Chapter 21 #3
“I know. Jake told me.” There’s a pause, and I can practically hear her working up to something. “Is Eve okay?”
I glance toward the bedroom, lowering my voice. “Yeah. She’s still sleeping.”
I move back to the bedroom doorway, peering in to make sure. Eve’s curled on her side, one hand tucked under her pillow now, her dark hair spread across the white sheets. Something in my chest tightens at the sight of her there, in her bed, looking peaceful for once.
I close the door down and lean against the wall. “So what are you up to these days?”
“Why?” Megan’s tone turns suspicious. “Do you want to scare off another boyfriend of mine?”
I’m about to fire back with something sarcastic when I hear it—a voice in the background. A male voice. A familiar male voice.
“Coffee’s ready, Meg.”
My entire body goes rigid. “Is that Derrick Holt?”
Silence on the other end.
“Megan.” My voice comes out harder than I intend. “Where are you?”
“None of your business.”
“Tell me right now, or I’m calling Ethan and he’ll find out.”
She sighs, annoyed. “Fine. Jesus. I got in a little trouble last night, and Derrick helped me out of it, okay? I’m at his place.”
“What kind of trouble?” My free hand curls into a fist. Derrick Holt is the deputy police commissioner and one of Ethan’s friends. The guy never dates, barely even talks to women outside of work. So what the hell is Megan doing at his place?
“Someone tried to break into my apartment last night.” Her voice goes quieter, reluctant.
Everything in me goes cold. “A break-in?”
“It’s fine, Caleb. There have been a few break-ins in my neighborhood recently. I came home and found the door open. I was calling Ethan, but I was a little drunk and accidentally called Derrick instead.” She pauses. “He came and got me.”
“Are you okay? Were you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” Now she sounds exasperated. “I just wanted to check up on you. Make sure you’re actually okay.”
“You should have called me.” The words come out pained.
“I did. Nobody picked up.”"
Shit. I was at the police station. Then something occurs to me. “Wait. Why didn’t Derrick take you to Mom and Dad’s? Why bring you to his place?”
Silence on the other end.
My suspicion kicks up a notch. “Megan. What else happened?”
“Nothing happened.”
“Bullshit. What aren’t you telling me?”
She’s quiet for too long, and I know I’m right.
Derrick’s a fierce man—the kind who doesn’t go out of his way for anyone.
He’s all business, all duty. But the few times I’ve seen them run into each other?
He softens. Gets this protective edge that doesn’t fit with the rest of his reputation.
Derrick doesn’t seek her out, but when their paths cross, he’s different.
Doting, almost. And I’ve never been able to figure out if it’s just because she’s Ethan’s little sister or if there’s something else going on.
“Megan—”
“Nothing happened, Caleb. I swear.” But her voice has that defensive edge that means she’s hiding something. “Derrick was just being nice. That’s all.”
“Nice doesn’t explain why he didn’t take you home. Or to our parents’ house.”
“I didn’t want to worry them. And I…” She trails off. “Look, it was late. I was freaked out. Derrick offered, and I said yes. End of story.” It’s not the end of the story, but I can hear in her voice she’s not going to give me more. Not right now.
“I’m fine,” she insists. “Really. Derrick’s been a gentleman. He gave me the guest room and everything.”
I don’t like it. Don’t like the idea of her apartment being broken into, don’t like her being at Derrick’s place, don’t like any of it. “I’m coming to pick you up.”
“No.” Her tone goes firm. “You should look after Eve. She needs you right now.”
The words hit me harder than they should. Eve needs me. Does she? Or am I just convenient? Just another problem she’ll walk away from now that her ex is handled?
“How is she?” Megan asks, softer now. “Really?”
I glance back at the bedroom door. “She seems okay. Considering.”
“Good.” There’s warmth in my sister’s voice. Then, “Why didn’t you tell me you were dating her?”
I groan, running a hand through my hair. “We’re not. Not really.”
“What does that mean?”
I move to Eve’s couch and sink onto it, suddenly exhausted. “I was helping her deal with her ex. And then we started this other thing. I mean we’re consenting adults and all.” I groan. “That’s how this started. But now…” I trail off, trying to find the right words. “Now I don’t want to end things.”
“And Eve?”
“She’s okay with sleeping with me. With what we have now.” The admission feels like ripping something open. “But I don’t think she’ll want to actually be with me. Like, for real.”
Megan is silent for a moment and then snickers, “Oh, my god. This is karma, isn’t it? For all the hearts you’ve broken. You finally caught feelings and have no idea what to do about it.”
“Thanks for the support.”
“No, I mean—Caleb, you never do this. You never catch feelings.” Her voice shifts, more serious. “You actually like her.”
“Of course I like her.” I slump further into the couch. “That’s the whole damn problem. She’s smart and funny, and when she lets her guard down, she’s…” I stop, not sure how to describe the way Eve makes me feel. Like I’m someone worth knowing? Like I could be better than I am? “She’s everything.”
“But?”
“But she’s been hurt. Badly. And I’m not exactly relationship material, Meg. We both know that.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”
“Is it?” I lean my head back, staring at the ceiling. “Name one relationship I’ve had that’s actually lasted.”
“You never wanted them to last. This is different.”
“Maybe.” I close my eyes. “Or maybe I’m just setting myself up for disaster. She’s going to realize she doesn’t need me anymore now that her ex is handled. She’ll go back to her normal life and I’ll be…”
“Heartbroken?”
The word sits heavy in the air. “Yeah.”
Megan’s quiet for a moment. Then she says, “So tell her.”
“Now why didn’t I think of that?” I drawl, sarcastically. “Gee, Megan, you’re filled with great ideas.”
“Fine, don’t tell her,” my sister retorts. “I’ve met Eve. She doesn’t have that high of an opinion of you, so maybe she’s not coming around. You want her? Then you’ll have to be the one to put in the effort.”
“She doesn’t hate me,” I mutter. “We just didn’t get along that well—”
“Caleb.” My sister’s voice turns amused. “Let me tell you something. Men aren’t the only ones who can sleep with someone without feelings. If you think that Eve must like you because you two have slept together, you’re an idiot. In her eyes, you were probably an easy lay.”
I straighten up, insulted. “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean? I’m not an idiot!”
“Really?” Megan drawls. “Then why’re you acting like one? Man up and tell her you like her. Otherwise, don’t come crying to me when some other guy comes around and says and does all the right things, and the two of them go prancing into the sunset together.”
I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at it in disbelief. “I don’t even know why I talk to you, Megan!”
“Boohoo.” I hear her faint voice before I press the phone to my ear to hear her add, “What’s the worst that can happen? She’ll reject you?” My heart sinks at her words.
“I’m telling Ethan to pick you up,” I say abruptly.
“Wait—” I end the call before Megan can say anything, my own thoughts distracted.
I won’t let Eve reject me. There’s no way. I never do anything half-assed. All I have to do is convince her that there is no one better for her than me. We may not have liked each other in the beginning, but things have changed.
A slow smile curves my lips. How hard can it be to win over Eve’s heart? She’s stubborn, but then so am I.