Chapter 8
“A barnacle ain’t got nothing on me” ~ Maya
Maya
M y hands tremble as I set the picnic basket – the picnic basket that magically appeared on my front porch the day after I visited Caleb – in my car.
I’m not scared or nervous about seeing Caleb. I’m anxious and excited.
Okay. Fine. I am a bit nervous about asking him why he’s here on Smuggler’s Hideaway. I’m a fool for not realizing he could be badly injured.
I was being totally selfish, thinking only about myself. Why doesn’t Caleb want to see me? Is he mad at me? What did I do wrong? All me, me, me.
But Nova’s right. There’s something else at play here. Caleb hasn’t come home in over a decade and now he shows up for a bit of rest and relaxation? Except he’s hiding in a cabin in the woods. And he’s limping. Something’s wrong and it’s time I figured out exactly what.
I switch on my car and drive to his cabin .
I am doing the right thing , I reassure myself as I drive. Caleb is my friend. He needs help and I’m helping him .
This is exactly what a heroine in a romance novel would do. She wouldn’t stay home and cower in the corner while the man she loves needs her. She’d rush to his rescue.
Romance novels are the best. Too bad I’m not in the middle of one. Caleb would make an awesome hero. Military heroes are beyond sexy. Unfortunately, we’re just friends.
I arrive at the turnoff for Caleb’s cabin and slow down. The driveway is unpaved and bumpy. I don’t want his beer to get all shook up.
His truck is parked in front of the cabin. Good. He’s here.
Ha! Did I actually think he wouldn’t be? No one’s spotted Caleb in town yet. I might be keeping my ear to the ground for any rumors involving him.
Thus far, the only rumors are speculations about how long he’s staying. I wouldn’t be surprised if the inhabitants of Smuggler’s Hideaway are already betting on when he’ll leave.
I park next to his truck and haul the basket out of the car. It’s heavier this time since Caleb mentioned he enjoys Five Fathoms Brewing. He didn’t say which beer he preferred so I got him an extended variety pack.
I trudge up the stairs and set the basket on the porch near the door before knocking. Twelve beers is too heavy for me to hold onto while I wait for Caleb to open the door.
“Caleb! It’s me Maya!”
“Go away. I’m not in the mood. ”
“Not in the mood for what? Delicious food? Yummy beer? Awesome company? You’ll have to narrow things down for me.”
“Not in the mood,” he repeats.
“Is that an all of the above answer? You know if you’re guessing all of the above is not the best answer to choose.”
“Not guessing.”
I ignore his response and plow forth. “Remember when I used to tutor you in math? You never could sit still long enough for me to explain the Pythagorean theory. Paisley claims I let you cheat. But I didn’t. You completed those math tests all on your own.”
I pause and wait for him to respond. To engage in some manner. The last time I was here he wouldn’t open the door but we did have a bit of a chat.
I wait some more but apparently, he’s not going to engage today.
Moving on to Plan B. The plan where I stop making it all about me.
“Caleb, are you okay? Nova said you’re injured.”
He stomps to the door but he doesn’t open it. “What the hell did Nova say?”
His obvious anger has me backtracking. “She didn’t give me any details. She merely pointed out how you wouldn’t be on Smuggler’s Hideaway if something wasn’t wrong. After all, you haven’t visited since you left.”
My heart squeezes. We’re friends and yet he never bothered to visit me over the past decade. His family met up with him in various places for holidays but I was never invited. He never even told me about those visits. I found out via the smuggler’s grapevine.
“Caleb.” I place my hand on the door. I wish I could touch him. Hold him in my arms and comfort him but he won’t let me. He won’t even open the door. “Are you okay?”
“Fucking fabulous.”
I frown. High school Caleb swore here and there. Mostly to be a rebellious teen. But grown-up Caleb swears like a sailor. Or a soldier, I should say.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Are you saying I’m a liar, Mouse?”
