8. Caleb
CHAPTER 8
Caleb
I walk into the dressing room and make my way to my bag. Taking a seat, I put my helmet on the bench and drop my head into my hands, running my hands through my hair.
I’m failing. I told myself I would create distance between myself and Bailey and Charlie. I’ve gone twenty-nine years without meeting this woman, and now I’ve seen her several times over the last few weeks. And every time I do, I’m completely enraptured by her.
She’s trying to hide her pain from everyone else around her, but I see it, and all I want to do is take that pain away.
“You’re fucked,” Grayson says.
I turn and glower at him. I know this, I really don’t need the fucker pointing it out; and what does he do? He fucking laughs at me while he slaps his knee. He’s enjoying this way too much. So, I decide to get a reaction of my own from him. It’s not my usual tactic, but I’m all turned around right now. This isn’t me. I don’t get hung up on a woman.
“So, you’ve been seeing a lot of Hannah with her being at all these games.”
That sobers him up really quick, and I smirk. I see the wheels turning in his head as he decides how to get me back. I can tell the exact moment he figures it out.
“Who thinks Caleb will marry Bailey,” he calls to the entire dressing room.
His question has the loud voices quieting and everyone looking our way. More than half the hands in the dressing room go up. What the hell? What in the world would make them all jump to that crazy conclusion? How do all of them know who Bailey fucking is?
“I’m not even dating the woman. How did you manage to jump to us getting married?”
“Man, you’ve smiled more in the last few weeks than I’ve seen you smile all year. There is something there. Plus, I saw the hip grab and I heard all about your defending her at the bar last weekend. Just call it as I see it.”
“Grayson knows your private ass the best. If he says you’ll marry her, I believe it,” Luke calls from the other side of the room, and a few guys nod.
“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” Matt asks.
“Yeah,” I say. My last relationship ended within five months of returning from active duty. The nightmares and occasional mood swings or zoning out were just too much for her. She just packed her stuff one day and left. After Gina, I decided no more relationships.
“When?” Matt’s being annoyingly persistent.
“It’s been a while.” Five years.
“That’s all you’re going to say?”
“There isn’t much more to say about it. I’ve dated, but the last one didn’t end great. I decided not to date anymore.”
Matt and Josh watch me as though they’re looking for more between my words. I consider them both two of my closest friends, but I haven’t been able to open up to them about everything.
They drop the conversation, and we shower and change before heading upstairs. Makin g our way into the restaurant, we find the girls at a long table in the centre of the room. We walk over to them, and Josh heads straight towards Liv. They always find each other when they’re in the same room. It’s as though they’re two magnets drawn to each other. Charlie is sitting beside Olivia with Bailey sitting across from her between Lily and Hannah, Zoey is beside Hannah, and Liz is sitting at the head of the table. It looks like they purposely left the seat beside Liv open for Josh.
As soon as Josh makes it to the table, Charlie turns in her chair and spots me. She jumps out of her seat and runs to me, grabbing my hand.
“You’re beside me, Caleb.”
She pulls me along, and I follow with a smile as this little girl tells me where I’m sitting. As soon as we’re both seated, she looks at her mom. “I get to sit between Aunty Liv and Caleb,” she says excitedly.
“Yes, you do, Baby Girl.” Bailey looks at her with overflowing affection and love; but there’s something else, something sad.
“Don’t tell me Aunty Liv has replaced me as your favourite,” Lily says.
Charlie looks directly at Lily and shakes her head. “No, Caleb’s my favourite.” She then turns back to the colouring sheet in front of her. I’m left speechless, and people are looking at me curiously.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’re welcome,” she says, not looking up.
Our server, along with the help of her coworkers, delivers our food as well as a few pitchers of water. With her food in front of her, Charlie does a little happy dance in her seat. I take a bite of my grilled cheese and let out a groan. Turning to Charlie I say, “This is really good.”
She nods as she takes a bite, gooey cheese strung between her sandwich and mouth. Matt a nd Zoey seem deep in conversation, while everyone else talks around them.
When Charlie finishes eating, she returns to her drawing, but after a few minutes, she looks at me and asks, “Can I sit in your lap?”
My eyes immediately find Bailey’s, and I mouth, Can she?
She nods. I reach over to Charlie, positioning my hands in her armpits and pulling her onto my lap. When she’s settled, I bring her paper and crayons with so they are in front of me.
“Do you want to play tic-tac-toe with me?” I ask.
