Taming the Boy Next Door (7 page)

~~~

Caleb slammed the door and Andi jumped from the couch.  She watched him throw his coat on the floor and slide down to the doorframe.  “Caleb?”  Andi approached him slowly.

He looked up,
his eyes haunted.  “She’s gone.”

“What?”  Andi kneeled next to him on the tile floor in the foyer.

“Gone, Andi.  Gone.  She’s interviewing in Seattle.  She’s gone.”  Andi pulled him into an embrace.  Her heart broke for him.  Her beautiful brother was broken.

Chapter 13

I don’t know what happened.  But I need you.  Please come back to me.

Caleb sat in his car outside the bridal salon.  His hands shook as he sent the text.  It was Saturday and she had been home for twenty four hours.  He had hardly slept and certainly hadn’t eaten.  Mark had cursed him when he scheduled the tux fittings the same time as the dress fittings.  His heart leaped when his phone beeped back.

Please give me time.

He shoved his phone into his back pocket and pushed the car door open, nearly having it ripp
ed off by a passing car.  “Shit!”  He yelled.

Mark stepped out of the store and looked at him.

“Shit is right, Allen.  What the hell?”  He held the door open.

“Don’t ask.”  He snapped.

Mark grabbed his arm.  “Stop.  I know you’re hurting.  I know it feels like shit.  It was a lesson I learned because of you.  I’m not trying to act like an asshole but this is Sophie’s day and I will be damned if you screw with it.  So nut up and let’s go.”

Caleb took a deep breath and smiled a fake smile.  “Greatest day of my life.”

Ryan threw his arm around him.  “When you get her back, I’m gonna rub this shit in so hard.  A taste of your own medicine will do you good.”

“I’ll take full responsibility for Mark and Soph.  But I will be damned if I cop to playing some roll in the destruction of your paradise, bro.  You and Layla did that all on your own.”

“Ah, but if we hadn’t, and Moretti hadn’t decided to go all evil keneval on our asses, you wouldn’t have met…” Ryan noticed Jena walk in the door and snapped his mouth shut.

The silence was deafening.  Her face blushed and Mark reached out to hold Caleb’s forearm.  “Deep breath man.  Remember Soph.”

Caleb turned his back to the door.  It was the single hardest thing he had ever done in his life.  He swore his heart stopped beating.  The sound of his blood rushing through his ears was all he could hear as the men greeted the women that had arrived.  His hands shook.  Sweat beaded on his forehead and for one moment, he thought he would be sick.

“Let’s go get fitted.”  Ryan threw his arm over his shoulder once more and led him to the men’s section.  “She loves you, man.  She told me.  You can’t give up.”

“She told you?”  Caleb stopped walking, his face pale and his hands clammy.  “When did she tell you?”

Ryan shrugged.  “A couple times in the last few weeks.  I don’t know what happened, man. I swear I don’t.  But if I can settle down, she can.”

He looked over his shoulder for the first time.  Jena was watching him, a mix of fear and desire in her eyes.  As soon as he made eye contact, she looked away.  “I hope you’re right.”

Sophie’s scream got everyone’s attention.  Sophie and Molly were jumping up and down hugging Jena. Mark was shaking his head and smiling and Andi was wide eyed looking at Caleb.  “What?” He mouthed at his sister.

Andi looked down and pulled out her cell phone.

She got the job in Seattle.

~~~

Jena stepped out of the dressing room in her
Vera Wang chiffon bridesmaids gown.  She stood in the mirror with a lump in her throat.  Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears.  Seeing Caleb had been her undoing.  She slid her brave mask back in place as Sophie stepped into the mirror.  

She gasped.
  “Jena, you look amazing.  Red is your color.  It’s gorgeous.” 

“Thank you.”
  Jena turned to get a glimpse of her back in the dress.  “I live in light blue scrubs.  I have to admit, it’s a little shocking.” 

Sophie giggled.
  As Jena turned around, Sophie pulled her hair back from her face.  Standing behind her, she smiled.  “Someday, we will be here picking out your dress.  I can’t wait.”   

Jena’s eyes widened and she stepped out of Sophie’s grasp.
  Tears flooded her face.  “I can’t be here.  I’m so sorry.” 

