Chapter Twenty-Two
Caleb’s brows pinch, and I suck in a deep breath. “I quit my job as an interpreter.”
“You what?!” Caleb’s expression goes wide—concern etched into every feature. “But, babe, you love that job, I thought.”
I nod. “I do—I did, but I was already in some hot water with the company anyway, since—well, you know—we’ve been a little less than conspicuous…”
“Was it Sadist Thumbs? Did he narc on you—on us?”
I shake my head. “No. I think he has an idea about us, yes, but it wasn’t him.
You remember that douchey physiatrist I called out on your first visit there, Desmaris or whomever?
No one has said as much, but I firmly believe he was the one to file the complaint against my unprofessional behavior. Retaliation, I guess.”
“That’s bullshit.” Caleb glowers. “I’ll go after his goddamn job. I’ll—”
I cut off his rant. “Caleb, no. We won’t solve anything by continually adding to this pissing match.
Besides, I’ve been doing a lot of soul-searching lately, and, well, I’ve decided that perhaps I’d like to head down a new career path.
I can’t go into too many details, but one of the call-outs I had to go to in the middle of the night recently was one where someone found herself in a similar situation as myself—she was drugged and assaulted.
Not only was I there to help her be understood through sign language, but I was also able to connect with her based on my own trauma.
I think I’d like to do some advocacy work. ”
Caleb just blinks at me, so I fill the tense silence, explaining myself further, “Caleb, I have felt guilty for years for staying silent about my assault because I felt in some way I’d let that bastard get away with it.
I stayed silent to protect not only myself, but Brody as well.
I still don’t feel comfortable with him finding out that he was conceived during such a dark place in my life because I don’t want that weighing on him, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t want justice. That I still don't…”
Caleb’s gaze never strays from my eyes. “You’re so selfless, Lauren. I can assure you, I certainly don’t question your defenses when it comes to that.”
“Thank you,” I tell him earnestly. “But I guess I’ve always felt like I should be doing more, you know?
With that poor girl the other night, I felt like I was truly on my way to accomplishing something greater.
She didn’t feel like she was going through this alone.
I felt like I advocated more for her in regards to her assault than I ever could have by simply being there to interpret for her. ”
I gulp hard. “When I left her in the care of her family, after she left the ER, I was immediately put in touch with the hospital’s social worker, who was on call herself that night.
She couldn’t be there, but I was. And I was able to help her.
I told her I’d assist her in any way I could because she wants to pursue pressing charges against her attacker, even if it means I’m just offering her my interpreter services on the side.
I want to continue to help other sexual assault survivors. ”
Caleb reaches up and runs his fingers through my hair, a soft, understanding smile on his lips, before signing, “Then I think you should pursue that, Lauren. I think you’d be excellent at it too.”
“The only thing is, the opening the social worker told me I should apply for? It’s part-time, meaning I wouldn’t be able to contribute as much financially as I had been…
” I note, biting my lip uncertainly. “There’s an immediate entry-level position available, with room for growth down the road, and the social worker told me I’d be a perfect fit.
The job is pretty much mine, as long as I don’t fumble my tele-interview… ”
Caleb shakes his head. “Don’t worry about finances. Marcus and I both are feeling pretty secure with our jobs, I could potentially add more with the sale of my house once we get it on the market, and—”
I cut in, “I was actually thinking I could use that free time to help care for Aaron. I know I didn’t officially finish nursing school, but I do at least have my CNA. I’ve just never done anything with it. That is, if you’re okay with me participating in his care…”
Caleb’s features soften. “Of course. I’d love that, actually.
I’m certain Cam would agree.” He swallows hard.
“You have no idea how much that would mean to me, to have his care be coordinated by someone I trust implicitly to have his best interests at heart. I mean, come on, look how ecstatic you just were over a potential reflex action.”
“Oh my god, stop,” I quip. “Caleb, there’s no way that was just a reflex. He shed tears while you were talking!”
“He could be in pain from bedsores or something…”
“Or, hear me out, he could have been crying tears of joy over seeing you again.”
“Moving on from him!” Caleb squabbles. “He saw me… and you!”
“Why don’t we find out more when Cam calls back, babe?”
He sighs hard, then slowly nods. “I’m sorry,” he signs.