She nods, and I draw the board, allowing her to make the first move. We play a couple of rounds before she adjusts herself in my lap, leaning into me like she’s going to fall asleep. I wrap my arm around her, making sure she’s secure. I take a deep breath and inhale the smell of her strawberry shampoo. The smell winds around me, and I feel myself getting tired. My head moves as I track the conversations around the table. Olivia catches my attention when she slides into Charlie’s chair.
“You’re good with her,” she says as she reaches forward and tucks a piece of hair behind Charlie’s ear.
“She makes it easy,” I say with a soft smile.
“Don’t write yourself off like that, Caleb. Not everyone is as good with kids as you are with her. She can read it too. She’s taken with you, and I have a feeling she’s a good judge of character. If she didn’t feel safe and comfortable with you, she wouldn’t be asleep in your lap right now.”
I meet Liv’s eyes and see the truth in them. Being a teacher and dealing with kids daily, I trust her judgment. Something squeezes my heart. It’s not something to take lightly, having a little girl as sweet as Charlie feel safe with you. Especially when she’s seen what she has.
“Thanks, Liv.”
She nods and moves back to her seat beside Josh .
Bailey looks over at me, shock filling her face. I don’t think she’s looked over here since Charlie’s fallen asleep. She comes to my side, saying, “I should get her home.” She moves to grab Charlie, but I hold up my hand and say, “I’ve got her. Just let me get the bill and I’ll carry her to your car.”
“I don’t want to put you out. I can take her.”
“It’s no problem, Bailey. I’ll take her.”
She appears to resign herself and waives over the server. I ask for the check for the three of us. When the server returns, I take it before Bailey can and ask for the machine. Bailey opens her mouth like she’s going to argue, but the look I give her tells her not to. When I finish paying, I run a hand over Charlie’s back.
“Little Bear, it’s time to go home.”
She nuzzles deeper into my chest.
“Little Bear, can you wrap your arms around my neck?”
Her eyes open slightly, and I get a view of the beautiful blue that matches her mother’s. She wraps her arms around my neck, and I stand. I make my way over to the guys giving them each a handshake before adjusting Charlie and grabbing my hockey bag. Bailey takes my sticks, and we make our way to her car.
“Thank you for carrying her.”
I face her and smile. “It’s no problem, Bailey. If I didn’t want to, I wouldn’t. I’m not really known for doing things I don’t want to.”
Her eyes bounce around my face, and she seems to read my sincerity, a small smile spreading across her face. When we get to her car, she unlocks it and I get Charlie settled in the back.
Bailey fiddles with her phone, and I grab it, swiping up and turning it to read her face, unlocking it. Opening her contacts, I add myself then give her it back.
“Text me when you get home,” I say, opening the driver’s door for her .
“Yeah. Thank you for everything today. I guess, I should also apologize and thank you for Saturday,” she says, a blush spreading across her cheeks and down her neck. Her eyes dart everywhere but my face.
I grip her chin, forcing her to look at me as I say, “Bailey, there is nothing to apologize for. If you ever need anything, please call me.”
She nods, her eyes remaining on mine. Her eyes are the shade of the sky on a bright summer day, and I could stare into them for the rest of my life. I clear my throat and take a step back, dropping my hand.
“Please remember to text me when you get home. I want to make sure you’re safe.”
“I will. Thank you,” she says as she climbs into her car and drives away.
My eyes track her car until I can no longer see her taillights, and only then do I make my way to my car and head home. During my walk with Finn and when we get back home, I constantly check my phone, waiting for it to ding with a text notification. After twenty minutes of checking it every minute, it dings.
Bailey: Home safe and sound. Charlie is curled up in bed with Vanilla. She’s definitely out for the night. Thank you for tonight.??
Caleb: Anytime. Sleep well, Bailey.
Bailey: You too.
I plug my phone in beside my bed and climb in. My mind goes over the events of today, how much I enjoyed having Charlie there, cheering for me. How something as small as giving her the puck from the game-winning goal made her shine with happiness .
Mom’s pressuring me to settle down starts to go through my head. I remember how I felt when Liv said Charlie would only have fallen asleep in my lap if she felt safe. That is probably the most satisfying feeling I’ve ever experienced. Knowing that Charlie, who has seen her father get violent with her mom and would have every right not to feel safe around men, feels safe with me.
I’m drawn to Bailey. I want to know everything that’s going on in her head. Why does she have a mixture of sadness in her eyes when she looks at Charlie, but especially when she looks at Charlie and me together? Questions bounce around my head as I try to fall asleep, but when I do finally crash, I dream of Bailey and Charlie and it’s the first night in forever I don’t wake up from a nightmare.
