23. Caleb
CHAPTER 23
CALEB
I adjust the mask across my eyes and step back to assess the full outfit in the mirror. Every year, Seda dictates the family’s theme. This year, though, while the rest of her family is dressed as Toy Story characters, she talked me into something different. And since The Princess Bride is her current obsession, this makes sense.
Can’t say I wasn’t ecstatic when she asked me to dress up as Westley.
Down the hall, Casen and Quinn bicker, like always, though their annoyance today has more to do with dressing up than anything else. But they’re being good sports about it after Seda broke down in tears when they told her they weren’t planning to dress up. I’m not sure what costumes they decided on, but based on the ruckus coming from their room, it’s safe to say I should be worried.
A soft knock on my door pulls me from my thoughts, and I’m almost knocked on my ass when I pull it open and come face to face with Hot Pirate Halle.
“Can you help me with my corset?” she asks, turning around and dragging her hair over her shoulder to reveal the ribbons in the back.
“Yeah,” I stammer, hands shaking at the thought of touching her.
I’ve been a taut bowstring since our moment in the kitchen. My current case load is kicking my ass, so I’ve been in Boston more than I’d like. Between that and the boys, Halle and I haven’t had a second of time alone. Unable to resist the temptation, I dip my head and kiss her bare shoulder.
She lets out a tiny gasp that lights me up on the inside.
Stepping back, I study the corset, then tug on the ribbons. “Tight enough?”
She peeks over her shoulder at me. “Tighter.”
I make some adjustments to the way the ribbon runs through the eyelets, then pull a little harder. “How about now?”
“Mm,” she hums. “Just a little more.”
Again, I tighten it, wrapping each end around my fingers.
“That’s perfect. ”
Careful not to let out any slack, I secure the ribbon and tie it into a bow. Then I release her.
With a sigh, she lets her hair fall down to cascade over her back and turns to face me.
God, she’s so fucking pretty. She has no idea how weak she makes me.
“What are you supposed to be? Zorro?”
I shake my head and adjust my mask when it slips a little. “Westley from The Princess Bride .”
Nose scrunching, she tilts her head. “Is that a book?”
My heart about gives out. With a hand to my chest, I give my head a solemn shake. “Halle, Halle, Halle,” I chant her name. “You’re telling me you’ve never watched The Princess Bride ?”
She winces. “Considering I assumed it was a book? No.”
Leaning against the doorway, I let out a deep sigh. “A shame, truly. You’re missing out on a masterpiece.”
This time it’s her lips that scrunch. “Why do I get the feeling you’re exaggerating and it’s actually terrible?”
Groaning, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Not exaggerating. And no, it’s not terrible. It’s a classic. It’s Seda’s favorite movie at the moment, so she asked me to dress as Westley. She’s going as Buttercup.”
She narrows her eyes, like she thinks I’m fucking with her. “And who or what is Buttercup? A fairy? A flower?”
“She’s… you know what? We’ll have Seda over this week, and you can watch it with her. She’ll quiz you after, so be prepared.”
She chuckles. “Sounds?— ”
A loud crash from down the hall cuts her off, and she darts away.
“Shit,” she curses as she bangs on the door. “Are you two decent?”
“Um… I guess,” one of the boys calls as I catch up.
Halle throws the door open, and we’re instantly greeted by the sight of a broken lamp. It’s lying on the floor, the base smashed and in several pieces.
Halle covers her face, muffling her groan. “What did you do?”
“It was him,” they say simultaneously, pointing to one another.
It’s like they planned it on purpose, like they’re imitating the Spiderman meme, since they’re both dressed in Spiderman costumes.
As tense as the atmosphere is, it’s hard not to break into laughter.
“I don’t care who it was.” Halle drops to the floor and carefully picks the lamp up by its neck. “Both of you, tell Caleb you’re sorry and that you’ll replace it.”
“Hal,” I say before the boys can speak. “It’s just a light. It’s no big deal, I promise.” I unplug it from the wall and take the broken pieces from her. “No one’s hurt. That’s what matters.”
She frowns up at me, still on her knees, brushing her fingers over the carpet subconsciously.
“Halle?” I prompt when she doesn’t speak.
