Chapter Twenty-Seven
Caleb
My entire body locks up the second I see Sasha standing there.
Indi shifts in my arms to look at me, but I can’t take my eyes off the dark-haired woman standing a few feet away, staring at us like something out of a goddamn horror movie. Before I can react, Indi leans up and kisses me softly.
For one stupid, blissful second, I forget Sasha exists.
My hand slides into Indi’s hair automatically while I deepen the kiss, trying to lose myself in her taste and warmth and safety. Indi giggles quietly against my mouth before pulling back.
Then we both look forward.
And there she is.
Still standing there.
Still smiling.
My throat instantly dries out.
Fuck! This is bad.
Very, very fucking bad.
Without realizing it, I tighten my grip around Indi hard enough that she squeaks in surprise and looks up at me just as Sasha smiles brightly.
“Caleb.”
Indi stiffens immediately against me before glancing between us.
“Hey, Sasha,” I say carefully, trying to sound casual instead of like I’m staring at the woman currently threatening to destroy my entire life.
Indi slowly slides out of my hold and stands up properly while watching us both closely. I stand too, my stomach twisting violently.
“This must be the beautiful Indi you talk so much about,” Sasha says sweetly.
Every instinct in my body screams danger.
Indi clears her throat quietly before taking the hand Sasha offers her. “And how do you know each other?” she asks softly.
I hate how uncertain she sounds already.
“We met at one of our concerts,” I cut in quickly. “Sasha’s a fan of the band, right, Sasha?”
Sasha smiles slowly. “Yeah… that’s right.” And the look she gives me makes my pulse spike harder. Then she tilts her head slightly. “Remember the first night we made love, Caleb?” she asks casually. “That was right before you sent Indi all those gorgeous roses, wasn’t it?”
Everything stops.
My heartbeat.
My breathing.
The goddamn world.
I feel the blood drain straight from my face while Indi slowly turns toward me. And I physically watch the pieces click together behind her eyes.
No.
No, no, no—
“As in…” Her voice shakes violently. “The night we almost slept together, and I got called into work?”
I open my mouth immediately. “Indi—”
“You went home…” she whispers brokenly, “… and fucked her instead?”
“It wasn’t like that!” I say instantly. “Baby, I swear—”
“Then what was it like, C-Caleb?” Her voice cracks loudly enough that nearby people start turning toward us. Tears spill down her cheeks while she wipes at them furiously.
Fuck.
Seeing her cry feels like someone’s ripping my chest open with their bare hands. I glare at Sasha for half a second, wanting to wipe that smug expression off her face, before turning back to Indi and reaching for her shoulders, but she jerks violently away from me.
“Don’t you dare touch me!”
The words hit like a hard slap.
“Indi, please listen to me,” I beg desperately. “After I left your place that night, I was upset and angry and confused and—”
“Save it!” she yells. “I don’t care if you were drunk or high or fucking possessed by Satan himself!” Her entire body shakes while sobs tear from her chest. “You told me you l-loved m-me.” Her voice breaks completely. “I thought that meant s-something.”
“It does mean something!”
“All this time, have you been sleeping with her behind my back?”
“Yes,” Sasha says calmly.
Before I can even react, Indi slaps me hard across the face, and the crack echoes around us.
I barely feel it.
“No!” I shout immediately. “Indi, no, that’s not true!”
She looks utterly shattered. “I should never have trusted you,” she whispers.
Panic explodes inside me. “Sasha’s fucking obsessed with me,” I yell desperately while glaring at her. “She keeps showing up everywhere. She wanted me to cheat on you with her and I wouldn’t—”
“You’re lying!” Indi screams through sobs.
“I’m not!”
“I trusted you, Caleb!”
The sound of her crying physically hurts me.
She tries to walk away, but I move in front of her desperately.
“Please don’t do this,” I beg. “I love you.”
“You do not get to touch me ever again,” she spits. “Go be with your slut. I want nothing to do with you.” Then she shoves past me.
“Indi! Wait!” I grab lightly for her arm, but she rips away instantly and shoves me backward hard enough to make me stumble.
“Get out of my life!” Her sob breaks me completely.
My heart races so violently I feel dizzy while anger and panic claw up my throat simultaneously.
“Caleb,” Sasha says softly behind me. “Just let her go. She’s emotional right now.”
I spin toward her instantly. “What the fuck, Sasha? I’m emotional right now!” I roar.
She flinches as tears burn behind my eyes. I swipe one away furiously before looking back toward where Indi disappeared into the crowd.
She’s gone.
Completely fucking gone.
And panic crashes into me so hard I can barely breathe.
The carnival suddenly feels suffocating despite being outdoors. Lights blur, noise crashes around me. My chest tightens painfully while thunder cracks loudly overhead.
“Fuck!” I snap, rounding on Sasha. “What the hell have you done?”
Her expression softens like she genuinely thinks she’s helping me. “I set you free.”
I stare at her in disbelief. “To be with you?” I ask incredulously.
“Yes.” She steps closer. “I love you.”
My jaw physically drops open. “What the fuck?”
She reaches for my face, but I jerk violently away from her touch. “You love me?” I laugh harshly. “You’ve met me like three fucking times!”
“Don’t belittle my feelings because you’re scared you feel the same,” she snaps.
I close my eyes briefly and drag both hands through my hair.
Jesus Christ! This woman is completely fucking delusional.
Trust me to sleep with the craziest girl in London.
“Sasha,” I say coldly. “There is nothing between us. Nothing. You just destroyed my relationship with the only woman I will ever love.”
Tears gather in her eyes, but I don’t care.
“If Indi’s gone because of you, I’ll never forgive you.
” My breathing turns ragged. “Actually, fuck that. I’ll never forgive you anyway.
” I step closer, lowering my voice dangerously.
“Stay the fuck away from me. Stay away from Indi. And if you don’t, I swear to God I’ll go to the police and get a restraining order. ”
She stares at me like I’ve stabbed her. “You d-don’t mean t-that.”
“Oh, I fucking do!” Bending down, I grab Indi’s giant pink teddy bear from the grass before shoving past Sasha hard enough to knock her sideways.
She stumbles with tears streaming down her face.
I don’t look back.
Another crack of thunder splits the sky overhead as I drag my cell phone from my pocket with shaking hands and desperately try to call the love of my life.