Chapter 37
CHAPTER 37
CALEB
A pril has been avoiding me again. She has worked with the team in the office, and I know she’s been attending and teaching classes at Scarlett’s. However, she may as well be a ghost where I'm concerned. I come home, and she’s out or holed up in her room. I wouldn't know she was living with me if it wasn’t for a single pair of shoes on the shoe rack by the door. We no longer eat together. Dinner is left conveniently in the warming drawer.
Tonight, I know she’s out.
A message scrawled in her handwriting is waiting for me when I make it out of the gym. She’s gone to the movies with one of the dancers from Scarlett’s studio. The letter smells of her. Her floral scent clings to the paper. I’m becoming a sad sap, sniffing at a piece of paper, but I can’t help myself. April Wilson has rankled me, making me behave like a lovesick teenager.
Not tonight, however. If she’s out, then it’s boys’ night. I call the boys, and poker night is on, at mine. It’s been weeks since I hosted—since my house guest arrived. Something the boys have mocked me for, relentlessly .
The doorbell goes. The guys have the key code to my floor. I’ve known them forever, and it makes life easier, especially when they stay over. Tristan, Quentin, and Xander walk in. Tristan carrying wine, Xander beer, and Quentin an enormous box of Chinese takeaway from our favourite restaurant.
The elevator pings behind them. My twin, Gabriel, steps out.
Gabriel has taken to joining us on boys’ nights as Leah uses the time for her girlie evenings. He has tried to deny it, but I think he secretly enjoys getting out and reconnecting with the guys.
Tonight, the girls are invading Leah and Gabriel’s apartment, which means Callum isn’t here. For playboy men, my cool dude of a nephew certainly gets a lot of attention. When the girls go out, Gabriel brings him, or we go to his. Poker goes to hell on those nights, with five grown-ass men cooing and ahh-ing over the little man.
“How’s Callum? Was it colic?” Quentin asks Gabriel.
What? Colic? How does Quentin know about Callum’s colic?
I watch my brother’s expression soften as he looks at our old school friend. I never thought I’d see the day my brother let down his walls.
“He’s good. The colic seems to have passed. Great recommendation. Thank your old nanny.” It’s hard to believe my twin is a father. That he’s found his soulmate. And that’s no exaggeration. Leah is his other half. They’ve always complimented each other. It simply took them eight years to finally open their eyes to the fact.
Marcus slaps Gabriel on the back, and I nearly fall over when my brother smiles at him.
“It’ll be teething next.” It’s Xander who chirps up.
“Then crawling. We’ll all have to baby-proof our apartments,” Marcus adds .
What’s going on?
When did the bachelor brigade become interested in baby development?
In the months before Callum arrived, there was pregnancy chat and baby names. I watch in fascination as the boys all nod in agreement. Beam me up, Scotty. I’ve just entered the twilight zone.
“How about you?” Tristan slaps my back, shooting me forward, as I wasn’t expecting it.
“What about me?” I ask.
“Don’t play coy? How’s your not so new housemate? Will she be joining us this evening?” Xander asks, waggling his eyebrows.
“Haha. I’m helping her out. And no, she’s not here this evening. I wouldn’t inflict you reprobates on her,” I say, grabbing a beer as a distraction.
I ignore the looks that pass between the group, including my brother—traitor. I’m not in the mood for their teasing. I don’t understand April. She’s one of the most frustrating women I’ve ever met.
“Did you think about what I said?” Gabriel says, coming up to stand next to me.
I called Gabriel in frustration after April’s outburst and refusal to think about taking on the studio once it was rebuilt.
It hadn’t been Gabriel who came up with the solution, but Leah.
“Leah’s suggestion,” I say, shoulder-bumping him for trying to take the credit.
“Just remember, behind every successful man,” my brother chuckles.
“In your case, most definitely,” I tease.
Leah has, after all, worked for him for years .
I like this new relaxed twin. Not only because he doesn’t blow me off every time, I try to see him. But he’s just… more.
“I took Leah’s advice, and I’m working on it,” I say cryptically, not wanting the others to get into my business.
Gabriel nods before taking a plate and digging into the food that Quentin has laid out on the table. I follow suit, making small talk with my friends, finally letting my guard down for the first time in what seems like days.
After dinner, we sit down for our weekly poker game.
Gabriel wins. With his maths genius brain, I’m sure he’s card counting, but it’s impossible to prove. The guys all take it in their stride. It’s become the group challenge—who will be the first to beat Gabe.
