23. Cale
cale
It’s still early enough that the sky is a mixture of blues, oranges, and pinks, blending down into a solid red where the sun has disappeared behind the horizon.
I settle into my chair on the back deck, remembering another night I sat out here, Melanie’s warm weight curled on my lap and her breath on my neck.
It felt like a beginning that night—even with her red, swollen eyes, and the way each inhale seemed to shake her frame. I told myself at the time that it was friendship and comfort. That we were just giving into the attraction that simmered between us.
I know the truth now.
Melanie grounded me in a way I hadn’t felt since before I enlisted, and when I fucked everything up…It’s like I’m walking on quicksand, every step slowing me down and pulling me deeper into the muck.
“You wanna tell me what’s going on with you?” My dad rumbles down the phone line. His tone is a mixture of concern and annoyance—something I’m all too familiar with. “You’ve got a real knack for pissing off every woman in your life.”
“Didn’t know you were listening to the gossip.”
He grunts. “Like I have much choice, especially when your mother gets a bee in her bonnet about something. And she’s always got her ear to the ground, especially if it involves you or your sister.
” He waits a beat. “Don’t try to distract me.
The last we heard about it, you weren’t involved with your neighbor. ”
I sigh, thunking my head lightly against the back of my chair. “I’m not trying to distract you.”
“So when are you going to fix it?”
I already figured out that he knew a lot more than he was letting on, so I just shake my head, even if he can’t see it. “I knew there had to be a reason you were calling. Which one sent you on a fact-finding mission?”
“Hey, I just do what I’m told. I know not to bite the hand that feeds me…Something you might want to try learning.”
“Yeah, well, apparently you didn’t do a good job passing on that lesson.”
“Don’t think you can blame me for this mess, son.
” A comfortable silence falls between us.
Both my dad and I rarely feel the need to fill every quiet space with words.
It’s a frustrating thing to ponder, making me all too aware that the reason I lost Melanie is because of careless words that never should have tripped off my tongue.
Not to Jordan that day, and not to Melanie later.
It’s a lesson I shouldn’t have had to learn, and a mistake I’ll spend the rest of my life rectifying.
I eye the house next door, just able to see the lights blazing through the kitchen window. There’s no movement, but the urge to go over there is an itch under my skin—one that never goes away unless one of them is standing right in front of me.
“You know that Melanie came over for dinner last week?” Dad asks. “That boy of hers is quick on his feet.” The affection in his tone doesn’t surprise me. Oakley has that effect on people.
Still, pride swells in my chest, and I grin.
“Oakley’s a good kid. You know he threatened me once?
” I laugh at the memory. “Well, maybe threatened is the wrong word. He told me he thought he was more like a leopard than a monkey, and did I know that the big cats carry dead animals into trees? Swear to God, Dad, my life flashed before my eyes with the way he was watching me.”
Dad lets out a bark of laughter. “He told me you had a nickname for him, but he didn’t say where it came from.” There’s a pause. “He also told me a little about his dad. Sounds like the guy is just as bad as your sister’s ex.”
My hand is on my thigh, and it curls into a tight fist at his words. “Think he might be worse, Dad. Something is off about that asshole.”
“Hmmm,” Dad murmurs thoughtfully. “You never answered me before. What are you doing to fix it? How are you protecting your family?”
My brows knit together as I echo, “My family?”
The words don’t feel wrong on my tongue. Something shifts in my chest, like a key slotting into a well-oiled lock, just waiting to be turned.
“Mmhm. Your family,” Dad repeats emphatically, and with a whole lot of you dumb shit hiding in his tone. “You’ve been running your whole life from this, Cale. It’s time to stop now. They’re yours.”
I open my mouth to argue, but it’s pointless, and I’m tired of lying—to myself and to everyone else.
He’s right. They are mine.
Melanie, with her sassy tongue and sweet smile when I touch her just right.
And Oakley, all serious until we talk baseball…
or he wins at Mario Kart, and he turns viciously smug, eager to rub my nose in his victory.
He’s been letting me in inch by inch, coming over whenever I’m outside and hanging out.
Melanie…She’s still as cold as ice, barely even giving me a look in.
My mom had been proud as punch last week, turning up on my doorstep with an envelope in hand. She shoved the thing into my chest, telling me to pull my shit together because she was not a postal worker and never would be.
Mom watched on as I looked inside, unsurprised to find the money. The gleam in her eyes had only brightened as she pertly informed me that Melanie and Oakley were coming for dinner and I was, unequivocally, not invited.
