10. Blood Is Thicker
CHAPTER TEN
Blood Is Thicker
"This was a mistake..."
Caleb worked beneath a car hood, his mind light-years away from his current task.
"Please leave my home, Caleb."
Caleb was no stranger to rejection. Rather, he flourished in it. It challenged him to find ways around his obstacles.
But this was… different.
"Wow! Listen to that thing purr!" Snapping out of it, Caleb glanced at the woman standing next to him. "What would I do without you, Caleb? You just saved me so much money and time!" she said gratefully.
"Course," Caleb said, wiping his hands with a towel. "This fix is temporary, though. I suggest seeing a mechanic."
"What about your garage?" she smiled suggestively. "I know you're really good with this kinda stuff."
Caleb smiled politely. "I'm a little busy the next few weeks, but I'll let you know when I have the time."
Throwing her arms around Caleb, she hugged him. "You're a godsend!"
Caleb crossed the street, his mind consumed by one woman. His fingers itched to touch her again. Hold her. He could still feel her soft lips against his. The way she melted into him told him that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
But she distanced herself from him. Again .
Lowering his head, Caleb continued wiping his hands until they turned red from irritation.
"Hi, Caleb!"
"Caleb! So good to see you!"
Smiling absentmindedly, he waved at the townspeople, greeting them as he walked by. But they were all a blur. Their voices one monotone hum.
He couldn't get her out of his head. He feared he had admitted his feelings to her too soon. She seemed fragile. Vulnerable. Though… he liked it when she felt safe enough to open herself up to him.
But now, there was a wall. Bigger than the one he broke through when they first met. Caleb wasn't sure why he was so enraptured by Deja. No one had ever had a hold on him like this before.
"Hi, Caleb! I'm having trouble with my bike," another approached him. "Can you take a look?"
"Sure," Caleb said absentmindedly. Getting on his knees to fix the brakes, Caleb's mind drifted again.
This was a problem. He didn't just like Deja. He wanted her for himself. He shook his head in frustration, knowing damn well Deja was the last person he should be involved with. She was a walking red flag.
A drop-dead gorgeous and irresistible red flag.
But he couldn't help himself. Something drew him to her. He knew she had been through something traumatic that left her too emotionally damaged to be receptive to him and his affection. But that just felt like… she needed him. Someone to protect her from it all...
"Your brakes were locked. You're all good," Caleb said, standing.
"You're amazing! Thanks!"
Caleb got into his truck to head home, his mind yet again on the object of his desire.
Coming to an abrupt halt, Caleb hopped out of his truck and approached the elderly woman crossing the busy intersection.
Grabbing her shopping bags in one hand and hooking her frail arm around his with the other, Caleb escorted her across the street.
"Thank you, dear." She affectionately patted his cheek after Caleb dropped her off at home.
The sound of children's laughter wasn't enough to drown out Deja's voice as he headed back to his truck, and a ball landed at his feet. Crouching down to pick it up, he spotted the children in the park waving at him. "Caleb! Play a game with us!" one of the kids shouted.
"Next time," he smiled, tossing the ball back. Caleb just wanted to get home to process his thoughts.
"Hey, you!"
A bubbly, smiling woman, holding a cat and walking her dog, stepped in front of him. "Hey, Cecily," Caleb sighed, looking at the animals. "Cute pets."
"I know, right? I got them both from this random pregnant woman a few weeks ago," she said, kissing the cat. Caleb raised a curious brow. "What's going on? You look sad," Cecily probed.
"Nothing. Just thinking," Caleb said, checking the time.
"I'm glad I ran into you. Reggie and I are hosting dinner tomorrow to celebrate his promotion, and you're invited."
"Wow, congrats, Reg. But I'm a little busy tomorrow," Caleb said impatiently.
"Oh come on, Caleb! You have to come. You're the life of the party with your hilarious jokes," Cecily winked.
Caleb chuckled. "Yeah, I'll um… I’ll see what I can do."
"You'd better be there!" she grinned, standing on her toes to kiss him on the cheek before she walked off. Caleb's face fell. He got back into his truck and headed home.
Pulling into his garage, Caleb spotted Gerry waiting for him. "Was wondering when you'd get home," Gerry said.
Caleb sighed with exhaustion. "Can I do something for you, Gerry?"
"Was wonderin' if you could take a look at this engine I bought from a local dealer. Make sure he didn't cheat me."
Caleb snorted. "Sure. But we'll have to make it quick."
"What do you mean the body is missing?!"
"I searched that entire fucking apartment! I don't-I can't even-who would've-!" Deja fumbled over her words and started hyperventilating.
"Okay, sweetheart, just calm down, okay?" Esme encouraged her. "This could either be a good thing… or a bad thing."
