Chapter Eighteen
Mira
It was double feature night at the drive-in movie theater, and both had been released a long time ago.
This week was an alien flick followed by a romantic comedy.
We showed up late, and as Caleb maneuvered his truck into one of the leftover spots in the back, I decided I was grateful we had missed most of the first one.
If the ending was anything to go by, the rest of it looked terrible.
The gears clicked as Caleb shifted into park. “You want any snacks?”
My back stiffened in surprise. This was only my second time at the drive-in.
The first one consisted of me sneaking around the back of the property and watching a show from behind the wire fence before Sheriff Clancy had chased me off.
I had most certainly never dreamed of getting snacks.
“No thank you,” I said quietly. I didn’t want him spending any more money on me.
He had already paid for the tickets, despite my offer of part of the paycheck Opal had handed me at lunchtime.
He stared at me for a second longer. “Okay, well, I’m getting popcorn and a drink. And maybe skittles, or maybe M&M’s.” He ticked his future purchases off on his hand. “I won’t be able to eat it all so you might as well share with me. Nachos. Do you like jalapenos?”
I sighed through a flattered smile. “Skittles and jalapenos on the side.”
Caleb snaked his hand across the top of my leg and squeezed it gently. “Hey, tonight don’t worry about money. Let me take you out. Okay?”
Even if I had been able to talk while swimming in the deep blue of his eyes, I definitely couldn’t peep a single word with his warm, able hand across the top of my thigh. I held my breath, afraid it would match the frantic pace of my heart, and tipped my chin slightly in answer.
My gaze was drawn to his lips. They were turned up in a knowing smile.
Masculine lips over a chiseled jaw. Their subtle color contrasted against the white of an alluring smile.
Two faint dimples adorned his cheeks, and I was hypnotized by the ease with which he bestowed such a look on someone like me.
I had never seen him give the same smile to anybody else. This one was mine.
Caleb’s fingers splayed against my leg as he leaned in to kiss me.
He stopped right before his lips touched mine.
His smile said it wasn’t a hesitation, but an invitation.
I pushed a strand of blond hair out of his face with the tip of my finger and closed the small space between us.
His nearness, his touch left me dizzy and needing more.
He was powerful and consuming and frustrating and I wanted more like some desert animal dying of thirst. He was my sustenance.
I sucked gently on his bottom lip, and he growled softly, deep in his throat where only I would hear. I shivered at the sound. Something deep inside of me clenched at the realization that I had brought such an urgent sound from him.
Caleb pulled away, regretfully, and leaned his forehead against my own. “I think I should go get our food,” he rasped.
“Sprite,” I whispered, and he chuckled.
“You got it.” Caleb looked at me for a moment longer before he hopped out of the truck and shut the door behind him.
I watched him move smoothly to hook the old fashioned drive-in speaker onto the open window. I had to know. “Caleb?”
“Hmm?” he asked, distracted.
“What’s changed?”
He scooted the speaker over and leaned against the window. His brow furrowed as he took his time to think about his response. “I guess I just got tired of making us both miserable. I had all these reasons, but then when I looked at you, when I kissed you, I didn’t really remember them anymore.”
He dropped his gaze and bumped his palms against the window frame once, then strode off in the direction of a rickety concession shack to the right of the giant screen.
How was I supposed to pay attention to the movie after an admission like that?
My head swam with the thought that he cared about me like this.
Yesterday in the woods, he’d eased me into being comfortable and accepting my place beside him, but I’d overthought everything last night as I lay awake for hours in my bed.
Shyness had crept into me again by dawn.
Caleb McCreedy, most sought after bachelor in town, was chasing me.
A little, triumphant part of me thought no one knew him quite like I did.
We were scarred in different ways, but damaged just the same.
He trusted me with his secret, like he knew I’d do anything to keep him and the animal that lived within him safe.
I didn’t have to hide from him. He’d seen me starving and weak.
He’d seen my marred skin and hadn’t balked against the sight.
In turn, I wasn’t afraid of anything he could say to me.
I wanted to know everything about him. About what made him Caleb.
About what made him seem so detached from every person but me.
I squeezed my hands into fists to bring myself back to reality.
The gesture helped me to avoid the tidal wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm my elated heart.
