Chapter Forty-Eight
Caleb
The jet begins its descent, and my excitement grows with every passing second.
I get to see Indi very soon.
The tour went off without a hitch, aside from Colt walking in on Danger and Ella, and Annie and Aston deciding matching tattoos were a great idea.
I did manage to fly home once in the middle of the tour, but it was nothing more than a frantic twelve-hour stopover before I had to leave again.
It was the only window I could find, and it was worth every minute.
Now I’m finally home.
Keeping my relationship with Indi a secret these past few months has been harder than I ever imagined. Aston knows, and Chad has figured out I’m seeing someone, but no one else seems to have caught on, which is exactly how Indi wanted it. I just don’t know how much longer I can keep pretending.
I want to tell the world I’m in love.
More than that, I want to tell them who I’m in love with.
I just need Indi to be ready.
This time, though, we’ll face the press together. This time, there won’t be rumors, lies, or crazed teenage fans throwing eggs at the woman I love. This time, our story will finally be ours to tell.
I eventually checked my Instagram messages and found fan photographs of Indi standing outside her house while some redheaded bitch pelted her with eggs.
Seeing it made my stomach turn. I sent the photographs and the girl’s profile straight to Rob to see if the police could do anything.
The thought that those girls believed I’d somehow approve—hell, even enjoy—watching them humiliate Indi made me feel sick.
I wanted to reply.
I wanted to tell them exactly what I thought of them.
Rob shut that idea down immediately.
And his instructions couldn’t have been clearer—’Do not respond to a single message.’
It took every ounce of self-control not to publicly shame the stupid little assholes for what they’d done to my sweet Indi. I still can’t wrap my head around how they thought any of that shit was acceptable.
The jet finally rolls to a stop at the private hangar, and everyone erupts into cheers.
I grab my bag and head for the door. As much as I love these guys, I’ve spent the last five months with them. Right now, there’s only one person I want to see.
Tamara opens the aircraft door, and I bolt down the stairs. The great thing about a private hangar is no paparazzi, no fans, no waiting!
“See ya, Caleb!” everyone calls.
I throw a wave over my shoulder as I jog toward the waiting car. Then something catches my eye. Standing beside a light pole is a blonde goddess watching me with a knowing smile, and my heart forgets how to beat.
“Indi?”
She opens her arms, and I don’t think.
I drop my bag and run.
She laughs as I scoop her up and spin her around, burying my face against her neck. She smells exactly as I remember, and for the first time in months, everything feels right again. Everything feels like home.
“God, I missed you.” I slide her down just enough to capture her mouth with mine.
She kisses me like she’s missed me just as much, her hands gliding from my biceps into my hair as she holds me close. Months apart disappear beneath the warmth of her lips, and for a few perfect moments, the rest of the world ceases to exist.
When we finally break apart—it’s only because breathing becomes a necessity rather than a choice—her eyes shimmer with unshed tears.
Smiling, I lean forward and kiss the tip of her nose before setting her feet back on the ground.
“Welcome home,” she whispers.
I rest my forehead against hers, breathing her in. “I love you.”
Her smile softens. “I love you too.” She slips her hand into mine. “Now let’s get you home. I baked muffins.”
A grin spreads across my face.
“I love your muffins.” I waggle my eyebrows.
She laughs, swats me on the chest, and leads me toward her car.
***
After becoming extremely reacquainted with Indi’s body and sleeping for what felt like a lifetime, though in reality it was only a couple of hours thanks to the jet lag, we are curled up on the couch watching television.
Well…
The television’s on.
Neither of us has paid much attention to it.
Indi is tucked against my side, the way she always is, and we’re talking about where we want to buy our house when my phone starts ringing, so I pull it out and check the name on the screen. “It’s Dad.”
Indi nods and pretends to zip her lips shut.
I smile before answering, “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, son. How’re you recovering from the jet lag and exhaustion?”
I laugh. “I’ve got no idea. I don’t even know what day it is, let alone what time.”
“Yeah, it’s the worst.” His tone shifts. “Listen, I’ve got some news, and it’s pretty big.”
I sit up a little straighter.
Indi notices immediately and watches me closely.
“Oh yeah? What’s up?”
“Colt called me. He’s pretty worked up. A woman turned up on their doorstep this morning—”
“Oh God,” I mutter.
“No, nothing like that,” Dad says quickly, and I let out the breath I’d been holding. “She’s claiming to be Annie’s birth mother.”
My jaw drops.
