Chapter Thirty-One #3
I shake my head quickly. “No, nothing like that, I promise. Just smashed out a workout last night and pushed too hard.”
Her eyes narrow knowingly. “Did you make yourself sick?”
There’s no point lying to Dee. This woman sees through absolutely everything.
So I nod once.
She exhales sadly before stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me.
“Oh, sweetheart.” The hug nearly breaks me.
“I know how much you love her,” she murmurs while holding me tightly.
“And I know there’s obviously more to this story than what’s online.
But no matter what’s happened, Colt and I are always here for you.
” My throat tightens painfully. “No matter how messy things started between us, you’re family,” she continues softly. “And we love you.”
Tears sting behind my eyes again, but somehow I manage to keep them there while wrapping my arms around her in return. “Thanks, Dee,” I mumble thickly. “I appreciate it.”
She pulls back, keeping her hands on my arms while studying me carefully.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?” A weak laugh escapes me.
“And don’t lie,” she warns immediately. “I’m a mother.
I can spot bullshit a mile away.” Smiling faintly, I shake my head.
“Right then…” She loops her arm through mine.
“We’re fixing that immediately. You need food and an industrial-strength black coffee before you go anywhere near that music room.
Those kids are on some sugar-fuelled rampage today, and honestly, it’s contagious. ”
A proper laugh slips out this time, small but genuine. Walking with her toward the kitchen, I shake my head. “You always know how to look after me.”
Dee cuddles lightly into my side as we walk. “Caleb…” she says quietly, “… you were the son I almost had and the nephew I always wanted. You’re family to me. I love you, and I’ll do anything to protect you or see you happy.”
My chest tightens painfully again, but this time for a completely different reason.
“I know life feels horrible right now,” she continues gently.
“And I’m here if you want to talk. But if you’d rather sit in silence, drink coffee, and inhale muffins instead, I’m okay with that too.
” She glances up at me warmly. “Just know I love you like you’re my own.
Despite everything, I love you, kid.” Then she leans over and kisses my temple affectionately.
I swallow hard against the emotion clogging my throat because hearing those words from Dee means more than she’ll probably ever realize.
After everything she suffered because of me…
after all the pain surrounding how our family came together, and the fact that she can still look at me with this much love only proves what an incredible woman she is.
Dee is genuinely one of the best people I know.
And standing here now, wrapped up in her warmth and kindness while my whole world is falling apart, one thing becomes painfully clear.
I need a woman’s perspective on this.
I need someone who understands both Indi and me.
So for the first time since everything exploded, I decide I’m going to tell Dee the whole truth.
Once I opened up and told Dee everything, she agreed I was doing the right thing by giving Indi space.
Surprisingly, she also thought continuing to call her was a good thing.
Dee said that even if Indi wasn’t answering or listening to the messages, the fact that she hadn’t blocked my number or turned her cell phone off meant something.
According to Dee, if Indi truly wanted me gone, she would have cut me off completely.
She told me that when she and Colt broke up, she ignored all his calls and messages, too, but knowing he never stopped trying somehow made her feel less alone. She said it reminded her she was still loved, even when she was angry enough to pretend she didn’t care.
So I keep calling.
And Indi keeps letting the calls come through.
It’s been two weeks since I last saw her, and honestly, I feel like I’m slowly losing my mind.
The press still hound me everywhere I go, and now and then, photographs of Indi pop up online, leaving the hospital, which at least tells me she’s okay and still working.
It takes every ounce of strength I have not to go there and see her for myself.
Every time I feel close to giving in, I message Dad or Dee, and both of them remind me that showing up at her work would only embarrass her and push her further away.
So instead, I throw myself into rehearsals and performances while pretending I’m okay. Annie and Chad try to cheer me up while Aston keeps pushing me to talk about everything, but none of it changes the fact that performing doesn’t feel the same anymore.
Music was always tied to Indi.
She’s the reason I started singing in the first place, and now every song feels hollow without her.
Two weeks without her already feels like an eternity.
And every single day, one thought keeps circling through my head over and over again.
How the hell do I prove to Indi that I would do absolutely anything to get her back?