JOSHUA
“Canceled security. This isn’t working. Don’t call me.” I read the message from Caitlyn again, but it still doesn’t make sense.
I try calling her, but it goes straight to voicemail. I leave a message, but I can feel it in my gut, something is wrong, I’m sure of it.
David must have gotten to her already.
My heart hammers as I picture him breaking into Caitlyn’s apartment and hurting her. I have to save her.
“I’m sorry, I’m going to have to close the gym. There’s been a family emergency,” I tell everyone. “You’ll all be offered a full refund.”
Clients start leaving the gym, and Mrs. Gilbert turns to me with a frown. “Does this have something to do with David Morgan coming here yesterday? He’s a dangerous man, Joshua. I’d hate to see you getting yourself into trouble.”
“Don’t worry Mrs. Gilbert,” I assure the old woman. “I can handle David Morgan.”
Once everyone has left, I get into my car, and race over to Caitlyn’s place, and my blood goes cold when I see David’s car parked in the driveway.
My worst fears are confirmed.
I get out of my car and storm up the driveway. David opens the front door before I even reach it.
“Braddock,” he snarls. “I should have known.”
“Where is Caitlyn?” I demand.
“Inside, packing. She’s finally come to her senses, and we’ve decided to give things another try.”
“You’re lying. Let me speak to her myself.”
“No. She doesn’t want to see you,” David says, blocking the door.
“Move. Or I’ll make you,” I grind out, my blood boiling.
Before I can make my move, Caitlyn appears. “Joshua, please, don’t. David is right, I’m going back to him.”
My body goes cold. “What? Why? I thought we loved each other.”
Caitlyn swallows, and I see the tears in her eyes. “It was a mistake. I love David.”
David smiles smugly. “You heard the lady. She loves me, not you.”
“I don’t believe you. This is some trick. Let me speak to Caitlyn alone,” I demand. I won’t believe she loves him, not me until she tells me herself, without him breathing down her neck.
“Fine,” David says, staring at Caitlyn coldly.
He walks away, heading for his car, and leaves me alone with Caitlyn. I take her hands and she instantly start crying. “I’m so sorry Josh. I never should have gotten involved with you.”
“I don’t understand. We love each other--”
“No, I was caught up in the thrill of everything, but David is the man I love.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to go back to him? After he cheated!”
Caitlyn shakes her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I’m sorry, but this is for the best. Being with David makes me happy.”
“You don’t look happy. What’s he holding over you? Whatever it is, we can work it out.”
Caitlyn pulls away from me, and something in her expression changes. Her eyes turn cold, and in a firm voice she says, “No Joshua. I want to be with David. Please leave and never contact me again.”
As her words sink in, my heart breaks, and I shake my head. “If that’s what you want…”
I turn and walk away, knowing if I look back at Caitlyn, I’m going to lose it.
As I pass David, he smiles at me smugly. “You lose Braddock. Caitlyn is mine and will always be mine.”
I screw my fists into a ball and fight the urge to punch him in the face, knowing it will only lead to more trouble.
I get into my car and drive away.
Once I’m away from Caitlyn’s apartment, I pull over onto a side-street and break down.
This can’t be real. She can’t seriously be going back to him?
I take a series of deep breaths to calm myself, and then call my brothers.
“Caitlyn broke it off,” I tell them all, as we’re in a conference call. “She’s got back with David.”
“Shit,” Tucker says. “I’m so sorry man.”
“That really sucks,” Sebastian says, his voice soft.
I hear Ryan heave out a breath. “I knew this would happen.”
“Ryan, don’t, not now,” Antony interjects, and my oldest brother falls silent. “Where are you? Are you at home? You shouldn’t be alone right now.”
“I’m still by Caitlyn’s--”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Ryan warns.
My temper flares, and I shout at my brother, “I wasn’t planning to, but thanks for your concern.”
“Come on, let’s not start fighting with each other,” Sebastian says, trying to keep things calm. “Joshua, come home. We’ll all meet you there.”
“Fine,” I grind out.
I don’t want to see my brothers right now, but Antony is right, I shouldn’t be alone. And besides, knowing that Caitlyn and I have broken up, there’s no way they’re just going to leave me to figure this out by myself.
I end the call, and drive back home, reaching my townhouse as Ryan, Antony and Sebastian are pulling up. Ryan has a case of beer, and Antony has a box of food from the restaurant.
I’m still pissed at Ryan for him telling me not to do anything stupid, but the fact he’s here, with my other brothers, and they’ve brought everything we could need for a night in, chases away a little of my anger.
I’m still not ready to hear Ryan say, ‘I told you so,’ but I’m glad my brothers are here for me.
I let them in, and we all head through to the kitchen, where Antony starts opening take out boxes, and serving up food, and Ryan hands out bottles of beer to everyone.
