“We’re fine,” Eve assures him.I catch his eyes lingering longer on Iris who just nods.
“I’m going to need information,” Jake states, pulling out his phone.“I’m filing a police report whether you like it or not, Megan.”
To my surprise, Megan doesn’t argue.“Okay.”
Eve leans close to me, her breath warm against my ear.“I’m surprised at how docile she’s being now.She was ready to draw blood back there.”I glance at my sister with new eyes, noticing the slight tremor in her hands that she’s trying to hide.My chest tightens.Megan’s never docile—unless she’s genuinely terrified.
Speaking of terror, Mom steps forward, heading straight for Eve with outstretched hands.
“You must be Eve,” she says warmly, clasping Eve’s hands in hers.“Thank you for helping my daughter.It’s lovely to meet you, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
Eve’s eyes widen slightly.“It’s nice to meet you, too, Mrs.Wilder.”
“Helen, please,” Mom insists.“I’m so glad to finally meet Caleb’s girlfriend.”I watch the color rise in Eve’s cheeks, and I have to bite back a grin.I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy seeing her flustered.
“Mom, she’s also had a long day.”I try to usher my mother away but she won’t budge.
Jake pulls Iris aside, talking to her in low tones.I can’t hear what they’re saying, but Iris keeps looking up at him.There’s something in the way they look at each other that makes me narrow my eyes.Mom catches it, too, glancing between them with barely concealed interest before looking at me.I shake my head slightly.I’m not getting involved in whatever this is.
Mom turns back to Eve, her smile warm and genuine.“Eve, I’d love to have you over for lunch sometime.I want to thank you properly for helping Megan.”
Eve glances at me, panic flickering in her eyes.“You really don’t have to?—”
“I’ll bring her around soon,” I promise, saving her from having to respond.Mom seems satisfied with that and heads toward the door with Megan.
Jake and Iris linger behind, Iris grabbing her bag.“I’ll also be going, Eve.You should rest.”
Eve gives her a confused look.“I told you you could crash here…”
“I know, but I think I should go.Thanks again for the offer, though.”Iris follows Jake out, and I blink slowly.
“Something’s going on with those two.”
“I think so, too.”Eve shakes her head.
I wait until they’re all out in the hallway before turning back to Eve.I cup her face in my hands and kiss her hard, pouring all my gratitude and love into it.When I pull back, her eyes are wide and dark.“Wait up for me?”I ask, my voice rougher than I intended.
A small smile plays at the corner of her mouth.“Don’t take too long, Wilder.”I steal one more quick kiss before following my family out the door.
Catching up to Megan in the hallway, I drape my arm around her shoulders, feeling her lean into me more than usual.“You know I’m going to kill that bastard, right?”I whisper.
Megan gives me a smile, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes.“Get in line.”
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.