“For what?”
“We should be celebrating this huge step, this career change that is so pivotal in terms of bringing you inner peace. I'm happy for you, I am. I just…” he trails off, gesturing towards his camera.
I slide off my stool and step between his legs, resting my arms on his shoulders, linking my fingers behind his neck. He peers up at me, and I kiss his forehead. That action causes the worry-lines to flatten a little as a small smile forms on his lips.
“I love you, Caleb. I know you’re happy for me.
I also know you’re worried about everything, and you don’t need to be.
We will treat this how we’ve been treating our entire relationship—one step at a time.
We will cross those bridges when we get there.
All I need from you right now is to relax and be in the moment with me. ”
He nods again, reaching up and gripping my chin just lightly enough to tilt it down to align my mouth with his.
He takes my lips between his slowly, not like a hungry animal, like it normally is, but rather a soft caress—our tongues lick against each other reverently.
He cups my cheek, tilting his head in the opposite direction, deepening the kiss.
This softness, this ability to handle me with grace and care without too much fragility, is what I appreciate about Caleb—his adaptability.
Like, Marcus rather enjoys it when Caleb gets all bossy in bed, and Caleb really caters to Marcus’ submissive side.
When it comes to me, however, Caleb really tones it down, preferring everything that happens between us be at my own pace.
A pace at which I’m sure I would have felt my own internal pressure to not go at, were it not for the buffer of having a third person in this relationship.
Without breaking our connection, Caleb slowly stands. Effortlessly, he hoists me up onto the counter and steps between my thighs. Finally, he breaks the kiss, gulping air. “Am I in the moment yet?” he asks. “Or do you think we need a little more time?”
I huff out a little laugh, cupping his cheeks and pecking his lips. “Seems very in the moment to me.”
“I don’t know. You did seem a little lost in thought there for a minute, while we were kissing.” he teases.
I bite my lip, insecurity suddenly plaguing me. “Sorry…”
He tucks some of my stray hair behind my ear. “Don’t be sorry,” he tells me. “What’s on your mind?”
“I was actually appreciating the fact that we’re in a throuple. That, you know, because we haven’t had sex yet, that it’s a good thing you have Marcus—”
He presses his index finger over my lips, shaking his head. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were about to insinuate that someone in this relationship of ours is a spare tire, Lauren.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I didn’t think of it like that. Don’t put words into my mouth.”
He cuts me a droll expression. “Okay, well, let me tell you how I see it,” he continues. “The world is our ocean, right?”
I arch an accusatory brow up at him. “We’re going with the sea analogies again?”
He smirks and nods. “The world is our ocean, and we’re the sailboat. We need three things for this sailboat, right?”
“I know nothing about boating, so I’m going to just agree with you.”
He chuckles. “Water to keep us afloat, a sail to keep us moving, and wind to propel us forward.”
“I feel like we need a captain, or else we just end up going wherever the wind takes us.”
He smirks. “That, my dear, is love. Love will take us in the right direction. We all might take turns at it, at one time or another, but we let love guide the way. All three of us, however, are very necessary for the sailboat—no element is just a stand-by. Not you, not me, not Marcus. You lose one of us in this, and you might as well call that boat sunk, and baby? This isn’t a game of Battleship. ”
I titter. “That was kind of corny as fuck, Caleb.”
He wobbles his head. “Maybe, but tell me I’m wrong.”
I press my lips together, unable to truly suppress the grin that formed. “You’re not wrong.”
“Good. Now, I’d appreciate it if you took your own advice from earlier and got into the moment with me. Where was I?”
“Kissing me stupid…”
“Ah, yes,” he teases. “Then I put you up on the counter in hopes of indulging in a little sweet treat.” His eyes flick over to the syrup that has yet to be put away after breakfast this morning.
“Don’t you dare, Caleb,” I huff.
He grabs the bottle and flips open the cap, fixing me with a devilish smirk. “Oh, I dare. I like to live on the edge, remember?”
“That is going to get so sticky!”
He flicks out his tongue. “Not if I’m as good with this as you say I am…”
Involuntarily, my thighs start to clench at the thought of just how good he is with that tongue, but his body being between them doesn’t allow for them to close.