew had taken a few weekends off with summer starting and members taking vacations or getting jobs. We were set to meet up two weekends from now.