I spend Sunday with Finn around the house doing chores, at the dog park, and watching a couple of hockey games on TV. Monday morning, I make my way to work and when I get there, my staff sergeant calls me into his office.
“Sutton, I need you to help the group of doctors and nurses coming in today offering flu shots. They’ll be setting up in conference room A.”
I nod. As always, Staff Sergeant Bell is straight to the point. “Is there anything specific you need done?”
“Just make sure they have everything they need. They need a liaison while in the station.”
“Sounds good.” I pat my thighs before pushing out of my seat and heading to the reception desk. I tell the officer managing walk-ins to let me know when the people doing the flu shots are here and return to my desk to follow up on some of the recent reports .
Half an hour later, my desk phone rings. I answer and am told they’re here, so I make my way to reception. I stop short when I see blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail, a light-blue blouse, and a black pencil skirt that hugs hips and an ass I’d recognize anywhere.
Bailey.
I walk up behind her and lean over her shoulder until my lips are right beside her ear.
“Hello, Bailey,” I whisper, and she jumps, clutching her chest as she spins and stares at me. I throw my head back and let out a laugh, one I feel in my stomach and chest. Her hand reaches out as she playfully slaps my arm.
“What the hell, Caleb? You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“I’m sorry, Bails, I couldn’t help myself.”
She rolls her eyes at my response.
“You here to do the flu shots?”
“Yeah, I’m managing the intake while the nurses and a doctor do the shots.”
“Okay, well I’m your liaison for the day. If you guys want to gather your stuff, I’ll take you back to get set up.”
She nods and turns to the group of people standing in a circle behind her. They pick up the bags at their feet and follow me through the main door after we’re buzzed in, and we head to the conference room.
“You guys can rearrange the room however is best for you. I’ll be staying in here with you guys today. If any of you need to leave the room, you’ll need to be escorted. Let me know if you need anything and I’ll get it for you.”
Everyone nods, and I grab a chair and take it to the corner. When they begin to move tables, I step in, having them tell me where they want them. I bring in another officer, and we get the tables into the proper spots. I take my spot in the corner and watch as they finish setting up. I can’t take my eyes off Bailey the entire day. I watch as the guys who come in for their shots smile and flirt with her and how she smiles back.
I clench my fists trying to fight this feeling rising inside of me. I want to go over there and stake a claim to her, tell all of these guys to fuck off, she’s mine—but I can’t. I don’t have that right, and I’m not going to overstep with Bailey.
I watch as Officer Cain sets up camp in front of the table Bailey is using. He’s a player. We’ve all heard about his escapades either directly from him or through the rumour mill, and I don’t like watching him flirt with Bailey. He leans over the table and moves like he might reach forward and brush the stray strand of hair that’s fallen from her ponytail behind her ear.
That’s it. I push out of my chair and stalk directly towards them. “Cain, either get back to work or get your shot. This is not a time to be flirting.”
He shoots me a cocky grin. “I’m just killing time until they’re ready for me, Sutton.”
I place a hand on Bailey’s back and feel her lean into my touch slightly.
“Why don’t you go take a seat in one of those chairs over there, Cain. I’m sure Bailey can call you when she’s ready.”
He stares at the placement of my hand before making eye contact with me again.
“Whatever you say, Sutton.”
He has this look like he now knows this major secret no one else does, and I don’t like it. I watch as he moves towards the empty chairs and takes a seat.
I lean over Bailey and whisper, “I’m not sure I enjoy sharing your smiles with all these fuckers, Bailey. You’re going to make me do something we’re both going to regret.”
She swallows audibly before her head turns towards me. She licks her lips, and my eyes track the movement. I hold back a groan as I think about other places her tongue could be and just how good it would feel.
“I’m not sure we’d both regret it,” she whispers, and God if that doesn’t almost have me breaking my resolve.
“What am I going to do with you, woman?” I say before standing straight and making my way back to my chair.
For the rest of the shift, I watch Bailey. Her smiles are very professional with all the guys, and she looks over at me every once in a while, a blush spreading across her cheeks every time.
When they begin packing up, I walk over to Bailey. “I have your cookie container in my locker, why don’t you come and get it.”
She looks over her shoulder at her co-workers before she nods and places the batch of documents in her file. I pull another officer in to watch over everyone else then we make our way to the locker room.