Chapter 24
As the day of the launch gets closer, Caleb and I have to stay later than everyone else making sure we have all the details right, and there are a thousand tiny details that need to be checked.
I stretch my arms over my head, feeling the satisfying pop in my shoulders after hours of sending out emails and responding to event details.
Glancing around the empty office, I notice the silence that has settled over the space, broken only by the soft clicking of Caleb’s keyboard beside me.
“Should we call it a night?” I ask, rubbing the back of my neck.
Caleb looks up from his laptop, his eyes tired. “Yeah,” he says with a sigh, closing his computer. “I think we’ve done all we can for today.”
He stands and stretches his body, and I wonder if it’s just me or if he’s changed.
Our relationship has shifted into something I can’t define anymore.
If I had thought so before, after the incident with Megan, I can sense the change even more.
I’ve never been with someone who treats me the way Caleb does.
He’s considerate even when he’s being annoying.
He’s taken the time to learn my likes and dislikes.
He treats me as if I matter. I’ve never had that before.
I’ve never had somebody look at me as if I’m the most important person in their life.
A part of me wants to ask him why he’s doing all this.
The other part of me knows but is afraid to take the first step.
If he just takes one inch of a step in my direction, I’ll cover the rest of the distance, but I don’t have the strength to be the first one.
The idea I might be wrong, that I’m reading too much into what he might consider normal, haunts me.
I’ve not forgotten his words from months ago when he told me he doesn’t do commitment.
Back then I had teased him over it. Now recalling those words pierces me, the heart of all my doubt.
I let out a sigh, and he rests his hands on the back of my chair, looking down at me. I peer up at him, “What?”
“Why’re you sighing?”
“Because you exhaust me,” I tell him bluntly.
He lowers his head and brushes his lips against mine so sweetly that my heart skips a beat. “Did that help?”
“Do it again so I can be sure.”
Laughing lightly, he kisses me again before saying, “Come on. I’m starving.”
I start collecting my things, tucking my laptop into my bag and gathering the scattered pens across my desk. “How’s your sister doing?”
Caleb’s face softens at the mention of Megan, and something in my chest squeezes tight. The way he loves his family is just... Well, it’s one of the many things about him that’s gotten under my skin.
“She’s moved back home,” he says, lowering his voice even though we’re the last ones left in our section. “Ethan and Jake filed a police report. The police picked up Tom and Candy last night.”
“Good.” I zip my bag closed. “I hope they throw the book at both of them."
Caleb nods, his jaw tightening momentarily. “Me, too.”
I hesitate, chewing on my lower lip. “Is she really okay, though?”
He sighs, pushing away from my desk as I stand up.
“My sister’s a tough nut to crack. Megan doesn’t like showing fear.
She’s always been good at holding it together.
” A rueful smile crosses his face. “She’s a little reckless, but never like this.
I have a feeling she actually liked Tom, and when he cheated on her, it hurt her pride. ”
I muse over his words. “I don’t know. It didn’t feel that way to me. It seemed more like she was out for his blood. And Tom didn’t seem to want to be there. Candy was the one who looked like she was in charge.”
“Well, they’re both in lockup for assault, so it doesn’t matter now.” Caleb just looks relieved. “I want this chapter closed for Megan so she can focus on her studies and move on.”
I silently agree. “I like her. She’s very energetic. A little violent, but I respect that.”
Caleb snorts. “You would.”
We walk side by side toward the elevators, our steps falling into an easy rhythm. Our footsteps echo through the empty office as we head toward the elevators.
“So,” Caleb says as we wait, his voice casual—too casual. “Are you free tomorrow?”
I press the button for the doors. “Why?”
He shrugs, not quite meeting my eyes. “I thought we could go on a date.” The elevator doors slide open with a soft ping, but I don’t move, frozen in place. “Eve?” Caleb gestures towards the door, and I slowly step inside, my brain frantically processing his words.
“A date?” I say slowly, turning around to face the doors as he follows me in. We’re alone in the elevator, the doors closing behind us with a whisper. I’m suddenly hyperaware of how small the space is, how close he’s standing by my side.
Caleb reaches out and takes my hand in his. His palm is warm against mine, his fingers lacing through my own like they’ve found their home. “Yeah,” he says simply.
I’m silent, my heart pounding so hard I’m certain he can hear it. The elevator descends smoothly, floors ticking by on the digital display above the doors. And yet, I feel I can’t count, my mind in shambles.
