Chapter Thirty-One
Caleb
I messaged Dad and told him I was on my way.
Kept it vague, only saying I needed to talk.
He replied, saying he was free all day and had only just gotten up, so he’d put the kettle on.
The drive over is a blur. Dad’s called twice already, but there’s no way I can explain this shit over the phone. Besides, talking while driving is stupid, and right now my head’s already too fucked up to focus properly.
Pulling into the driveway, I park around the back and sit there for a moment, staring at the house. I love this place. It holds some of my best memories. It’s where everything changed for me, where life went from nothing to something.
Dad bought this place for Mum and me after the truth came out, and they’ve lived here together ever since. It’s not some gigantic manor like Colt and Dee’s place, but it’s still beautiful, warm, and feels like home.
Climbing out of the car, I head up the back stairs and step inside. The smell of bacon hits me, making my stomach growl despite the nausea twisting through me. Mum’s obviously cooking because she knows I’m coming over.
Walking into the kitchen, I find Mum and Dad deep in conversation at the island bench. They’re so caught up talking that neither of them notices me until I clear my throat.
Both snap their heads toward me.
“Shit, Caleb,” Mum says, clutching her chest dramatically. “Trying to give your mother a heart attack?”
“Caleb, I called you twice,” Dad says immediately, already moving toward me with concern written all over his face. “Why didn’t you answer?”
“I was driving.”
Dad stops in front of me and suddenly pulls me into a tight hug. The unexpected affection catches me off guard, but then the weight of the last twenty-four hours crashes over me all over again. My knees weaken, and before I know it, I’m sagging against him while my breathing turns ragged.
“Easy,” he murmurs, guiding me toward the couch in the adjoining open-plan room.
“Caleb,” Dad says carefully once we sit down. “You were in a relationship with Indi? Since when? And why the hell is it all over the news that you broke up? Your text sent me down a rabbit hole this morning.”
I lean forward, elbows braced on my knees, my head falling into my hands while I struggle to catch my breath.
“I fucked up so badly, Dad,” I whisper. “And now she’s disappeared again.
I don’t know what to do. I can’t lose her twice.
I just… can’t.” The tears start again, and it pisses me off.
I’m supposed to be a man, yet one woman has me falling apart at the seams like a fucking child.
“Hey.” Dad rubs my back firmly. “It’s okay. Just tell me what happened. When did you start seeing her again?”
“Not long ago,” I admit thickly. “But it was perfect. She’s perfect, and I ruined everything.”
“Caleb.” Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Slow down. Tell me exactly what happened.”
I shake my head hard. “We weren’t officially together. She wanted to stay friends, but things between us were… complicated. We nearly slept together one night, but she got called into work before anything happened. I went home confused as hell and got drunk.”
Dad stays quiet, letting me talk while he keeps rubbing my back like he used to when I was younger. “So what happened after you got drunk?” he asks gently.
Turning my head slightly, I look at him through my hands. His expression is sympathetic and patient, as if he’s waiting me out.
“I called another girl over,” I admit hoarsely.
“She came to my house and we… you know. Then she left the next morning. I felt sick about it afterward, but Indi and I weren’t together yet, so I tried convincing myself it didn’t matter.
Then Indi made things official with us, and I thought maybe it would never come up.
” I laugh bitterly. “Turns out that was wishful fucking thinking.”
Dad exhales slowly. “The girl told her?”
“Yeah. Sasha kept showing up everywhere, calling nonstop, acting completely insane. Then she cornered Indi and told her that we slept together. Now Indi’s gone again, and I don’t know where the hell she is.” I slump back into the couch miserably. “I lost her all over again, Dad.”
Dad nods thoughtfully before leaning back. “Look, we all fuck up. God knows I did. But sometimes the biggest mistakes end up leading to the best things in life.”
I scoff quietly. “Feels hard to believe that right now.”
“You didn’t technically cheat on her, Caleb.”
“Doesn’t matter,” I snap. “Sasha made it sound like I did, and Indi won’t listen to me. You know what she’s like. When things get hard, she runs.”
Dad sighs. “Yeah, I know Indi.”
Suddenly, my eyes widen. “The hospital.”
Dad frowns. “What?”
“I can go see her at work.” I shoot up from the couch. “She’ll be there.”
Dad immediately grabs my arm and hauls me to a stop. “Absolutely not.”
“Dad—”
“No. Terrible idea.” He points at me sternly. “You need to give her space. You know exactly what she’s like. If you corner her at work right now, she’ll bolt even harder.”