As she stepped away from the mirror, Sophie grabbed for her hand.
  “Wait.  Please, J.  What’s the matter?” 

Jena kept walking.
  “I just need a minute.  I’m sorry.”  She shut the dressing room door and crumpled to the ground.  Her sobs echoed through the fitting room.  When Sophie wouldn’t leave the room, Jena sighed.  “Is Kevin here?  Can you get him?” 

Sophie jogged to the tuxedo section, quickly spotting Ryan and Kevin standing in the mirror admiring the fit of their suits.
  When she approached, they looked at her with concern.  “I’m sorry.”  Her heart sped as she saw Caleb walk toward them.  She took a deep breath and attempted a smile.  “I don’t mean to interrupt your male bonding.  Something is wrong with Jena.  I can’t get her out of the dressing room.  She is asking for you.” 

Without saying a word, Kevin left the other men standing there stunned.
  Caleb turned and punched the wall.  His anger and sadness out of control.  “This is bullshit.”  He stormed off toward the front door, Ryan on his heels. 

“Allen, stop.”
  Ryan’s voice was stern.  “Get your shit together.  Now.  I mean it.  You of all people should know better than to jump to conclusions.  You fuck this up for Mark and Sophie, I will fuck you up.  We clear?” 

“Crystal.”
  Caleb walked toward the bridal side of the salon and turned to glare at his best friend.  “Commence the fuck up, West, because I will be damned if that woman is walking out of my life.  Certainly not with him.  Are
we
clear?” 

Within seconds, Caleb noticed Kevin standing in the doorway of the dressing room, whispering to Jena who sat with her head in her hands.
  Caleb’s heart raced.  Perhaps it was innocent.  He knew that it was easy to make a mistake.  But he loved her.  And there was no mistaking that she had asked for Kevin.  His anger swelled as Kevin knelt down and took her hands.  His voice was quiet but he could make out the words.  “You need to calm down.  Did you call Dr. McCall?”  When she shook her head, he continued.  “You need to.  You’ve got to find a way to deal with this.” 

Just as Caleb was about to interrupt, her small voice pierced the silence.
  “I love him.  My heart reminds me of that every second.  But I can’t let go.  I know it is ridiculous.  It was years ago, Kevin.  But the fear cripples me.  I can’t take the chance on us.” 

“He’ll wait.
  Take care of you.  Call Dr. McCall.”  They both froze when the floor creaked.  Their eyes widened as they saw Caleb standing there.  Knowing he had heard their conversation, Jena’s hands began to shake.  Kevin stood and brushed the last tear from her cheeks.  “Make the call, J.” 

Caleb closed the dressing room door and knelt in front of her.
  “Did I break us?”  His voice cracked.  “Can we be fixed?” 

She put her head back in her hands and took a deep breath.
  “I know you don’t understand, Caleb.  I’m not ready to talk about it. I can’t.  I don’t want to.  I can’t handle a relationship right now.  I’m so sorry.” 

Caleb reached out and took her hand.
  The familiar electric charge ran up his arm and when she jumped, he smiled. She felt it too.  He had hope for the first time in a week. “I don’t understand.  But I won’t push you.  You’re under my skin, Jena.  I will give you as much space as you need, for as long as you need it.  I’m not going anywhere.  I’ve completely fallen in love with you and I will wait, as long as it takes.”   

Jena’s heart rate doubled.
  “I don’t deserve you.” 

“You’re right, honey.
  You deserve so much better.”  Caleb straightened and smiled down at her.  “And you look hot in red.  You should never take that dress off.  Well, I mean, Ok, I’m leaving.”

