Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
“At the end of the day, my opinion is that neither one of you have any reason to feel guilty. Like I said, Darren ran away for his own reasons. He’s the one playing games now.
I’ve known from the second the feelings went from being friendly between Caleb and you to something more.
You and Caleb have a look that’s only reserved for one another.
It’s sweet, tender, and filled with all the love you have for one another.
Darren never got that look from you and we always knew the girls in Caleb’s life weren’t going to last for very long.
Even Abigail because she’s the one who followed him here and made herself an annoying stalker of his.
He moved here for you and only you,” Sam says, her voice not as gentle as Maddie’s because she’s telling me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear.
“She’s not wrong, Cali. We’ve all known for a long time you and Caleb loved one another.
The look you two share is the same one the rest of us share with our men.
The only difference is the two of you started sharing the look with one another when you were younger.
If I remember correctly, it started happening before the two of you even knew what it meant.
You were young and we could see it. I wasn’t around as often as Sam and everyone else, and I still recognized the look.
There is nothing you can say to change the way you two feel about one another.
I fully believe the two of you will end up together because it’s meant to be.
“Caleb wants to be with you more than anything in the world. He’s scared and it will take him a while to get past feeling as if he’s betraying Darren.
My nephew is stubborn to a fault and will hardly ever have his loyalty to someone come into question.
Last night was a huge step for him. You need to let him work through what he’s feeling right now.
The same way you need to work through what you’re feeling.
Both of you are feeling the guilt hard as hell and it’s going to take a while to get past that.
If Caleb goes back to drinking and fucking his way through every female he comes in contact with him, I’ll kick his ass.
It’s been a while since I’ve been in the ring with anyone.
My nephew will make the perfect target. We love you, Cali, and need you to let us support you,” Maddie says, keeping her arms wrapped around me in comfort as Sam rubs her hand up and down my back.
“Oh no! Luca was here last night. He must be thinking something about what happened between Caleb and me. That poor guy.” I suddenly remember him being in the living room when Caleb brought me back to the bedroom.
“Luca will be fine. He has nothing but love and respect for you, Cali. That boy would give up his life for you with a smile on his face. You’ve given him the love he needs to have in his life and the attention he’s grown so much in such a short period of time because of you and Caleb.
You both give him what he needs. That boy won’t say a word about what happened last night to anyone.
He’ll keep his thoughts to himself. If anything, I can guarantee, he went outside for a while and Caleb is the one who told him when he could come back inside,” Sam says, making me look at her because I never thought Luca would feel that strong about the kindness I’ve shown him.
It’s the same as I’d treat anyone else I meet who is a good person.
Luca is one of the best people I’ve ever met who had a shitty start to his life.
“As for Caleb leaving you in bed this morning, it’s because he needs to work through the thoughts in his mind.
He’s gonna be lost the same way you are.
While he won’t cry in the shower the same way us girls do, he’ll workout or get in the ring with one of the guys.
Hopefully it’s not Tank because my husband won’t take it easy on him.
Leaving you in bed was probably really hard for Caleb because I know it would be for any of our men.
You’re both still in that honeymoon phase of the relationship even if you aren’t together.
Neither one of you need to rush into things and just let it play out however it’s going to,” Maddie adds in as I look at her with more tears in my eyes.
“I don’t know what to think or feel right now.
Being with Caleb was the best night of my life.
Caleb made me feel special and constantly asked for consent.
For the first time in my life, I felt sexy and like a woman.
Darren never made me feel that way. It always felt like a chore when he was with me.
On his end, not mine. There was never any foreplay or anything with Darren.
He always made me feel undesirable and less than a woman because of the comments he made during sex,” I tell them honestly.
It’s the first time I’ve ever admitted this out loud to anyone in my life.
“Oh, Sweetheart,” Sam says, her voice breaking as she pulls me from Maddie’s arms into her own.
“You’ve suffered so much in your life for no reason at all.
Darren was a selfish fucker and doesn’t deserve to have any kind of love from you.
I believe after everything comes out, there won’t be even a little bit of friendship left between the guys.
Kreed and Caleb won’t appreciate the way he’s betrayed all of you.
If he’s really faked his death, that’s the biggest betrayal to you all.
Especially Rory and Bryce. Those sweet babies are innocent and don’t deserve to have a father like Darren. ”
I nod my head in response because Sam’s words make sense.
If Darren did fake his death the way we believe, it’s more than a betrayal to Kreed and Caleb.
Those two brought him into their friendship and world.
They shared everything with him and was there for him when his father was being a piece of shit.
Caleb and Kreed gave Darren more of themselves than anyone else ever would have.
The guys in the Phantom Bastards gave him more than anyone else would.
And Sam and Playboy brought him into their family.
My children deserve so much better than a father like Darren.
He never treated them with love or showed them any ounce of emotion unless it was anger and disdain.
Well, Bryce anyway. My heart breaks for my son because he went through hell for no reason at all.
Sam and Maddie help me get under control so I can go out in the living room and get my day started.
I’m ready to see my daughter and be there when Bryce gets home from school.
I need to be the mom my son and daughter need and not lost in my head for any reason.
For now, I have to push thoughts of Caleb aside and I can work through them later when the kids have gone to bed.
Maybe I’ll talk to Kreed about the situation and get his take on things.
He knows Caleb and I the best and will be able to talk me through things.
He’ll know what we’re both feeling and will have advice on what to do and how to handle this situation so Caleb doesn’t abandon us again completely.