25. Cale #2
“Marcy,” she whispers, eyes flaring with awareness. “You don’t think…”
“That he might be the reason your house got broken into first?” I look back at Ryan, who’s staring down at his knees, looking miserable. “Yeah. I do.”
By the time we get Rosie and Nell back to Melanie’s place, it’s late. The house is still lit up and, as soon as I get through the front door, Oakley is there, his face tired but eyes wide, his solemn expression telling us that he knows something’s up.
“Nell?” he whispers, eyeing the sleeping girl in my arms. She crashed as soon as I put her in the back seat of the truck, clutching her favorite soft toy—a gray rabbit with floral patterns on its ears and paws.
“Is she okay?” His voice trembles.
I give him a reassuring smile. “Nell’s okay, Killer. She’s just tired.”
Jaz doesn’t ask questions, taking in Rosie’s pale face, deciding, “I’ll make us some tea,” before disappearing into the kitchen.
“Put Nell in my bed,” Oakley says decisively. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Melanie’s smile brightens her eyes. “You’re sweet, but you can sleep with me. We’ll put Rosie on an air mattress on the floor in your room so she and Nell can be together.” She pulls Oakley into a hug. “Can you go help Jaz for me, bug? Maybe rustle up something to eat?”
“I know you’re trying to get rid of me,” Oakley grumbles, narrowing his eyes. “I’ll go if I can have two cookies.”
“One cookie,” Melanie returns.
“Deal!” He turns and rushes after Jaz, probably worried his mother will change her mind.
“I’ll go put this one in bed,” I murmur. Melanie nods. Rosie follows after me, watching as I set her daughter down on Oakley’s baseball-covered sheets.
“Thank you, Cale,” she murmurs, gently tucking the blankets around Nell, who doesn’t so much as twitch. “I’m not sure why you were there tonight, but I’m glad you were.”
I tip my chin, stepping back to give her room. “I’m glad I was too.” The air shifts as someone steps into the doorway behind me, but I don’t turn around. “I’m sorry this happened, Rosie. You didn’t deserve it.”
She hums softly, not looking up as she traces a finger over Nell’s brow.
“There are a lot of people in this town who disagree with that,” she remarks, her tone emotionless.
“Lots of people think I deserve it. That I asked for this.” The tiniest hint of bitterness creeps in.
She blinks, turning to me, the emotion fading away faster than I can catch it.
“No one deserves this or what happened before,” I tell her, because I’m not going to pretend to misunderstand what she’s talking about. “You made the best of a bad situation, and that makes you stronger than most of this town. Don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise.”
Rosie’s smile is crooked and sad. “I didn’t have much choice. And I got my Nellie out of it all.” She looks down at her daughter again, love shining in her eyes. “I don’t know that I would ever want to experience it again, but I would never give her up.”
A footstep falls behind me, and Melanie clears her throat. Her voice is thick with her own emotions. “I’ve got the mattress. It’s an automatic inflatable one, so we just need to plug it in. And here are the blankets.”
Rosie stands up, her smile tremulous. “Here. I’ll sort it out. I need a minute alone…if you don’t mind.”
Melanie hands her armful over without a fight. “Of course,” she says softly. “Just come find us if you need anything, okay?”
“Thanks, Mel. You’re a good friend.”
Melanie wraps her up in a lingering hug. “You’d do the same for me,” she whispers, and then she’s turning around, her hand catching mine and tugging me from the room. She shuts the door softly behind us and leads me to the living room, where Oakley is waiting.
“Is Nell okay?” he asks anxiously, eyes bouncing between the two of us. It takes him less than a second to clock our tangled hands, his features brightening slightly before he frowns again.
“Nell’s fine, bug. But it’s late. Time for you to be in bed.”
Oakley opens his mouth to protest, and I shake my head. “Yeah, Killer. It’s been a long night for everyone. Nell’s gonna need her friend in the morning.”
He closes his mouth, determination flashing through his eyes. Melanie lets go of my hand, almost like she hadn’t realized she was still holding onto me. She ushers Oakley to her room, telling me over her shoulder, “I’ll be right back.”
I go into the kitchen, finding Jaz sitting at the kitchen table, holding a steaming mug. She looks up as I come in. “I didn’t make you tea. I know you don’t drink it.”
I shake my head. “Good. The stuff is disgusting.” I open the fridge and go still.
On the second shelf is a six-pack of my favorite brand of beer.
I’ve got no idea if they’re ones I left behind when I torched everything between us, or if she has bought them since, but knowing Melanie would see them every time she opened the fridge makes my heart jump.
Swallowing hard, I pull one out, flicking the cap off and throwing it away.
I sit down across from Jaz. “Melanie fill you in?”
She blows out a breath. “Yeah. This fucking town.” She looks at me carefully. “Did you talk to Levi?”
I shook my head. “We left before he arrived. I’ll call him in the next couple of days, let the dust settle.” I lean back in my chair. “It’s not his fault, but—”
Jaz shakes her head, lips pressed into a thin line.
“Ryan is only a year older than Lanie,” she says firmly.
“I know where my kid is, Cale. Every night. I know Levi and Ryan have been through a lot in the last few years, but this isn’t a one-off.
What if those kids had set fire to Rosie’s house tonight?
” She leans forward. “With Nell and Rosie inside? The outcome could have been a lot worse than a broken leg.”
I ran a hand over my jaw. “I know, Jaz.”
We fall quiet, lost in our own thoughts. By the time she finishes her drink and heads out, Melanie still hasn’t reappeared. I’m just debating whether to finish my beer and go home when she comes into the kitchen, her expression creasing with relief at the sight of me.
I turn, sitting sideways in my chair, watching her carefully.
“You’re still here.”
“I was just thinking of heading home,” I admit quietly. “I didn’t want to intrude.”
She licks her lips, closing the distance between us, standing just inside my spread legs, her knees brushing against mine.
“I was actually thinking,” Melanie says slowly, “that you could stay. On the couch,” she rushes to add. “I just think that the kids, Rosie”—she pauses hesitantly, her lashes shuttering her eyes—“and I would all feel safer if you stayed.”
I stare up at her, barely breathing until she lifts her lashes, locking those blue eyes with mine. “Nothing could drag me away, darlin’.”
I mean more than tonight, and Melanie knows it, the barest curve to her lips. “I’m starting to believe that.” She brushes a finger against the rough stubble of my jaw, but then the touch is gone, leaving me desperate for more. “The beer looks good. Have another with me?”
“Whatever you want, baby.”