 
She giggled for the first time in days.  She would call Dr. McCall today.  She needed to find a way to make Caleb understand.  She needed to find a way to feel free to love him. She needed to find a way to feel whole.

~~~

Mark gathered the group outside the bridal salon.  “Thank you for coming.  I know we have been vague about plans.  But everything is in place.  You’ll be getting clues throughout the next few weeks.  You will figure it out in a matter of days.  We aren’t that creative.”

Sophie giggled.  “I have my first clue in the car for the girls.  I know you said no extras but I couldn’t resist.  Come on.”  Sophie led the girls to the trunk, where she pulled out rhinestone encrusted flip flops that matched their dresses.  “Shh.  I know it isn’t a clue.  But these were so damn cute and since you know it will be on the beach, I found these appropriate.”

The girls hugged their goodbyes and Andi met Caleb at his car.  “What’s wrong with Kevin?”

“Nothing?  I don’t know.”  Caleb
snapped at her as he watched Jena get into her car and drive away.

“The last couple times I’ve seen him, he’s
seemed withdrawn.  Not that we are close.”  Andi blushed and looked out the window.  “But he’s constantly giving me shit.  So unless his brain has become constipated, something is very wrong.”

Chapter 14

Caleb wiped down the kitchen counter.  It had been a week since he had seen or spoken to Jena.  He was determined to give her the space she needed.  But time was not his friend and he struggled to keep busy.  He had read three manuscripts from new authors, been to the gym everyday and his house had never been so clean.  Andi had been consumed with work and the house had seemed empty.  “Maybe I should get a dog.  Great.  Now I’m talking to myself.”

The knock on the front door startled him. 
Opening it, his eyes went wide.  Kevin could hardly stand, his weight being supported by a burly man in his late sixties. 

“I assume this belongs to you?”  The man shoved Kevin at him.

“I lost my wallet.”  Kevin’s slurred voice echoed through the foyer.

Looking past the older man, Caleb noticed a taxi idling in his driveway.  “How much do I owe you, man?”

“You were on my way.  No charge.  Take care of him.  He did a number on the jazz club downtown.  The owner is a friend of mine.  I owed him one.”  Caleb shook his hand and smiled.  “You have a good night.”

Caleb pulled Kevin into the living room.  His eyes were glassy and he reeked of alcohol and cigarettes.  He stumbled into furniture, speaking in a voice so jumbled, Caleb struggled to understand him.  He pushed him onto the couch and Kevin immediately shut his eyes.  Grabbing the blanket off the ottoman, he covered his inebriated friend and chuckled.  “That’s going to suck in the morning.  Sweet dreams, Merck.”

Caleb turned the lights off in the living room and grabbed a novel off the bookshelf.  He yanked his shirt off and settled into bed in his boxers.  It had been a long week, every second feeling like an eternity.  Sleep was his respite.

A loud crash pulled him from his slumber.  He woke with a start, looking at the time on his clock.  Two AM.  The house was too silent.  Something felt off.  He reached over and turned on the bedside lamp.  A small gurgling noise had him racing from this bedroom.  Flipping on the living room light, Caleb gasped.  “What the fuck, Merck?”  The glass table in the hallway was turned on its side and Kevin lay motionless next to it, bleeding all over the marble tile.  “Shit.”

Caleb backtracked to his room and grabbed his phone.  She picked up on the first ring.  “Andi, where are you?”  He was out of breath as he ran to the kitchen to pull the hand towel from the stove.  He didn’t do blood.  And the amount that had already pooled on the floor was alarming.

“Our shift just ended.  A few of us are heading out to get breakfast.”  Andi whispered to someone.

“I need you.  Oh God.”  Caleb gagged. 

“What’s wrong?”  He could hear her start to run.  He could always count on her.  No questions asked.

“Kevin is lying in our hallway.  He’s got a huge gash on his head and there is blood everywhere.  Fucking hurry up.” 

“Caleb, don’t panic.  Put pressure on the wound.  Is he responsive?”

“He’s breathing but he sure as shit isn’t awake.  I’m going to be sick.” 

“Man up.  We are five minutes out.  Keep pressure on the wound.  And for the love of God, if you are passed out when we get there, I will never let you forget it.”  Andi hung up.

Caleb groaned as he looked down at the blood.  When Andi was younger, she had fallen off her bike.  She had been ungraceful even at an early age.  Her collarbone had snapped, a sound Caleb had never forgotten.  She had bled all over her sweatshirt and it had taken him exactly two minutes to knock himself out on the pavement, passing out from the site of her blood.  Their mother had been panicked, both children in the back of the ambulance speeding off to the hospital.  In the end, it had been Andi that had held him, bone sticking out through the skin, and he had never lived it down. 

Moretti had a field day.  Word had spread like wildfire and it seemed like every day, another joke involving fake blood had been dealt at the hands of Mark, Rich and Ryan.  He chuckled at the memory, trying to push the image of what was happening out of his head. 

Kevin stirred, a groan escaping his lips.  “Dead.”

Caleb looked down.  “Merck?”

Kevin tried to sit up.  He grabbed his head, confusion written all over his face as he looked at his blood covered hands.  “Allen?”  He struggled to free himself from Caleb’s grasp.

“Hold still you son of a bitch.”  Caleb closed his eyes and took a deep breath as Kevin calmed.  “You fell.  Just hold still.”

Kevin let out one long sob, the sound echoing through the house.  His face was pure agony.  “She’s dead.”  He whispered before he passed out.

Andi and Jena rushed through the front door.  Caleb looked up as a wave of relief washed over his whole body.  “Thank fuck.”

Andi stopped cold.  Taking in the site of the blood, her jaw dropped.  “What the hell happened?”  Her brother was covered in it and Kevin’s face was pale.

Jena didn’t hesitate. 
Securing a pair of gloves on her hands, She knelt down at his side, removing the hand towel Caleb was holding.  She inspected the gash with the pen light she had in her jacket pocket.  She handed Caleb a package of sterile gauze and looked at Andi.  “Grab my bag.  There is a suture kit in there and I need the lidocaine.  Caleb, are you ok?”

He nodded, his entire focus on what she was doing. 
“It’s like a crime scene in here.”  He breathing was shallow and sweat poured down his face.

“Kevin, can you hear me?  I need you to hold still. Hold his shoulders, Caleb.  Andi, hold this light.”  Jena numbed his forehead and began to sew the wound closed.  Kevin groaned but never moved.  It took twenty-two stitches to stop the bleeding and Caleb had gagged every time the needle had punctured his skin.  When she was finished and looked up, she began to laugh.
  Andi and Caleb both looked at her, brows drawn in confusion.  “Andi, help your brother to the couch.  He’s green.”

“Jena?”  Kevin’s eyes fluttered open.  His voice was slurred and hoarse. 

She rubbed his arm.  “Just lie there sweetie.  I’m going to start an IV and get you hydrated.  I know this isn’t comfortable but I don’t want to move you yet.  If you don’t start looking better, I’m calling the ambulance.”

“Ok.”  His eyes were red and glassy.  “Thank you, J.”