I couldn’t help but laugh at Melanie’s nerve, using my own mother in our little game. It didn’t stop me from sneaking the envelope into the sun visor of her car a couple of days later. Although now I needed to talk to her about leaving her car unlocked, especially after the break-ins.
I kept eagerly checking my mailbox and house for the next sign of the envelope, but there was nothing until yesterday.
A package was hand delivered to Tansley at Onyx—an innocuous brown box with my name printed in messy, childlike handwriting.
Assuming it was from Lanie, I opened it… only to get a faceful of glitter.
The envelope had been sitting innocently at the bottom of the box as I was snorting sparkles out of my nose. A day later, I’m still finding glitter attached to my scalp and in my clothes—even ones I wasn’t wearing at the time.
I pick the envelope up from where it’s sitting on the table next to me, tapping it against my knee and watching the glitter drift to the wooden deck. My mouth twitches into a smile, unable to help myself. Melanie won that round.
“You still there?” Dad suddenly asks. “Are you having a revelation?”
Still smiling, I admit, “Yeah. I might be.”
He lets out a long sigh when I don’t continue, impatiently demanding, “And?”
“They’re mine.” The words fall from my mouth easily, acceptance and determination filling me. That key turns, the lock springing open, just as more words tumble from my mouth. “I love them. Both of them. And I’m getting them back.”
“About damn time,” Dad mutters, but there’s relief there, too. “Although if you wanted to take a risk of being glitter-bombed again, your mother is still laughing.”
My fingers tighten on the envelope, my eyes narrowed as I ask, “Who told her?”
A cough muffles his laugh. “According to Tansley, she had strict instructions to record the moment. She had her phone on you the entire time, and then she sent the video to everyone.”
“Of course she did.” I bite back a laugh at the audacity of my woman. “Gotta go, Dad. I’ve got mail to deliver and a woman to convince.”
“Good luck, son.”
I hang up and check the time, realizing it’s well past the time when Oakley would normally come over. I stand up and head around the side of my house, noticing there’s no change next door, each window glowing brightly in the growing darkness.
I get through the back gate and over to Melanie’s side, pulling up short when I realize her car is missing from its usual spot in the driveway. Confused, I keep going for the door, lifting a fist to knock. It swings open before I can, furious, stormy eyes glaring up at me.
“Hey, Killer,” I greet with a smile.
Oakley’s scowl deepens. “You’re late.”
My head jerks back in surprise. “I am? Did we have plans?”
“No.” He shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “But you shouldn’t be here.”
“Well, now I’m confused.” When Oakley doesn’t soften at my smile, I bend my knees, crouching down so I get him on eye level. “What’s going on right now, Killer?”
He lets out the most aggravated breath. “I couldn’t come over there”—he points at my place—“because I promised Mom that I wouldn’t go anywhere if she didn’t know first…” He grimaces sheepishly.
I nod in understanding. “After the school thing, that makes sense. You wanted to come over?”
“Yes!” Oakley drops his arm, his hands in fists at his sides. “Because you need to stop her!”
His ears have gone an alarming red, his eyes flashing with a mix of emotions—anger, annoyance, fear.
“Stop her from doing what, Killer?” I keep my voice low and calm, not wanting to push him over the edge, but worry ramps my heartbeat up.
“Oak?” a familiar voice calls from deeper in the house. “Is someone at the door? I didn’t hear anyone knock—Oh.” I look up, locking eyes with my sister, who looks entirely too amused as she says, “It’s just you.”
I straighten up. “Yeah, it’s me. Why are you here? Where’s Melanie?”
“I’m babysitting,” Jaz declares. “Lanie’s having a date night with Mom, and I found myself at a bit of a loss…So when Melanie asked for help, it felt like perfect timing.”
The cogs start whirling. No car. Oakley is home. Saturday night.
“Where is she?” I ask again, voice stiff. Jaz just tilts her head, her smile widening. I glance back at Oakley’s furious little mug. “Where’s your mom, Killer?”
“On a date,” he mutters darkly. “With Harrison.”
I roll my lips inward. “That right?” Jealousy slithers through my veins. It’s worse than what I felt at Benson’s the night she was dancing with that asshole, because Harrison is a real threat. Melanie has a friendship with him, and they have shit in common, like the boys.