“So, Caleb, your house guest resisting your charms?” Tristan asks, throwing in yet another hand.
“That’s got to be a first,” Quentin chimes in. “Are you losing your touch, old man? You are thirty now.”
“Shut up,” I say, lobbing a cushion at him. “Plenty of years left yet.”
“Just saying,” Quentin shrugs, his grin splitting his face. “The proof is in the….” I threaten to throw another cushion, and he rocks backwards, laughing. He’s only a couple of months younger than me, but now he seems to think of himself as a top-rate comedian.
“It’s not like that. I’m helping her get back on her feet,” I say, unsure why I need to defend my actions but doing so anyway.
“Sure you are,” Xander nods. “How many apartments do you own in the city? Thirty? I know at least three are currently empty,” he says, laughing. He would know, his company manage all mine and Gabriel’s property portfolios. I shoot him a glare that would stop most people in their tracks. Instead of shutting up, however, he continues. “Instead, you’re helping, by letting her stay in your apartment, under your roof. Don’t play innocent with us. We know you.”
“It’s not like that…”
“I say he protests too much. He wants to get in her pants, and she’s holding him at bay.”
Quentin laughs.
There’s a cough, and everyone spins around.
Oh shit!
My bloody friends and their big mouths!
April stands in the doorway, her cheeks flushed. This is where I want to murder all my friends and hide their bodies in the new foundations of her dance school.
“Hi, I’m April,” she says, stepping into the room.
Quentin has the good grace to look sheepish, especially when Marcus smacks him around the back of his head. “Sorry, April. We were only jesting,” he says, standing up and holding out his hand. I don’t think I’ve ever seen my friend go so red.
“I wasn’t expecting you home,” I hear myself say.
April looks at me, her eyes sparking. Shit, she heard more than she should.
“Clearly,” she says. “The movie was terrible. We gave up on it. Don’t mind me, I’ll leave you to your boys chat and head upstairs. Gentleman.”
Shit! She did hear.
April turns to leave. Tristan, who is sitting to my right, nudges me hard in the ribs, gesturing wildly with his head.
“You’re free to join us,” I say, rubbing my bruised side.
April freezes before turning around. Making her way towards us.
“What are you playing?” she asks.
“Poker,” Gabriel says, making space next to him, and allowing April to sit down.
April does a double-take before holding out her hand. “ You must be Gabriel,” she says, her eyes flitting between the two of you. “Similar, but not quite the same.”
Gabriel chuckles, and I know this is not the last I’ll be hearing of this. Only a handful of people can tell us apart. It looks like April is one of them.
“That’s what my wife says,” he says, taking her hand in his. “Pleased to meet you April. Let me introduce you to the rest of these reprobates.”
He introduces her to the other guys around the table, who are now on their best behaviour and incredibly apologetic.
It would be funny, if it wasn’t so embarrassing.
April takes a seat.
“Can I get you some wine?” Tristan asks, jumping to his feet.
April smiles up at him and my muscles tense. “That would be lovely.”
Tristan disappears into the kitchen and returns with a glass of wine. She thanks him with a dazzling smile, and my stomach hardens.
What’s with all the gentlemanly behaviour?
“Are you going to deal?” I say to Tristan. My question sharper than I want it to be.
Tristan smirks before shuffling the deck and dealing.
Two hours later, April has a pile equalling Gabriel’s. Who would have known my little dancer has a penchant for cards?
“Well gentleman. I’m going to call it a night. I have an early start in the morning.”
My friends all nod like puppy dogs. When April goes out of sight, I scowl at them all, making Gabriel the only one unaffected, smirk. “For god’s sake, put your tongues away. You’re embarrassing yourselves,” I snap.
The guys all turn at once before bursting out laughing.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him jealous before,” Tristan laughs .
“Nope, definitely got the hots for his lodger,” Quentin adds, high-fiving Xander.
“Okay, enough. I think it’s time to call it a night. You’ve had your fun.”
“We’re going,” Xander says, “But make a move before you miss out,” he says, clapping me on the shoulder.
They may now know we met in New York, but April, though, has made it clear she’s not interested. While most women are falling over themselves for my wealth and status. It appears nothing could be more of a turnoff for my little dancer.
I shake my head and sigh at my friends. “You’re all delusional.”
“Keep telling yourself that,” Tristan says as they file out of the apartment, leaving me alone with the mess of the evening and a frustrating lodger who refuses to accept my help in rebuilding her life.