“Are you asking me out, Wilder?” I finally ask, still staring at the doors.
He doesn’t look at me either, both of us just watching the doors. It almost feels like even he doesn’t have the nerve to meet my gaze. “Yeah, that’s what a date is.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face, but I try to hide it by looking down at our intertwined hands.
“Why? Do you have a crush on me or something?” I’m teasing him, trying to regain some control over this situation—over the riot of butterflies currently staging a rebellion in my stomach.
In one smooth motion, Caleb turns to face me fully and tugs on my hand, bringing me around to stand in front of him. His free hand slides around my waist, and my breath catches in my throat.
“What if I do?” he murmurs, and then his mouth is on mine.
The kiss is gentle, achingly tender, and nothing like the fierce, passionate kisses we’ve shared before.
This is Caleb staking a claim, and god help me, I want to be claimed.
My free hand moves of its own accord, fingers threading through the soft hair at the nape of his neck as I kiss him back with equal intensity.
When we break apart, I’m breathing hard, and the look in his eyes makes heat flood through my entire body. “I should warn you,” I whisper, winding my arms around his neck, “I’m very high maintenance.”
“Is that right?” His hands tighten at my waist.
“Mm-hmm. I’ve got expensive tastes.”
He smiles down at me. “I have a lot of money.”
“And I hate cooking.”
“Lucky for you, I’m very good at it.” His thumbs trace small circles against my sides, making it hard to focus on our ridiculous conversation.
“I like ridiculously expensive coffee.”
“I’ll make sure I stock your favorite brands.”
A laugh bubbles up from my chest, genuine and surprised.
“So what do you say?” He kisses the tip of my nose, and I see the hint of vulnerability in his eyes. It’s costing him a lot to ask me. I couldn’t sacrifice my pride, but he could. For me.
“Where are you planning to take me?” I ask, my voice coming out breathier than I intended.
“Wherever you want.” His eyes search mine, suddenly serious. “Anywhere. Just say the word.” My heart feels too big for my chest, expanding with an emotion that I never thought I’d feel for anybody. The elevator comes to a stop, but neither of us moves as the doors slide open.
“Eve,” Caleb says, and there’s something in the way he says my name—like it’s precious, like it matters—that undoes me completely.
I rise up on my toes and press my lips to his again, softer this time but no less intense.
His arms tighten around me, pulling me flush against his body as he deepens the kiss.
I feel it everywhere—in my fingertips, in my toes, in the center of my chest where something that feels dangerously like hope is blooming.
When we finally pull apart, we’re both breathing hard. The elevator doors have closed again, and I have no idea if we’re still on the ground floor or if we’ve started going back up. I don’t care.
“Is that a yes?” Caleb asks, a hint of uncertainty in his voice that makes me want to kiss him all over again.
I smile, feeling lighter than I have in years. “That’s a yes, Wilder.”
His answering smile is like the sunrise, and as he reaches around me to press the button for the lobby, I think, I am in so much trouble. But for once, trouble looks an awful lot like happiness.
The drive back to my place is filled with a delicious kind of tension.
Neither of us is speaking, but the silence isn’t awkward—it’s charged with all these unspoken things hovering between us.
I catch him glancing at me at red lights, and each time his eyes meet mine, my stomach does this ridiculous flip.
God, when did I turn into such a cliché?
“You’re quiet,” he says, finally breaking the silence.
I shrug, trying to seem casual even though my heart is racing like I’ve had six espressos. “Just thinking.”
“About...?” he prompts, one eyebrow raised.
“About how I distinctly remember you telling me you don’t do commitment,” I say, giving him a sideways glance.
Caleb’s lips quirk up at one corner. “Maybe you changed my mind.”
“So we’re no longer friends with benefits?” I ask, trying to sound casual despite the flutter in my chest.
“Enemies with benefits,” he corrects, and I can’t help but chuckle. He reaches over and takes my hand. “I’ve never wanted to put a label on a relationship before,” he admits quietly. “But with you, I want one.”
The vulnerability in his tone makes my breath catch. This is Caleb Wilder—arrogant, confident, infuriating Caleb—letting his guard down for me. The realization settles warm and heavy in my chest.
He glances at me, eyes searching mine as we stop at a red light. “You do want me, don’t you, Eve?”