“Holy shit… really?” Out of the corner of my eye, I see Indi’s expression fill with concern.
“Yeah. Just… be prepared. We don’t know what’s going to happen, and knowing Annie, this could really knock her around.”
I rake a hand through my hair. “Yeah… I know what you mean.” My mind immediately jumps to Annie. “I’ll head over and see them as soon as I can. Do you know how she’s doing?”
Dad sighs. “I don’t think she’s coping too well, going by what Colt said. Right now, all we can do is be there for her.”
“Yeah. Of course.”
Disbelief still swirls through me.
After all these years…
Why now?
“All right, I’d better let you go,” Dad says. “I just wanted you to hear it from me first.”
“Appreciate it, Dad.”
“No worries.” He ends the call before I can say anything else.
I stare at the dark screen in my hand for a moment.
“What’s going on?” Indi asks quietly.
I look over at her with my brows creased. “Annie’s birth mother showed up.”
Her eyes widen, her mouth falling open. “Oh… wow.”
“Yeah.” I lean back against the couch, trying to process it myself. “I don’t know whether I should message Annie.”
Indi thinks about it for a second. “I honestly don’t know. A message might remind her you’ve got her back…” she shrugs. “… or it could be one more thing she has to deal with right now.”
I nod slowly. “I think I’ll leave it for the moment. I’ll message her later when we know more. I don’t want to make things harder for her.”
My thoughts drift. “I’m worried about Ella too. This has to be affecting her just as much.”
Indi looks up at me and nods. “Yeah. It’ll be hard for both of them.” She pauses. “Being adopted isn’t easy.”
I draw in a slow breath as I think about my cousins.
No matter what happens next…
Their lives are about to change forever.
***
I waited a day before giving in.
I wanted to call Annie, but I was worried I’d catch her at the wrong time and make things worse, so I rang Aston instead. He told me they were waiting on the results of a maternity test to find out whether Loretta Banks really is Annie’s birth mother. Three days, and they’d have their answer.
Talking to him didn’t settle my nerves.
According to Aston, Loretta looked like she’d walked straight off The Jerry Springer Show. He didn’t trust her, and no one else did either.
Everyone except Annie.
She wants this woman to be real so badly.
To finally have the answers she’s been searching for all her life.
How could she not?
Part of me feels guilty for staying away, but this is immediate family territory. If Colt, Dee, or Annie needed me, they’d ask.
So instead, I stayed home with Indi, who explained how maternity testing worked, which, unsurprisingly, was more complicated than I’d guessed. Having a nurse for a girlfriend definitely has its perks.
I also called Colt to ask whether there was anything I could do.
He told me to sit tight. If Annie needed me, he’d let me know.
He also said something that stuck with me, ‘She looks at you like you’re her brother.’
Those words only made it harder to stay away.
But they need me to wait, so I waited.
Three days later, Indi and I are sitting on the couch after another phone call with Colt.
Nothing’s changed.
They’re still waiting.
My mind keeps drifting to Annie… and to Ella.
If Annie’s birth mother really has come back into her life, what does that stir up for Ella? Does it make her wonder about her own birth parents all over again?
I hate that they’re both carrying so much.
Indi quietly slips off toward the bedroom, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
A minute later, she walks back into the room. The afternoon sun pours in behind her, wrapping her in golden light until she almost looks like she’s glowing.
I smile. “What are you up to?”
She walks over before slowly lowering herself onto one knee.
My smile disappears.
She reaches for my hand, her eyes already shimmering, and a knot forms in my stomach.
“Baby… what’s wrong?”
She gently strokes the back of my hand with her thumb before taking a slow breath. “Caleb, these last few days you’ve shown so much love for your cousins. Watching how fiercely you care about the people in your life…” She smiles through watery eyes. “It’s made me fall even more in love with you.”
Emotion catches in her throat. “You make me stronger. You make every day brighter just by being in it. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t imagine a future that doesn’t have you standing beside me.” She squeezes my hand. “I want every tomorrow with you…” Her voice trembles.
“So…” A smile breaks across her face. “Caleb… will you marry me?”
For a second, my brain stops working, and I stare at her with my mouth hanging open. “Are you serious?”
She laughs through her tears. “Very serious.”
A grin slowly spreads across my face. “What would you do if I said no?”
She stands, closing the distance until her lips brush mine. “Go on…” she whispers with a teasing smile. “Try saying no.” Then she kisses me softly, and I smile against her lips.
She already knows I can’t.
Hell…
I’ve wanted this for years.