“What happened?” he asks softly, the earlier judgment gone from his tone.
I tell my brothers everything, and when I’ve finished speaking, Tucker says, “This doesn’t sound right. I think Morgan is up to something.”
I sigh. “I wondered that too, but even when I spoke to Caitlyn alone, she insisted she didn’t want to be with me.”
“Yeah, because David was at the end of the drive,” Sebastian says. “I agree with Tucker. This sounds suspicious. Can you contact her friends or anything?”
I never even considered speaking to Amber. “Maybe. It’s worth a try.”
Ryan shakes his head. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but maybe it’s worth just calling it a day. David Morgan isn’t a person you can win against.”
“You still think she went back to him willingly, don’t you?”
Ryan bows his head. “I’m sorry. But they were together for years. They were engaged. That’s hard to walk away from.”
“He cheated on her!” I say, the tone of my voice rising.
“I know, but some women forgive that type of thing, don’t they?”
I shake my head. “Not Caitlyn.”
“Why? She did before,” Ryan reminds me.
“That was before … I don’t know … it was different this time.”
I turn to my other brothers, hoping to have some back up, but Antony shakes his head.
“I’m sorry, Joshua. I know you love her, but I think Ryan is right. I think she used you as a rebound, a way to make herself feel better after David cheated, but now he’s promised it won’t happen again, and she believes him.”
“No,” I say firmly. I won’t believe what me and Caitlyn had wasn’t real. “There has to be more to it. What do you two think?”
I turn to Sebastian and Tucker, and the older of my two brothers’ shrugs, “I don’t know man--”
“I think you’re right,” Tucker insists.
Ryan scowls at him. “What do you know about love? I’m surprised you even care that she broke up with him.”
“Just because I’m not ready to settle down doesn’t mean I don’t know what love is like. I remember Mom and Dad together.”
This makes us all fall silent, and the tension morphs into grief as we remember our parents.
We don’t speak about Caitlyn again as we finish dinner and move into the living room.
Instead, Sebastian suggests we play video games.
I’m glad of the distraction, and my brothers seem to be too.
The atmosphere is still tense between Ryan and Tucker, and honestly, I’m not Ryan’s biggest fan right now, either.
But none of us cause a scene, instead taking our frustrations out virtually, as Tucker and I beat Ryan and Antony in a fighting game, and then again in a football game.
It feels good to knock that smug smile off my oldest brother’s face. I only wish I could do the same with David.
It’s late when everyone leaves, almost one a.m., and I feel exhausted.
“Are you going to be, okay?” Sebastian asks at the front door.
Ryan and Antony have already headed home, insisting I call them both in the morning.
I shrug. “I’m going to have to be, aren’t I?”
Sebastian’s eyes soften. “Do you want me to stick around a bit longer?”
“No. You’ve got Lana and Noah to get back to. I’ve got Tucker. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. But all me if you need anything,” Sebastian says, pulling me into an embrace.
I hug my brother back, and then watch as he gets into his car, and heads for home.
When I enter the living room, Tucker has loaded up another match on the fighting game and offers me a bottle of beer.
“No thanks, Tuck. I’m going to head to bed.”
Tucker raises his eyebrows. “To brood?”
I laugh hollowly. “Maybe. But I will try to get some sleep too.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. I’ll be in the guest room if you need me.” To my surprise, my younger brother grabs the bottles of beer and takes them through to the kitchen.
I head to my room, and undress, throwing my clothes in the hamper.
I get into bed and pull the covers tight around myself. But, unable to sleep, I can’t help but check my phone. I have no missed calls or messages.
I lay awake, staring at pictures of me and Caitlyn together, and reading through all the messages we ever sent each other.
Could Ryan be right? Was I just a rebound for Caitlyn, and now she’s ready to take David back? I didn’t think she was like that, but then, maybe I saw what I wanted to see. Perhaps I was so blinded by my love for her that I convinced myself she felt the same.
-----
When I get up the next morning, I’m pleasantly surprised to find that not only has Tucker cleaned up from the night before, but that he’s also cooked me pancakes for breakfast.
“I figured you could use a pick me up,” he says, as he stands at the counter, pouring us both a mug of coffee.
“Thanks Tuck,” I say, forcing myself to eat, not only so my brother’s hard work won’t go to waste, but because I know I won’t make it through a morning at the gym without a proper meal.
Joining me at the breakfast bar, Tucker asks, “Have you thought any more about what you’re going to do about Caitlyn? Are you going to try calling her friends or something?”
I shake my head. “I think Ryan is right. I was just a rebound.”
Tucker raises his brows. “Don’t let Ryan get to you. He isn't right about everything you know.”
“Maybe not, but he’s right about this. Caitlyn made her feelings clear yesterday. She loves David, not me. I’m not going to chase after her like some pathetic idiot.”