“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.”