~~~

Caleb leaned against the wall, staring down at Jena.  She had been amazing, jumping into action and still giving him hell for being such a pussy.  She had
even cleaned up the hallway and managed to get Kevin out of his shirt and comfortable with a blanket and pillow.  She sat with her knees tucked into her chest, staring at him while he slept. 

“Thank you.”  She startled at the sound of his voice. 

She smiled at Caleb, taking in the sight of him, fresh out of the shower in a pair of pajama pants.  He was sex, wrapped in lust, with a side of guaranteed pleasure.  His green eyes were hooded, his hair styled in chaos, like he had just gotten out of bed.  She struggled to swallow as her throat constricted.  “Hi.”

“Hi.”  He smiled as he sat down next to her.  “You were amazing, Dr. Turner.”

She blushed.  “Thank you, Mr. Allen.”  Her hands longed to touch him so she tightened her grip on her legs.  “I was proud of you too.  Andi told me the bike story.”

He groaned.  “She lied.”

Jena laughed but stopped when she saw Kevin start to sit up.  “Easy, Kevin.  Are you ok?”

He reached for his head and hissed as he touched the suture line.  He glanced at the IV in his arm, his bare chest, the blood on his jeans.  “I’m sorry.”  His body sagged and his eyes filled with tears.  “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s ok.  You are alright.  That’s all that matters.”  Jena moved across the marble floor and pulled him into a hug.  “You took a major fall.  Head wounds bleed a lot, but more so after you have had your weight in alcohol.”

“I’m so sorry.”  Kevin
slurred pulling Jena into a tighter embrace.

Caleb sat up straighter, jealousy running like ice water through his veins.  When Kevin looked at him, his eyes were haunted.  “What’s going on, Merck?  What happened?”

“She’s gone.”  His words hardly recognizable.  Tears ran down Kevin’s cheeks as his body began to shake.  “Help me up.  I’m gonna be sick.”