"How could this possibly be good?!"
Esme paused. "I'm actually not sure. I was just trying to help you calm down."
"Well, it's not working!" Deja freaked.
"Okay. Just… let me make a few calls. Don't worry, we'll figure this out. For now, lay low, okay? Don't talk to anybody. Don't draw any attention to yourself."
Deja put her hand to her chest, breathing heavily. "Deja. I need you to promise that you're going to remain calm,” Esme said cautiously.
Deja nodded frantically. "Yes-yes. I'll try!"
"Good. I'll talk to you soon."
Deja stared at the screen. She felt like her heart was going to fall out of her butt. She felt blindsided and absolutely terrified.
"Well?" Gerry asked, watching Caleb inspect his engine.
Caleb sighed. "Hard to say. You're doing your car and the environment a disservice by not getting the one I recommended-"
"Listen, friend. I only wanna know if the engine is legit. None of your tree-huggin' bullshit," Gerry interrupted.
Caleb sighed. "...sure..."
Gerry grinned. "So… that Deja woman. You guys fuckin' or somethin'?"
"Gerry, I'd rather just focus on your engine, if you don't mind," Caleb said politely.
Gerry shrugged. "Was just curious 'cause I see you two together all the time, ya know? This is a small town. People talk. Plus, she gives me the creeps. And is it just me, or has she gotten fat lately?"
"You know… It's really not polite to mock people's weight, Gerry," Caleb said, focusing on the engine.
Gerry snorted. "Honestly, Caleb, you're just too damn soft. Too sensitive. Sometimes, I think you're a little… ya know..."
Caleb looked at Gerry. "...what?"
"...well… gay ."
Caleb shook his head with a chuckle as he walked to his fridge and grabbed two beers. "And what's wrong with being gay?" Caleb asked, handing him one.
Gerry laughed, taking a sip. "That's all we need is more fuckin' queers in this town."
"Now, that's just homophobic, Gerry," Caleb sighed.
"Look. I don't care if you like fuckin' men. As long as it's not me. I'm just sayin'. With your tree-huggin', tofu-eatin', weird-ass," Gerry chuckled.
Caleb shook his head with a smile. "Tofu is healthy, Gerry."
"Yeah, yeah," Gerry snorted. "I'll tell my doctor."
Caleb tilted his head. "When was the last time you've been to the doctor, Gerry?"
Gerry shrugged. "Who fuckin' knows?"
"Probably when you got your arm stitched up?" Caleb asked.
"Yeah. I guess," Gerry said, stumbling a little as his vision blurred.
"Did your arm heal okay?" Caleb probed.
"Yeah, I… Is the floor movin'? Or… just… me-" Gerry slouched over unconscious.
Caleb put his beer down and grabbed Gerry's neck to inspect his face. "...yeah, it's just you, Gerry..."
Picking up Gerry's comatose body, Caleb tossed him on the metal table.
He clicked a button that shut all the windows and doors while he pulled out a mechanical saw.
Caleb slipped off Gerry's pants and used a marker to measure his thigh.
Pulling on gloves and goggles, he placed the saw against the markings and began slicing through the skin.
"You still had a few more months to go, but if you're gonna continue to harm the earth and be an awful-fucking person, then… your offering is way past due..." Caleb said casually as blood sprayed his goggles.
Gerry's body twitched as Caleb sawed through muscle and bone.
"And she could weigh 100 pounds or 400," Caleb said, detaching Gerry's blood leg from his pelvis. "She'd still be fucking beautiful."
Caleb carefully tied a tourniquet around Gerry's bleeding stump, placed Gerry's leg on his working table, and lifted his goggles to make a call. "Dr. Rice… This offering was a few months early… He drank the whole bottle, so he should be out for a few hours. I'll leave him outside for you."
Caleb glanced at Gerry. "Of course… Moladh Roselyn."
"I'll pick up the wine on the way home. Mhm-k-love-you-Baiii!"
Cecily hung up her phone and continued walking her dog while her cat slept in her purse. The sun had already set, and her eyes were glued to her phone.
Turning down a suburban street where the streetlights were already on, she headed down the sidewalk when her dog barked at a noise behind her. She turned around, squinting. "Hello? Is anyone there?" When she didn't receive a response, she continued walking as her dog picked a spot to poop.
She heard the noise again and used her phone's flashlight to see in the dark.
Again. Nothing. "Weird..." she muttered uncomfortably.
Quickly grabbing a doggie bag, she bent over to pick up the poop when someone violently grabbed the back of her neck and shoved her face-first into the ground.
She struggled beneath the hand that flipped her onto her back.
Her eyes widened, and she started screaming at the hooded figure pinning her to the ground.