Her breaths become jagged, choppy, like she’s struggling to get air into her lungs .
“Halle?” I repeat. When she still doesn’t respond, I hold the lamp pieces out to Casen. “Take this down to the trash.”
He takes them, looking from me to his sister and back, brows pulled low in concern. Eventually, he shuffles from the room. Quinn hasn’t moved, his expression full of just as much worry.
“I’ve got her,” I assure him, nodding at the door. “I promise.”
He dips his head in acknowledgment before quietly slipping out of the room.
Halle slowly raises her head, her eyes welling with unshed tears.
“Baby.” The word falls from me as I get down on my knees in front of her and gently cup her rigid shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“I just…” Her face contorts with a pain I wish I could take from her. I wish we could go back to moments ago when I was tying the corset. “I remembered something.”
I cup her cheeks, trying not to get too excited about the way she relaxes at my touch. “Do you want to talk about it?”
She shakes her head.
I nod. I can respect that. One day, I hope she’ll open up to me, but for now, I won’t push.
With a sharp inhale, she blinks and straightens a little. “Actually, I do.”
I stay quiet, waiting for her to fill in the blanks when she’s ready.
“I knocked a lamp off the table once. I was dancing, just being a kid, you know? It broke, and the guy my mom was seeing back then backhanded me. Gave me a black eye. My mom told the school I fell off our front porch steps. I…” She trails off, attention dropping to the floor between us. “I don’t know how I managed to forget that until now.”
“The brain is capable of some pretty incredible things.” I smooth her hair back from her forehead. “Including repressing memories in order to protect us.”
“I didn’t scare them, did I?” Lips tipped in a pained frown, she eyes the open door.
I give her a gentle smile. “I think they’re just worried about you.”
She sighs. “Can’t say I blame them.”
“Ready to get up?” I’ll stay down here on the floor with her for as long as she needs me to, but moving on from this moment may do her some good.
She nods, so I stand and hold my hands out to her.
Even when she’s steady on her feet, I don’t let go. “How do you feel?”
She gives me a small, barely there smile. “Like I almost had a panic attack, but I’m better now. Promise.”
My chest tightens. “You sure? We can stay here if you want.”
Her eyes soften, gentle fingers grazing my jaw. “I appreciate the offer, even more so because I know you’d do it without complaint. But we need to go. Seda’s waiting. I’m fine, I promise. And if I’m not, I know my way back over here.”
I inhale, relishing the flutter of her pulse beneath my fingers. “You mean it? If you’re upset, you’ll tell me? ”
“Promise.” She stretches up on her tiptoes and kisses my cheek. “Let’s go.”
I can’t help but catalog her every move as we go downstairs, where her brothers are sitting on the couch, waiting. I worry the party will be too much for her after her near panic attack, but now that the moment has passed, she really does seem to be okay.
Though that doesn’t mean I won’t continue to keep an eye out for her.
I snag the candy I left on the table near the front door, then usher the group out.
The whole way there, the boys watch their sister carefully. I’m not the only one who worries about her.
Next door, the party is already going, so rather than knock, I walk right in.
“Heck yeah,” Laith, who’s standing in the foyer nursing a beer, says. “Give me that.” He snatches the candy bag from my hand and peers inside it. “You always bring the good stuff.”
“Those are for the kids,” I reprimand my friend. “And what’s with the word heck ?”
The two Spidermans head past us and into the family room.
Laith groans, scratching at his scruff. “Thayer might’ve already given me a warning about language. I’m trying to be on my best behavior. My brother’s scary when he wants to be.” His focus drifts from me to Halle, like he’s only just now realized she’s here, and as he looks her up and down, he breaks into a Cheshire smile. “Nice costume. We’d make a great couple. ”
I instantly bristle. I’ve never been one prone to violence, but I’ve never wanted to punch someone in the face more. Not even Thayer back in the day.
Halle giggles. She giggles . What the fuck? Have I been dropped into an alternate reality?
“I guess we would.”
My stomach fucking drops.
“Dude.” Laith claps my shoulder. “I’m talking about our costumes. Relax. God, your face is priceless.”
I glare at my—now—former best friend.
He tips his beer in Halle’s direction. “He really likes you.”
