Chapter 12 #2
“What thing?” He looks down at himself, then at me, completely baffled. “I don’t see any ‘thing.’”
“The touchy thing!” I insist, swaying slightly as I try to focus on his face. “With your... your arm parts!”
“My arm parts?” He lifts both hands in the air, wiggling his fingers. “These arm parts?” Then he promptly puts his arm right back around my shoulders.
“No, the other ones!”
“I only have two sets of arm parts, Eve!” he says, getting hysterical now. “Two! Just these two! What do you want from me?”
We both stare at each other in drunken confusion for a long moment.
“Well, stop whatever you’re doing,” I finally declare, giving up on the specifics.
“I’m literally not doing anything!” he protests, still completely unaware that his arm is draped around my shoulders like we’re posing for a couple’s photo.
“Good. Keep not doing it.”
“Fine!”
“Fine!”
We start walking again, both satisfied that we’ve solved absolutely nothing.
“I’ll walk you back,” he says, his words slightly slurred.
“You don’t... You don’t have to,” I slur out, swaying slightly.
“Okay,” he agrees, and we proceed to keep shuffling in the direction of my apartment.
The walk to my building takes longer than usual, both of us trying to navigate the sidewalk without tripping over our own feet or each other. Caleb keeps a steady hand on my elbow when I wobble.
The cold air helps clear some of the fog from my brain, but not enough to make me steady. My heels keep catching on the uneven sidewalk, and I have to grab Caleb’s arm more than once to keep from face-planting.
“Maybe I should carry you,” he suggests after I nearly trip for the third time.
“Touch me and die,” I warn, but there’s less heat in my words.
We’re almost at my building when I see a sight that has me temporarily sobering.
Luis is leaning against the brick wall by the entrance, arms crossed, waiting. It looks like he’s been waiting for a while now.
“Shit,” I breathe, coming to an abrupt stop.
Caleb follows my gaze, and his jaw tightens. “How does he know where you live?”
“Because we used to date,” I mutter, panic rising in my chest. “Why is he here?”
Luis straightens when he spots us, his face lighting up with that possessive smile I’ve grown to hate. “There you are, Eve. I’ve been waiting.”
“Go away, Luis,” I call out, but my voice wavers slightly.
“We need to talk,” he says, pushing off from the wall and walking toward us.
“No, we don’t,” I snap, trying to get my bearings. I’m too drunk. Not in complete control of myself.
“Stop being difficult, Eve,” Luis scowls. Then his eyes fall on Caleb. “What the hell is he doing here? Are you cheating on me?!”
“We’ve been broken up for months, Luis.”
“Over a misunderstanding.”
“Over you being a complete psycho case,” I rebut. “Look, stop showing up like this. It’s bordering on harassment now.”
But Luis isn’t looking at me. His eyes are on Caleb as he says slowly, “I know you. You’re that fucker from before.”
Before I can say anything, Caleb wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“I’m Eve’s boyfriend. And you?” Caleb’s sudden declaration is so unexpected that it has me gaping at him in shock but he’s smiling nonchalantly as he looks at Luis.
His arm, however, is gripping my shoulders tightly as if warning me to play along.
“You and him?” Luis’s upper lip curls in disbelief, or is it disdain. “You’re lying.”
Caleb rests his other hand on his heart. “A liar? Me? How dare you?”
What is he doing? Has he gotten so drunk that all his brain cells have scrambled together?
“Ca—”
“The point is that I don’t appreciate you stalking my girlfriend,” Caleb continues pleasantly. “So I’d appreciate it if you stop. Otherwise I’ll have to do something about it, and I really don’t think that’s a good idea for either of us.”
Luis stares at me, panic entering his eyes. “Is he serious? Are you fucking kidding me, Eve? You can’t possibly want him! You and I have been together—”
An idea sparks in my head, one that sober Eve would never even consider.
Caleb is the one who started this. It’s not my fault I’m seeing it through to the finish line.
Before Caleb can react, before I can think too hard about what I’m doing, I grab his face with both hands, my fingers digging into his cheeks.
His skin is cold from the night air but warming quickly under my touch.
“This means nothing,” I breathe urgently, staring into his surprised blue eyes. “I just need him gone.”
Then I kiss him.
The kiss is fierce, meant to be a show for Luis. Something to prove that I’ve moved on. But the moment our lips connect, something ignites between us.
Caleb responds immediately. His hands fist in my coat, pulling me closer as he deepens the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine with an intensity that makes my knees weak.