I drag my hands through my hair in frustration. “I can’t wait another God only knows how many years.”
“I don’t think you’ll have to,” he says calmly. “She’s older now. More mature. And she loves you.”
The words hit me square in the chest.
“Her love will bring her back eventually,” he continues. “But right now? She’s furious. Hurt. Humiliated. You need to let her process everything before you push.”
I drop back onto the couch heavily. “What if she never contacts me?”
Dad pauses for a second before answering honestly, “That’s always a possibility.
” My stomach drops. “But…” he continues firmly, “… you can’t control this anymore.
Indi holds all the power right now, son.
The best thing you can do is focus your energy somewhere productive.
Put it into the band. Keep busy. And for the love of God, don’t start drowning yourself in booze and random women. ”
I swallow hard and nod once. “What if I never see her again?” I ask quietly. “What if the last image I ever have of her is her crying?”
Dad’s face softens. “Don’t torture yourself like that. Focus on the good memories instead.” He leans back with a heavy sigh. “When your mother left, I spent years destroying myself over it. Drugs, alcohol, women… I became someone I barely recognized. And I don’t want that life for you.”
His eyes lock onto mine seriously. “So promise me something. If you start spiraling, you come to me. You talk to me. You don’t need substances or hookups to survive heartbreak.”
I rub both hands down my face hard. “This is so monumentally fucked.”
“I know.” He pauses. “How did the press get all that information about Indi?”
A hollow laugh leaves me. “Because I’m a fucking idiot.” Dad raises an eyebrow. “I told Sasha everything,” I mutter. “Every detail about Indi and me. About her parents. About our history. I vented to her because I was confused, and she ran straight to the press with it.”
Dad winces. “Ahhh, one of those girls.”
“One of what girls?”
“The crazy ones.” He rolls his eyes. “The obsessive groupie types. Trust me, you haven’t seen the last of her.”
I groan and lean back. “If this is what fame looks like, I want out already.”
Dad laughs softly. “There’ll always be women like that. Comes with the territory. But music’s what matters. You can’t throw everything away because of one woman.”
I crack my neck to the side. “Indi wouldn’t want me to quit either.”
“Exactly.” Dad points at me. “So focus on the music. Work hard. Keep your head straight. And don’t become some cliché rockstar disaster.”
“You sound like a nagging wife.”
“That’s because I’m old now,” he deadpans.
A laugh finally escapes me, small but genuine.
Mum walks over then, resting her hand gently on my shoulder. “You okay, baby?”
“Not really,” I admit honestly before grimacing. “And stop calling me baby. I’m twenty-four.”
She smiles softly. “Well, I made bacon, and bacon fixes most things. Come eat with us for a bit.”
I know she means well.
I know she’s trying.
But things between Mum and me will probably always feel complicated. The lies about my father damaged something between us that never fully healed, even though we’ve both tried to move on from it. I love her, and I know she loves me, but forgiveness doesn’t magically erase history.
Still, she’s trying.
And right now, that’s enough.
“I’m not really hungry,” I say quietly. “But I’ll sit with you guys.”
Mum smiles warmly. “Good. It’s been ages since we had breakfast together.”
“Pretty sure this counts as brunch now,” I mutter.
“Late night,” Dad says with a grin.
I immediately hold up my hand. “Nope. Don’t want details. Ever.”
Dad laughs while Mum rolls her eyes affectionately and heads back into the kitchen. Dad looks at me again, his expression turning serious. “I know this hurts. Losing someone you love is brutal. But I’m here whenever you need me, okay?”
I nod once before he pulls me into another hug.
And after everything we’ve been through to get here, it feels good knowing my dad’s still the person I can fall apart with when life goes to shit.
I spend a little longer with Dad before deciding it’s probably time to head home. The drive back feels shorter than usual, and the second I step through my front door, Dad’s words echo through my head. ‘Give her space.’
The problem is, every part of me is screaming to call her again.
I need to keep calling her.
So I grab my cell and dial Indi’s number, already preparing myself to leave yet another voicemail. The cycle starts all over again. The phone keeps ringing until her voicemail eventually picks up, like it always does now.
Taking a deep breath, I begin speaking…
“Indi, I know I fucked up. I know what happened was horrible, but you have to believe me when I say that since we made things official, I haven’t touched anyone but you. I would never cheat on you. Never. My heart’s yours for the taking, even if right now it feels like it’s only breaking.”
I swallow hard before continuing…