Chapter 6 - Kaleb
I ground my teeth together, hating that she was comparing me to Ryan, the biggest asshole I knew.
After the farmers’ market, I did some digging into him, and I knew a thing or two.
He liked to act like he was all that, but the dude could hardly hold down a job.
He treated women well until they made it point-blank that they weren’t interested, and then he showed his true colors.
I’d heard he was interested in Nora a week ago. A few of his friends and he were chatting about it when I walked by. He was determined to catch Nora’s attention. A witch was a big deal, and the fact that Nora was friends with Jade, who was married to the Alpha, was an even bigger deal.
“She’ll open doors for me,” he said, laughing. “And she’s got a fine ass. I give it a few weeks before she caves and agrees to a date. I’ll have her in the sack and pretty soon wrapped around my finger.”
I remembered wanting to jump the little shit right there, but I had no reason to. It was actually why I was here. I sat on his words all night, hating how they got under my skin.
I’d been right to mention Ryan because he was already using his father to try and get his way. It was a good thing I got here, but it was clear she didn’t feel the same way.
Her eyes looked at me with pure rage. Her hands were in tight fists, and her lips were in a straight line. Even angry, I couldn’t help but love how her green eyes sparkled in the light. They were a dark green, with brown behind them.
“I could be a bigger asshole like Ryan, but I’m not. Instead of listening to him go on and on about how much of a big man he is, thinking that tearing women down is cool, I stepped in to help you. A little thanks would be nice.”
“I didn’t ask for help,” she barked back quickly. “I didn’t ask for any of this, and you had no reason to step in.”
“And yet here we are. Two men arguing over you.”
She rolled her eyes. “No. It was one man arguing over wanting me, and the other having a pissing match to prove a point. The only reason you’re here is to piss him off.”
I forced a laugh. “Is this your way of thanking me? Because it needs work.”
“I’m not thanking you for pulling me into a fake relationship. You’re going fuck everything up for me.”
I scowled at her. “A relationship you agreed to. You didn’t have to. You could have said no.”
Now she laughed for real. “You announced it in front of half of Belrose. I can’t exactly just disagree like it’s no problem. Everyone is talking about it.”
“You could have said no. You didn’t have to change your mind. You said yes because you had your own reasons to agree. And I’m gonna take a good guess that it’s him.”
I watched her grind her teeth together. “I had him handled. You didn’t need to step in.”
I laughed again. “Sure looked handled to me. He looked like he was getting into your space. Who knows what would have happened if I weren’t here?”
She crossed her arms. “What do you want, Kaleb? Why are you even here?”
“We need to talk about this. The email you sent me is not going to work. It’s too strict and unrealistic.”
“That’s the only way I’m doing this,” she snapped. “You follow the agreement, or this is off. I’m not doing anything I’m not comfortable with.”
“And if we act like we’re uncomfortable around people, everyone is going to know it’s fake,” I countered. “You can’t put rules down because in a relationship, anything can happen.”
She dropped her arms. “This isn’t a relationship, it’s a fricken contract, Kaleb. It’s not real.”
“But it can’t look that way.”
She took a deep breath in. “What is wrong with the agreement?”
She wanted me to be specific, fine. “I can’t have my hand wrapped around you, trying to calculate if my hand is going to accidentally brush your breast or not. I’m going to look stiff. It will never work.”
“Then don’t put your hand around me. Problem solved.”
I stepped closer to her, my shadow falling over her. “It isn’t. There are tons of examples as to why it’s hard. Accidents are bound to happen, Nora. If we want to sell this, you have to loosen up.”
Her eyes narrowed on me. I watched her nostrils flare, and I couldn’t help but enjoy how flustered she looked. She knew I had a point, but she wasn’t going to agree to it.
“Fine, what do you want to change?”
“All of it. Make it simple.”
She shook her head. “No. We’re not changing all of it. I’ll agree to a few things.”
“What exactly are you afraid of here? Why put the damn rules in place to begin with?”
“Because…” She stopped before she finished, chewing on her lower lip. “I have my reasons.”
I leaned closer. “Which are what? Scared of having fun? Because if done right, this could be fun.”
“How the hell could fake dating you be fun?” she asked angrily.
I reached a hand up, watching her face grow red as I grew closer. “Because even fake, I’m a great guy. Dating me is fun.” I looked at her lips, taking in how soft they looked. I wondered what type of kisser she was. “And just because it’s fake doesn’t mean we can’t get something out of this.”
I hated how there was a rift between us. I knew I had been part of the reason, but I didn’t want it to continue. I hated seeing the hatred in her eyes. I hated that she left when I came near or avoided me like I was a killer.
“If this is your attempt at smooth-talking your way into my pants, go fuck yourself.”
I smirked. I had missed this. Nora had always been quiet, meek at times, but quick-witted. I hadn’t seen this side of her in a while, and I felt my heart skip a beat at it. I liked seeing the fire in her.
We used to talk together. Nora was shy at first, but I’d seen her be a smartass sometimes. She always seemed to sparkle when she was with my sister.
I liked Nora. I liked who she was as a person, and I knew she was going to do great things. She had a fire inside her that was just waiting to come out.
And I could see it now.
“You have to put kissing on the table.”
She looked baffled for a moment before she shook her head. “No. I’m not doing that.”
“I kiss in relationships.”
“Not this one.”
I pressed against her, and Nora tensed up slightly as I wrapped an arm around her.
I reached a hand up, cupping her chin. I smirked.
“That wasn’t a request. I’m not asking to feel you up, I’m asking you to put your lips in the contract because in a real relationship, people kiss in public.
People stare into each other’s eyes and feel that tug to be closer. ”
Her face was red, and she stammered, seeming unsure of what to say. I looked at her lips, suddenly aching to feel them against mine. I wanted to see what she tasted like, how she moaned.
But then I remembered how heartbroken she looked after my rejection. She had had hope, and I’d shattered it.
“What are you doing?” she whispered, looking almost scared.
I saw it. The hurt behind her eyes. This contract was her way of protecting herself. It wasn’t that long ago that she confessed, and the feelings might still be there. It would be wrong of me to force something she couldn’t give.
I leaned back, taking a step back from her. “I’m just saying this needs to look real. I understand you might not like it, but you agreed. If you want everyone to believe this, you can’t put rules up and expect them all to be followed.”
I watched her face shift back into anger, and her fingers curled up. “You act like it’s so simple.”
“It is because in the end, we both want the same thing. We want to be left alone. So, make people believe we’re in love. We’re going to go out and go on dates. We’re gonna have to get close and personal. That’s the deal.”
“You do know that there are people who date and are respectful in public.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I’m not one of them.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
I wasn’t the type of guy who hid his relationship. I kissed in public. I held my girlfriend close. “I don’t hide anything when I’m in public, Nora. I’m not banging in bathroom stalls, but I’m certainly not the type of guy that doesn’t touch his girl.”
She swallowed, suddenly avoiding eye contact with me. “I’m not agreeing to all of that. I’m not that type of person.”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, seeing that Brandon was calling me. I sighed and answered it.
“Hey, Brandon.”
“There was a hybrid spotted a mile out of town. Westley and Asher are still asleep, so I’m going to need you to go with me to scope it out.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Just send me where you want to meet, and I’ll be there in five minutes.”
I ended the line and looked back at Nora. She still refused to look at me. I hated how this turned. I came here to make this better, not worse.
“I have to go. I’ll text you. Think about what I said. Because otherwise, this won’t work.”
She gave me a simple nod before she turned and walked away. I watched her head inside, slamming the door shut behind her.