What started as a desperate ploy becomes something raw and hungry, all whiskey-soaked desire and years of unresolved tension finally finding an outlet.
I can taste the alcohol on his breath, can feel the way his heart is racing against my chest. His hands slide up to tangle in my hair, tilting my head to get a better angle, and I hear myself make a sound that’s half gasp, half moan.
“Jesus, Eve,” he breathes against my lips, but he doesn’t pull away. If anything, he presses closer, backing me against the side of my building until I can feel the cold brick through my coat.
I should stop this. I should remember that Luis is watching, that this is all for show. But Caleb’s mouth is hot and insistent against mine, and every coherent thought flies out of my head as he kisses me like he’s been thinking about doing it for years.
The kiss burns hotter the longer it lasts, his mouth claiming mine like he’s been starving for this.
Caleb’s tongue teases mine, his teeth grazing just enough to make me gasp.
My hands clutch his coat tighter, anchoring myself against the hard line of his chest as his body presses me into the cold brick.
The scrape of stone against my back contrasts with the scalding kiss, and my pulse hammers so loud I can hear it in my ears.
When I finally tear my mouth from his, I’m breathing hard, lips swollen, his breath mingling with mine. For a second, we just stare at each other, both of us shaken by how real that kiss felt.
Then I turn, meeting Luis’s stunned gaze. His face has gone white, fury burning through his eyes as he realizes what he just witnessed.
“I’m done, Luis,” I say, my voice sharp despite the tremor in my chest. “We’re done. We’ve been done for a long time. I’ve moved on. If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll call the police the next time I see you hanging around my building. Do you understand me?”
“You slut,” he spits, rage twisting his features ugly.
The word barely leaves his mouth before Caleb’s fist connects with his jaw. The crack echoes through the street, and Luis stumbles back, clutching his face. I cover my mouth with my hands, my eyes widening.
“Say that again,” Caleb growls, his voice low and lethal. “I dare you.”
Luis scrambles to regain his footing, glaring between us with a mix of fear and hatred.
He backs away a few steps, then points a shaking finger at me.
“This isn’t over, Eve. You’ll regret this.
” He spits blood onto the sidewalk and retreats, his threats lingering in the night air until he disappears around the corner.
Silence falls, broken only by my ragged breathing and the thundering of my heart. Caleb is still beside me, his jaw tight, his fists flexing like he’s barely holding himself back from chasing after Luis.
My chest is still heaving when I notice the blood. His knuckles are split, raw and already swelling, tiny flecks of crimson against his skin.
“You shouldn’t have hit him that hard,” I murmur, reaching for his hand before he can shove it in his pocket. “Now look at you. Gone and hurt yourself.”
Caleb’s eyes are still burning from the fight, his body tense. “Don’t worry about me. What I want to know is what the hell you ever saw in him.”
The harshness of his words makes me flinch, but I force myself to meet his gaze. “It’s not that simple.”
He doesn’t answer, just stares at me like the thought of me ever being with Luis is a personal offense. I sigh, tugging on his sleeve. “Come on. Let’s get that hand cleaned up.”
Inside my building, the warmth of the lobby is a relief against the brisk night.
We climb the stairs in silence, his breathing heavy, my thoughts racing.
I unlock my apartment and usher him into the kitchen, flicking on the lights.
It feels strange having him here again, this man who’s both my past rival and my current… whatever he is.
“Sit,” I order, pointing at the stool by the counter. To my surprise, he listens.
I turn on the faucet, filling the sink with warm water before gently taking his hand. His skin is hot and rough under my fingers, his knuckles red and angry. I guide his hand into the water, rinsing away the blood.
“You shouldn’t have said we were dating. He’s not going to let this go.” I turn off the faucet.
“Is he really stalking you?” Caleb asks, his voice hard.
I shrug. “He likes to haunt my favorite spots. My mother’s really keen on us getting married. Now you’ve gone and told him we’re together. She’s going to be pissed.”
“But he’ll leave you alone right?”
I open my mouth and then close it. If Luis does think I’m with someone and he tells my mother, she might leave me alone. It’s not the worst thought.
“Maybe. If he sees us together a couple of times, he’ll get the hint. He’s stubborn, but not an idiot.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“What?” I’ve just turned around to get the first aid kit when his words register on me. I stop midmotion. "What plan?”
“Let him believe we are actually dating,” Caleb says as if it’s the simplest thing in the world. I lean back against the kitchen counter.
“Caleb,” I begin slowly. “Did you sneak in a couple more shots when I wasn’t looking?”