Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
The bed is empty when I wake, but it hasn’t been that way for long. I’m doused in sweat, and the spot next to me is still warm.
I shove the sheets down to my waist and roll onto my back. Last night was the best I’ve slept in weeks, and I stretch my arms above my head before turning toward the bathroom. The door is closed, but the shower is running.
Should I leave? I don’t want to overstay my welcome. It’s not like we had sex, but the way Caleb held me felt intimate.
The shower shuts off. I climb out of bed and fix the sheets, waiting for him to leave the bathroom. He does so after a few minutes, a cloud of steam billowing out around his fully dressed form.
He looks good. He’s dressed for work, in dark-brown trousers and a thick, cream sweater.
“Thank you for last night,” I say, quick to break the silence.
Caleb flexes his marked hand before subtly moving it behind his back. It’s too late. I’ve already noticed how dark it’s gotten. Almost black.
“What’s happening with HPAW?” I ask. “Are we in danger?”
Caleb quirks a brow. “That’s none of your concern.”
So, he’s back to acting like an asshole. Nice to know.
“I have the right to know,” I argue. “Everybody else does.”
Caleb shuts down before my very eyes. His gaze grows distant as it sweeps through the room, lingering just a moment on the bed before settling on the door. I’d kill to know what he’s thinking right now.
He used to be so open with me. Now it’s like trying to rip out teeth. I suppose I don’t blame him. I did try to kill him and run to his enemy to share all his secrets.
“I’m not discussing this with you,” he finally says.
He leaves the room, heading downstairs. I don’t bother saying goodbye as I retreat to my car and drive back to my apartment. I shouldn’t have come here last night. It was a mistake.
Caleb’s sweatpants threaten to slide down my waist as I check my empty mailbox and storm up the stairs of my apartment building. Even tied and rolled at the waist, they’re still comically loose. I’m sure Caleb got a kick out of seeing me in them.
I make eye contact with my rude neighbor as I round the top of the stairs. He’s standing in front of his door with his back to me, and he peers at me over his shoulder as I near. His body quickly follows his head, and I tighten my grip on the stair railing as he faces me directly.
He’s holding several pieces of mail, and he tucks them under his arm as he looks me up and down. I don’t appreciate it. His gaze feels condescending, and I just know he’s judging. He takes his sweet time looking over my baggy shirt and poorly fitting sweatpants.
Then he lets in a dramatic inhale. Can he smell Caleb? I hope not.
I’m not ready for anybody to know I spent the night with him. Everything is so awkward and tense between us, and I’d like to figure things out with him privately before rumors spread. This guy looks like one to spread rumors.
“What?” I snap, losing my patience.
He snorts. “Nice outfit. Real classy.”
He’s laughing at me. I ball my hands into fists. I don’t know what this guy’s problem is, but I’m not in the mood to deal with it.
“Do you have a name?” I ask.
He nods, shooting me a cocky smile. I want to smack it off his face as I tap my foot against the ground, waiting for him to elaborate. He doesn’t, and I shut my eyes and count to ten. “…And it is?”
“Adam.”
“Well, Adam,” I snap, “you’re a dick.”
He quirks a brow, the corners of his mouth twitching upward into a mocking smile as I brush past him, retreating into my apartment. Guilt hits me the second I shut the door, but I have no reason to feel guilty. Adam has been nothing but rude, but I don’t want to stoop to his level.
I’m better than that. I want to be better than that.
I’ll make amends later.
I have a few hours to kill before I need to be at the hospital, and I haven’t eaten since lunchtime yesterday. Would Caleb have made me something had I told him about my lack of dinner? He used to love cooking for me, and he took care to ensure I was always well fed.
Feeding myself has never been something I’ve concerned myself with. Excluding the times HPAW explicitly decided to starve me, they prepared and brought me three square meals a day. Caleb took over that responsibility.
It’s been a learning curve. I don’t think about food until I’m starving, and planning my meals ahead of time is challenging. But I’m trying, and I’m proud of the progress I’ve made. It’s slow, but it’s consistent.
Were my parents good cooks? I can visualize our dinner table if I concentrate hard enough, but I have no memory of eating at it. Maybe they preferred to eat in the living room. I’ll never know.
I throw some dethawed chicken and a handful of cut-up vegetables on a baking tray. I’ve watched Caleb make dozens of variations of this meal several times, and I feel a sense of accomplishment as I stick everything in the oven.
After much internal debate, I also stick a dozen cookies in the oven. The dough is premade, but I enjoy it. I can’t stomach the thought of verbally apologizing to Adam, so the cookies will have to do.
I spend the remainder of my time skimming my books on shifter culture and mate bonds.
This morning’s interaction with Adam lingers at the back of my mind, and I stop by his apartment before leaving for work. The mere sight of his door pisses me off, and I spend a long minute glaring at it before knocking.
He opens it within seconds, and I force myself to smile as I thrust a plate of cookies in his direction.
“For you,” I hiss through my teeth.
Adam blinks, his eyes narrowing as he peers at the plate. His throat bobs and his nostrils flare. The fucker likes cookies.
“Why?” he asks. “Have you poisoned them?”
Despite his distrust, he doesn’t hesitate to snatch the plate out of my hands.
“I’m sure you’d be able to smell if I poisoned them,” I say.
Adam shrugs, not arguing my point, before shoving a cookie into his mouth. He hums as he chews, which I take as a good sign.
He swallows. “I don’t have anything for you.”
“I don’t expect you to.”
“Good.”
Adam steps back into his apartment, then slams his door in my face. I jolt, startled by the sudden movement. Well, fuck him too.