Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
CALEB
Noah’s diagnosis put everything into perspective.
He and Jessica have always been the most important things to me, only now, I see things with vivid clarity.
The maybe one days need to be today. Tomorrow is not a given, and I refuse to wait—not now, not ever.
What’s that saying? There’s no time like the present, and it’s absolutely true.
Noah has the date come through for his surgery, and I know it’s at the forefront of all our minds, especially his and yet we’ve not really discussed it, not properly anyway.
Aspen is spending the night with Maggie. She’s a nurturer by nature and dotes on our dog like a grandchild, and if I’m being honest, I like the idea of Maggie having the added company.
She’s retired, which means she no longer works for us, but she is and always will be very much part of our family. She thinks I offered her work as a favour to her husband, but it was more than that, and I knew she wouldn’t take a handout. So, it was a way of still being present in her life.
Only her husband knows I paid off their mortgage, and as disgruntled as he was, I know it gave him peace knowing she wouldn’t have to worry about losing the house if the worst should happen with his heart problems.
I pace back and forth. Never have I felt this nervous, to the point I am sweating through the material of my shirt. I pull at my tie, the air around me growing thick—suffocating.
Touching my pocket for what feels like the millionth time, I continue to assault the carpet, about ready to wear a hole in the thick pile as I wait for Jessica and Noah to join me.
I am taking Jessica and Noah on a date tonight, so we all got ready separately. Usually, it’s so we can’t be tempted to forgo the date, staying home and fucking instead, which has happened one time or two. But not tonight. Nothing will deviate me from my plan.
Jessica is the first to appear, wearing a gorgeous bodycon dress that stops at her knees.
“You look stunning, as always,” I say as she approaches me, her signature perfume delicate and sweet.
I wrap my hand around her nape, angling her face towards mine as I lean in for a kiss.
Her taste is pure decadence as I tease her tongue with mine.
I know she’s wearing lip stain, she always does on date nights, so I don’t have to worry about it getting all over me.
I groan as I pull back and rest my forehead against hers, soaking her in.
“You okay?” she asks, her palm resting against my chest. “Your heart is racing.”
“I’m fine,” I lie. I am shitting a brick, worried the box in my pocket is sticking out like a sore thumb.
“Noah is going to be okay, Caleb. There’s nothing we can’t face together.”
I run the pad of my thumb over her bottom lip. “I know, little one.”
“Room for one more?” the man in question asks, stepping up to us, his suit matching mine. I smirk as I take him in.
He wraps his arm over Jessica’s shoulders. She looks up at him, and he leans down for a slow kiss, instantly making me hard.
That right there is why we get ready separately.
“You look hot,” I say, as soon as he comes up for air. I reach out and pull his face to mine for a kiss, much like the one he shared with our girl.
“As do you,” he replies when he pulls back.
“You both do,” Jessica says, her cheeks heated as her eyes flick between us.
“Stop eye fucking us, or I’ll bend you over that sofa and take you from behind and let Noah fuck your mouth before we’ve even made it out of the front door.”
Her lips part on a breathy exhale, and Noah groans as he adjusts himself.
“Not helping, Caleb,” Noah says.
I chuckle and step away to grab my keys and wallet. “Come on, the sooner we have dinner, the sooner we can come home and eat Jessica for dessert.”
I don’t wait for a reply, pulling open the front door for them to follow.
Noah takes Jessica’s hand in his as I set the alarm and lock up.
Jessica sits up front in the car with me, her dress riding up her thigh, my dick pressing against the placket of my trousers because, fuck, she is a temptress.
But the thought of her being in the back with Noah and him slipping his hand between her thighs would have me feral with need, and I’d have the urge to pull over and have them suck me off to take the edge off.
I wrap my fingers around the steering wheel and blow out a breath.
Noah leans forward, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“You okay?” he asks.
I swear the two of them are too intuitive for their own good.
“Of course, I just really want dessert,” I reply, only a half lie.
“Well, what are you waiting for?” he says, leaning back and pulling on his seatbelt.
Music fills the car, and Jessica starts singing along to a song, her voice melodic.
Noah soon joins in, and I smile to myself. I don’t even think they consciously know they’re doing it, but it warms my heart. Fuck, I love them.
“Oh my God,” Jessica says as I pull into a parking space.
We’ve not been back here since our first official date. I kept quiet about where we were going, wanting it to be a surprise, and I’m glad I did because the smile on Jessica’s face is pure joy.
She doesn’t even wait for Noah to open her door before she’s out of the car and on the pavement as he climbs out to join her. Taking a deep breath, I tap my pocket again before joining them.
“Caleb.” Jessica sighs as I join her on her other side and take her hand in mine, bringing her knuckles to my lips for a soft kiss.
“Come on, we have a reservation.”
I glance over to Noah, who smiles, his hand moving to wrap around Jessica’s waist as we walk towards the entrance.
On occasion, we get some stares or muttered comments, but I couldn’t give a fuck. I would never hide or shy away from what we have because I’m blessed, and our relationship is no one else’s fucking business.
We’re greeted upon entering and escorted to the Reading Room again, as I requested. Jessica takes in every detail as she sits down and scoots to the middle of the benched seat, Noah and me joining her on either side.
Champagne is already waiting for us, and Noah raises an eyebrow. He knows I’m up to something.
I clear my throat and avoid his gaze as I reach for the menu, my palms sweating as I let out a deep breath.
Fuck, how am I meant to make it through dinner when I feel like I can barely breathe, let alone eat? Jessica places her hand on my thigh to still it. I didn’t even realise I was bouncing my leg.
She gives me an odd look, but it’s thankfully cut off when our waiter enters to pour us each a glass of champagne and water.
We all place our orders, and once the waiter exits, I raise my glass.
“To us,” I say, clinking their glasses before taking a sip, unable to ignore the shaking of my hand. Fuck, my nerves are shot.
“To us,” they reply before taking a sip.
Noah lowers his glass, his gaze fixed on mine.
“What’s going on Caleb? Not going to lie, you’re low-key freaking me out.”
I glance at Jessica, who nods in agreement, and I undo the top button of my shirt, my collar suddenly feeling too tight.
“Nothing. Excuse me, I just need to use the toilet.” Before either of them has a chance to reply, I’m out of the booth, running for the door like my arse is on fire.
“Smooth, Caleb, really fucking smooth,” I mutter to myself and hope like hell Noah doesn’t follow me.
Without thinking, I bypass the toilets, heading for the exit, push outside, and inhale a deep breath.
I pull out my phone, bring up my recent call list, and dial.
It rings twice before there’s an answer.
“Caleb?”
I let out a deep sigh. “Octavia, fuck.”
She lets out a short laugh. “Caleb, are you freaking out?” It’s a rhetorical question because, of course, I fucking am.
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea,” I reply instead.
Octavia laughs again, but it does nothing to ease my nerves. “Caleb, with a love like that, you don’t need to be nervous. It’s not like they’ll say no.”
I swallow, suddenly feeling very sick.
“Caleb? Where are you?”
My gaze flicks to the sign above the door. “Standing outside the restaurant. I needed some air. Said I had to use the bathroom.”
“Caleb, it’s natural to be nervous, okay? “
I squeeze my eyes closed and turn away from the entrance.
“Fuck, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve already been gone too long. I wouldn’t be surprised if Noah comes looking for me. He knows somethings up,”
“And you’d be right.”
I spin around and come face to face with Noah, and he looks pissed.
“Shit, O, I’ve got to go.”