I was mostly in control of myself again by the time Caleb returned with a cardboard container stacked with our sugary wares.
If there had been a test at the end of the movie, I would’ve failed with flying colors.
I couldn’t focus on the plot or characters when Caleb was sitting right beside me, an arm slung over my shoulders and sharing every bit of his food with me.
He laughed at the show as if we had been in the same position a hundred times.
He had a deep, booming kind of laugh. I found myself wishing for more humorous lines so I could hear it again.
His laughter pried some dark part of my heart open and released residual fear from the hidden crevices.
As the credits rolled, Caleb handed me the humongous drink he’d purchased and tossed our empty wrappers into the popcorn bucket.
“So, I was going to take you into the city to go to a nice restaurant but we probably wouldn’t get back until late.
Figured I’d ask what you want to do. I have to be on the rig early in the morning, and I know you work early, too. ”
I looked down at my clothes. I wanted nothing more than to go to a fancy restaurant with Caleb but jeans, T-shirt, and a giant, camouflage-printed hoodie that Caleb thoughtfully gave to me weren’t exactly the right attire.
“How about I take you out on Friday night?” he asked, apparently seeing my dilemma. “You can plan what you want to wear, and I’ll pick you up at your house. We’ll do it right.”
“What is our other option for tonight?” I wasn’t hungry after the pound of nachos I’d inhaled, but I wasn’t ready to end the night with Caleb either.
“A romantic night at Rooney’s bar.”
“Perfect.” I grinned, hopeful that they served pancakes in the evenings. I’d want food again eventually.
We filed out of the parking lot with the other movie goers, but Caleb hit the brakes when someone jogged up to the truck. Brian came from a raucous group who were laughing and horsing around a trio of closely parked jeeps.
He waved and beamed when he saw me. “Hey, Mira. You guys on a date or something?”
I froze. Caleb did not. “Yep,” he said, void of hesitation. “About to take her to Rooney’s.”
Brian snorted and jutted a thumb at Caleb. “You sure you want to go out with a guy who takes you to a bar for your first date?”
I was so relieved he wasn’t treating me like a pariah that I found my voice. “Technically, this is our second date.”
Caleb looked at me questioningly. A confused smile lingered on his lips.
“He took me for breakfast a while back,” I explained.
“Oh, yeah?” Brian asked. “Where?”
“The bar,” I said through a smirk.
The brothers barked laughter, and Brian shook his head in mock disappointment. “All right, Romeo, we’ll be at the old McCall farm if you guys get bored. Booze, a field, cows to tip. Should be a good time.” He turned to leave. “Make good decisions,” he called over his shoulder.
“That’s the first party I have ever been invited to,” I admitted out loud.
Caleb draped his arm over the steering wheel like he was in no hurry to leave. “We can go if you want to.”
“Do you want to go?” I asked.
“Not really my scene. More than likely, there will be a lot of people there.”
“Okay good, because that sounds terrifying.”
Caleb waved to a couple of hecklers sitting on top of the hood of the darkest colored jeep who made kissing sounds in our direction. A smile still lingered on his lips as he pulled out of the parking lot.
Rooney’s Bar was quiet with only a few older men sitting at the bar. A couple of tables were occupied, but the booth in the corner was wide open and beckoning us. It was also the farthest point from the pungent veil of smoke that hung over the bar top.
“What made you decide to work on the rig?” I asked as the waitress put two sweet teas on the table between us.
Caleb rubbed the knuckle on my hand thoughtfully and leaned back.
“At first I wanted to work it because of my dad. I wanted to make him proud. But eventually, I figured out that I really liked it. I like the challenge. I like learning the different jobs on it. I work well under pressure and with deadlines. I even like the crazy shifts.” He shrugged self-deprecatingly.
“Can’t imagine working a different job.”
“Is it dangerous?”
Caleb smiled mischievously. “Why, you worried about me?”
My poker face was pitiful thanks to minimal contact with other humans. Unfortunate. Caleb’s grin only grew wider, so primly, I said, “I’m sure you’re completely capable of handling yourself at your job.” I took a long, sobering draw of tea from the straw. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, it is. But that’s included in the challenge part that I love so much.”
He liked his job. I’d worry in silence and spare him my concern.