Halle gives me a soft smile. “That’s okay. I really like him too.”
“Ugh.” Laith groans, head dropped back. “I’m surrounded by couples now. The universe hates me.”
“I’m sure there’s a lucky girl out there just waiting for you,” Halle says, her fingers finding their way to mine.
“Whatever.” Grumbling, Laith holds up his beer. “You guys want a drink?”
“We can get them.” Chin lifted, I look around for any sign of Seda.
“Sure, sure.” He cradles the bag of candy against his chest. “I’m gonna go eat these till I’m sick and cry about my singleness. It’s fine. I’m fine.” With that, he turns and strides toward the back of the house.
“Is he okay?” Halle asks, squeezing my hand. “Should you go talk to him?”
“He’ll be fine.” I squeeze back. “He can be a little dramatic at times. ”
Knowing him, he’s probably already digging into a Kit-Kat, having already forgotten his woes.
“Are you sure?” she asks, as I lead her back to the kitchen in search of food and drinks. “He seemed genuinely sad.”
Her concern is sincere and not inappropriate at all. My jealousy, on the other hand, is ridiculous. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll check on him after we get drinks and find Seda.”
“Okay,” she agrees, smiling at me.
That expression is like an arrow to the heart. All she has to do is point it in my direction, and I’ll be on my knees for her. It’s never been like this before.
Though there was a time I didn’t believe it, I now see what Salem meant when she said that even though she loved me, what she felt for Thayer was different. This sensation is so much more than I knew was even possible.
Around the kitchen, tubs of ice hold a variety of drinks, and there are platters full of finger foods.
“What do you want to drink?” I bring my lips to her ear to be heard over the music—some kind of rendition of “Monster Mash.”
“Just a Coke or Sprite.”
I dig through a tub, then pop open a can of Sprite for her and another for myself.
Then, with her free hand in mine, I lead her through the crowd as I search for Seda. It seems like half the residents of Hawthorne Mills are in attendance. I even spot Cynthia and Thelma among them, dressed as witches.
“Daddy! ”
Before I can find her, her little body crashes into mine, and she loops her arms around my waist. My heart lurches as I soak in the affection. Every time she greets me like this, I worry it’ll be the last.
She pulls away, smiling up at me. “You dressed up as Westley.”
“You asked me to.” I ruffle her blond hair. “Did you really think I wouldn’t?”
She bats my hand away. “I knew you would, because you love me.” My girl turns to Halle, her smile just as bright as when she was assessing me. “Hi. You’re a pretty pirate.”
“Thank you.” Halle does some sort of curtsy maneuver that has me fighting a laugh. “And you’re a beautiful…”
“Buttercup,” I finish for her.
She snaps her fingers, giving me a grateful smile. “Right.”
Seda settles her hands on her hips, head cocked, full of attitude. “You’ve never seen The Princess Bride , have you?”
Halle cringes. “No, I haven’t.”
With a huff, Seda says, “We’ll change that. Soon.”
Halle leans into me, her mouth at my ear. “I feel like I’m in trouble.”
“You definitely are.”
“Come on, Daddy.” Seda tugs at my sleeve. “Come say hi to everyone.”
I need to check on Laith like I promised, but I don’t want to run out on my daughter yet either.
“Mom, look! Daddy’s here!”
Salem passes over a wriggling Samson to Thayer and approaches. “I’m so glad you guys could make it. Casen and Quinn too.”
“Nice costume,” Halle tells her as the two women hug.
Salem adjusts her red cowgirl hat.
She’s dressed as Jessie, while Thayer’s Woody and Samson is Buzz. I haven’t seen Soleil yet, but I can guarantee she’s dressed as Slinky Dog or maybe Bo Peep.
“Are you okay here?” I ask Halle. “I want to check on Laith.”
Halle nods, offering me a reassuring smile. “I’m okay.”
I press a kiss to my little girl’s head. “I’ll be back in a few.”
“Okay,” she replies absently, her attention already zeroed in on the twins, who are conspiring in the corner.
God help me there. I knew she’d one day be interested in boys—or girls; that would be okay too—but I’m not ready. And I’m wondering if any parent ever is.