Jaz isn’t going to tell me anything, so I keep my focus on Oakley. “You know where she went?” He bobs his head. “Alright, then, bud. You wanna go for a ride?”
He furrows his brow. “But Mom doesn’t know.”
I lift a brow. “We’re going to your mom.” His mouth curves in a devious smile.
“Hey, wait a minute—”
Oakley’s already darted back into the house, calling back, “I’ll get my shoes!”
My sister turns to look at me with a scowl. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Cale.” All amusement has leaked away, leaving only irritation. “You need to stop jerking her around.”
I don’t try to play it off, locking eyes with irises that are identical to my own, letting Jaz see my utter sincerity as I say, “I’m not messing anyone around. Melanie’s mine, and I’m claiming her.”
Jaz snorts, her smile reluctant. “Claiming her? Like she’s some kind of prize?” she asks in a low tone. “What are you gonna do, Cale? Bash her over the head with your wooden club and drag her home?”
I lift a shoulder. “If I have to.”
Jaz rolls her eyes before telling me solemnly. “Mel and Oakley had been through enough. They need some stability in their life, as well as someone they can rely on and trust, and—”
“They need me,” I cut in. “And I’m going to prove it to her, one way or another.” I tip my chin back, telling her severely, “Back off, Jaz. Don’t get between my family and me.”
She was about to argue, but as my words register, her eyes soften.
“Your family?” she whispers. “You mean it?” When I nod, she lunges forward, arms going around my neck as she practically strangles me in a hug.
“Then you have my approval to take Oakley for a joyride, but I will 100 percent be telling Melanie that you kidnapped him.”
My grin turns sharp. “Fair deal.” I pat her back, and Jaz pulls away, but before she gets too far, I hold my hand out to hers. She slaps her palm against mine, and then rote memory kicks in, our hands moving quickly in the handshake we made up as kids.
Oakley reappears as we’re finishing it off with a quick thumb war—which I win—his mouth gaping. “Can you teach me?” he asks eagerly. “I’ve always wanted a secret handshake.”
I eye him seriously. “I can’t teach you”—before his expression can fall, I rush to add—“because we need a cooler one. This one is for lame sisters only.”
He grins, rocking back on his heels, his sneakers already on his feet, laces untied and trailing on the ground. “Okay! But later.” His expression goes serious. “We need to go.”
I pass him my keys. “Go get in the truck, Killer.” He doesn’t hesitate, yanking them from my hand and dashing across the yard. “And tie your shoes!” I yell before turning back to Jaz, who’s watching me with a small smile.
“You think I’m doing the right thing? I want her. I want both of them. But I want them to be happy, and I’ve done a pretty shitty job of it so far.”
“You ran scared,” Jaz confirms, never being one to shy away from the hard truths. “You’ve spent your entire life telling everyone that you aren’t a relationship guy, and that love isn’t for you. But it wasn’t everyone else you were trying to convince…” She shakes her head. “It was always yourself.”
“It didn’t work out for you, though,” I say bluntly, an edge of regret creeping in when she screws her face up.
“Low blow, asshole,” Jaz huffs. “Wyatt wasn’t about love.
He was the wrong person who just happened to show up at the right time.
I needed to be wanted, and he played on that.
I’ll never regret my marriage to him because he gave me Lanie…
” My sister’s eyes drift away from mine, her expression wistful as if she’s seeing something I can’t.
“I still hope my right person will come along. And that it’ll be the right time for him. ”
I frown, clearly missing some hidden meaning. “You say that as if you already know who he is. And that there was a wrong time.”
Jaz blinks, like she’s clearing her vision, but she ignores me, saying, “Wyatt is an asshole, but I haven’t given up on love just because of what he did.”
A blast of noise explodes in the quiet night air, making both of us jump. I turn around just as Oakley lands a hand on the horn again—hard. He finally lets it go, his impatient face pressing up against the window of my truck, glaring at me.
I shake my head with a grin, holding up a finger and mouthing, “Wait.” I turn back to Jaz. “I know what I want now. No more running.”
My sister’s eyes water, but she brushes the tears away before they have a chance to fall.
“Never thought I’d see the day.” She tries to laugh it off, her voice husky with emotion.
“I like her for you,” she confesses after a beat.
“I love both of them for you. But if you hurt them again, Mom and I have made some plans.”
I gape at her. “You planning on killing me? Your own brother?” I demand.
Her grin is bloodthirsty and sends ice sliding down my spine, making me shiver. “Let’s hope you never find out.”