How dare he call me mouse? Friends are not assholes to each other. And I won’t stand for it. I’m shy, not a pushover.
“Do not call me Mouse! You hear me. I am not a mouse.”
Mouse is the nickname the bullies in school used. Mostly, I ignored them. Bullies lose their power when they’re ignored.
But sometimes they’d corner me in the hallway at school. Surrounded by a crowd of people with a group of boys encircling me is my personal nightmare. A few times Caleb saved me from those bullies. He knows exactly how I feel about the name mouse.
“Sorry, Mouse.”
I slam my hand against the door. “Damnit, Caleb. You can’t apologize for calling me mouse by calling me mouse again.”
“What do you want from me?”
“I don’t want anything from you.”
“Liar. ”
Who is this asshole? This isn’t the Caleb I know. The one who saved me from bullies. The one who’s written me letters – real letters, not emails – for the past decade. The one who sent me a surprise gift for my twenty-first birthday – a turquoise bracelet I wear all the time.
“I want to help you.”
He snorts. “By helping yourself.”
“How am I helping myself? I brought you a basket of food and I’m worried about you. This isn’t about me.”
“There’s no need to worry about me.”
“Then, why won’t you open this door? Why won’t you let me inside? Why can’t we speak face-to-face? Why do you think everyone in your life is better off without you?”
“Why? Why? Why? It’s all about Maya.”
I stop myself before I shout in response. Shouting through the door at each other is not getting us anywhere. Although, it may keep me warm out here.
“I’m trying to understand why my friend I haven’t seen in over a decade doesn’t want to spend any time with me.”
“I told you. You’re better off without me.”
“Let me be the judge of that.”
“Too late. I already adjudicated the matter and the verdict is clear.”
I giggle. There’s my Caleb. Being silly and funny. He used to make me laugh out loud all the time when I was tutoring him in the library. The librarian threatened to kick us out on a daily basis.
“I want to appeal. ”
“Sorry. No appeal is possible in this matter.”
“Okay.” I try a different angle. “Can you explain why?”
“Nope. Trust me. You’re better off not knowing.”
“Do you think I can’t handle it? I can handle lots of things. I spent half of high school in detention for things my friends did. And I never complained. Never tattled on them.”
“What your friends did? You never participated?”
“Being a lookout is not the same thing as committing the crime of breaking and entering.”
“The law would disagree with you there.”
He’s probably right. I’ve never researched the matter. Better not to know in my opinion.
“Open the door and I’ll tell you all about the time we broke into the principal’s office.”
I hear him sigh on the other side of the door. “You’re not hearing me, Maya. I’m not opening this door. I don’t want to see you.”
“Why not?”
“None of your damn business.”
I flinch at how cruel his words sound.
“I’m your friend.”
“Doesn’t mean you have the right to know everything about me.”
“But I know literally nothing. Not why you’re here. Not how long you’re staying. Nothing. I’m out here in the dark.”
“Here’s a suggestion. Hop in your car and switch on the lights before driving back to Smuggler’s Rest. ”
“Caleb. Don’t send me away,” I practically beg. I’m not too proud to beg when it comes to Caleb. I’d do anything for him. Except leave him alone when he needs me. That I won’t do.
“Damnit, Maya. I don’t want you here. I don’t know how else to say it except leave and don’t come back.”
My eyes itch and tears well at his words. “Why are you doing this to me, Caleb?”
“I’m not doing shit to you. Leave, Maya.”
I give in. Today is obviously not the day he’s going to open the door to me. I might as well go away and get warm back home. But I won’t leave him alone forever.
“I’ll be back.”
“Don’t come back, Maya. Leave me alone. I’m serious. I don’t want to see you. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not ever.”
Tears flow down my cheeks at his words. I know he’s hurting and this isn’t him speaking but his words still hurt.
But I’m not giving up. I do not give up on my friends. No matter how much they try to push me away. I will be a barnacle on his back.
Watch him try and push me away.