Chapter 15
Fifteen
Caleb
I stared at the man who I had sworn I told to leave this island over a week ago. The man who had made her feel like shit and left her when she was broken and hurt. He was the same man who currently had my girlfriend in his arms.
“What are you doing here?”
Margot took a step back. “Ethan’s been here all week.”
“Man, I’m glad you’re okay.” Ethan’s brow knitted together in concern. “We were worried. Really worried. When Josie came over to the cottage yesterday to tell us?—”
My eyes darted to Margot. “What is he talking about?”
She glared at Ethan. “Really? That’s what you decided to lead with?” She put her hand on her hip.
He shrugged. I could tell he was enjoying the encounter, which was exactly why I wasn’t.
“Looks like you got banged up. Nasty cut or something?” he pushed for more details. I wasn’t giving him anything.
“We’re going to have breakfast,” Margot informed him.
He looked at his phone. “Actually, I’m headed out for one of my wind surfing lessons. But I’ll catch you two later. Glad you’re all right, man. Such a relief.”
Margot tugged on my hand. “Come on, let’s sit in the last booth over there. I’ll tell you more about Ethan.”
I cleared my throat. “What is there to tell me about Ethan?” I wanted to know why he was here and how long Margot had known he was on the island.
“It was one of the things I thought we should discuss, but we haven’t exactly had time.” She blushed. “We haven’t talked about anything, at all, actually. Since you came back last night. Have their been words? I’m not sure we’ve spoken words to each other.”
I knew what she was implying. We had been wrapped up in each other. “That doesn’t mean I shouldn’t know he’s still here.”
“No, it doesn’t. But it wasn’t a secret. I only found out yesterday, and it very weirdly coincided when Josie showed up to tell me you were missing. It happened basically at the same time. So, naturally Ethan wants you think it means something and stir up trouble between us. He’s like that.”
I inhaled. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let him get to me like that. Obviously, he was trying to make me jealous.”
“He was. Did it work?” she tested.
I stared at her. “Twenty minutes ago you were kneeling in front of me in a very powerful position. I’m feeling confident in our relationship.” I winked at her. Just the memory of Margot’s blow job turned me on again.
She blushed. “Okay, don’t say that so loudly. What if Nan hears you,” she whispered.
“I don’t think she knows what I’m talking about.” I leaned over the table. She was cute when she was embarrassed.
“Since you know he’s here, the other bad news is I don’t know when he’s leaving.”
“Wait, he’s serious about the wind surfing lessons?”
She nodded. “I think he’s avoiding his dad’s cancer treatments. I told him he needs to get back up there to be with his father. I thought I got through to him, but then Josie showed up and I kind of forgot about him. Other than I did tell him you were safe.”
“The whole island did know.”
She nodded. “They did, Caleb. Everyone was worried. Did you hear back on Gabe?” I had left a message with the nurse at the hospital.
I shook my head. “No. But I think I should go over.”
“I think he would love that. Plus, you know your way around that hospital. Do you want me to go with you? I could be moral support.”
Before I could answer, Nan appeared at our table. She had tears in her eyes. She threw her arms around me.
“Caleb O’Connor, we were scared to death. All of us.”
I tried to wriggle free without embarrassing all three of us. “Thanks, Nan.”
“And to think you were almost killed. You could have been shot. In the ocean! I can’t. I just can’t!” She blew her nose into her waitress towel.
“Shot?” Margot looked at me. There was fire in her eyes, but not the good time. “What is she talking about?”
Shit. The police report must have been released.
Nan dabbed at her eyes. “Oh, honey. You are so lucky he is okay. Those criminals. Water gangsters. I don’t know what you call them. Guns. Stealing. It’s just not right. Things like that don’t happen here.”
“Caleb.” Margot pressed her lips together.
“Nan, thanks, but could you bring us our usual? Please. Extra bacon for Margot.” I knew bacon wasn’t going to save me. Nothing was.
“Of course, honey. Of course. And a pot of coffee. All of it on the house. Really. My treat.” She patted me on the shoulder and shuffled off to the cook’s carousel where she added our order ticket to the window.
“You just lectured me about Ethan and you were on a boat with pirates? Or what? What have you not been telling me?”
I slumped into the booth. “I am going to tell you. I said I would. I just… I don’t want to talk about it. I liked everything else we were doing.”
She glared at me. “You think by fucking each other’s brains out means something bad didn’t happen to you?”
“That’s not fair.” I pushed forward in the seat.
“It isn’t? Because I’m fairly certain that’s what we’ve been doing. I know I was.”
I stared at her. I blinked. “I wasn’t using you. I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Caleb, I love you. When I thought you weren’t coming back yesterday I didn’t know what I was going to do. There was nothing. Just nothing.” She bit her lip. I could tell how hard she was trying to get through her thoughts. “And yes, when you were back and safe all I wanted was to be with you that way. And this morning. I think it’s some kind of reaction we’re having to your near-death experience, except only one of us knows what happened. Only one of us knows exactly how close you were to near death. So I’m feeling cut out.” She reached for my hand. “I know you aren’t using me. But we’re both riding some kind of sex high because of what happened.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
“It’s not bad, but I’d feel a whole lot better if Nan didn’t know more than me.” She closed her eyes. “It’s just how can we be so close? How can you be part of me? Inside me? Melting into me and having the most epic sex of my life and I’m the only person who doesn’t know what happened to you out there?”
She rose from the booth. I couldn’t believe she was getting ready to walk away. I reached for her wrist.
“Margot, don’t go.”
“I just need some air. I need to think.” I dropped my hand, and she walked past me, through the doors, and out of the diner.
Nan returned with a pot of coffee and two white mugs. “Margot coming back in?” she asked.
I shook my head. I already knew she wasn’t coming back.