Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129460 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 647(@200wpm)___ 518(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
“Do you want to be the big spoon or the little spoon?” When his brows pull together, a smile tugs at my lips. “We’re spooning, Caleb. Whether now or halfway through the night, we’ll become entangled, so why not get it out of the way now?”
My heart skips a beat when he scoots down beneath the sheets before he pulls it open, wordlessly inviting me to use his chest as a pillow.
I take up his offer in an instant, my heart sighing as loudly as my mouth. He smells like my body wash, which is only possible if he used my bathroom to refreshen up.
With his breathing steady and his mouth not moving an inch, you’d think Caleb was asleep. I know better. Not only can I hear his brain ticking over a million miles an hour, I also hear the gurgle of his stomach before he asks, “Do you think Tivy will ever look past what happened to Jack?”
I try to look at him, but he holds on tight, foiling my endeavor, so instead of ensuring he sees the honesty in my eyes while replying, I ensure he hears the truth in my tone. “She already has.” I wait for his chest to breathe out the shock of my confession before adding, “Because she has nothing to look past. What happened to Jack wasn’t his fault, Caleb, so no-one will ever look at him differently because of what happened.” My words are for both Caleb and Jack. I just can’t announce that to Caleb since most of my facts aren’t factual. They’re hunches. However, these words are solely for Caleb. “She’ll probably love him even more because despite what he’s been through, he is still a kind and compassionate man.”
I wonder who Caleb’s reply is for when his grip tightens around my waist while confessing, “He didn’t want her to know.”
“I know, and that’s okay, but the truth always comes out, so they would have faced it at some stage.”
I regret my words the instant they leave my mouth. Not only do they see Caleb clamming up and pretending he’s fallen asleep, but they also see me waking up in an empty bed.
CHAPTER 46
JESS
Caleb’s eyes stray to Octavia when she mutters, “Perhaps Caleb can go with you?”
Although he’s entered partway into our conversation, Caleb shakes his head as if he’s been here all along.
“Why not? Jess needs to return her father’s car, and you need to get out of the house.” The way her voice cracks at the end is an indication as to why Octavia wants alone time. She wants to cry without anyone listening. She hasn’t had the opportunity to do that in the past two weeks. If Caleb isn’t at her side, I am. We don’t want her to break, so even though we have a lot to discuss about how things ended during our last chat, for the moment, our focus needs to remain on Octavia.
It’s been one thing after another for her lately—her confrontation with Jack at the penthouse he purchased for her, News Global Ten media was relinquishing its right to Seattle Socialites, and a subsequent memorandum announcing that all employees had until the end of the month to find other employment was released.
I can write bullshit stories anywhere, but Octavia hasn’t worked out what she wants to do yet. She’s keeping her focus off the crumbling pieces of her life by devoting her attention on the employees she signed to Seattle Socialites with binding contracts during her brief interim position as a Human Resources Officer.
“I’ve got…” Caleb is as bad at lying as he’s ever been, “… shit to do.”
“Shit that can wait until Monday.” With Octavia’s determination the strongest it’s been, she plucks the bottle of OJ out of Caleb’s hand, thrusts my car keys into his palm, then marches him to the door. “Jess will text you the address of her father’s church. Drive there, then drive her home. It isn’t hard.”
“Tiv—”
“Bye, Caleb.” She closes the door in his face as if he doesn’t pay any of the rent before she pivots around to face me. My heart breaks when I spot the devastation on her face. She is about to burst, but she refuses to cry in front of me for another second. “I just need an hour. That’s it. Just an hour.”
Although torn on leaving her while she is upset, I understand the benefit of having time to think. Sometimes silence is true wisdom’s best reply. “I’m only a phone call away, okay?” When she nods, I wrap her up in a firm hug like the wetness that dribbles on my cheeks won’t break my heart. “Then we’ll do tequila shots and tacos when I get back.”
My giggle ruffles her hair when she murmurs into my neck, “I don’t have any lemons.”