“I have to,” I told him. “I’m not gonna let my baby starve because of my own morals.”
Caleb nodded. “I guess that makes sense. Even if this whole situation is crazy.”
I shrugged with a lazy grin. “You get used to it.”
As Caleb was shooting me a look of disbelief, Pierce knocked by the door threshold. “May I come in?”
Caleb leaned over to me and whispered, “Isn’t that what vampires do? Ask to be let inside or else they burst into flames?”
I waved Pierce over, and he said to Caleb, “You’re half right. Wedoneed to be asked to come into a private home. But we don’t burst into flames. That’s contact with sunlight.” He smiled at Caleb. “Also, I was only asking to be polite. As this is my own home, I don’t need permission to be let inside anywhere.”
Caleb’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Oh.”
“How are you feeling, Caleb?” Pierce asked.
“Okay, I guess,” he said. “Getting attacked by a real life vampire was pretty freaky, but I guess I can cross that off my bucket list.”
“Funny.” I rolled his eyes.
“How is the work going?” Pierce asked.
I wondered why he brought that up now of all times, but then I saw the dark look flash across Caleb’s face, like there was something he wasn’t telling me.
“It’s, uh, okay,” Caleb muttered. “I’ve been living well on the money you sent me, but the amount of hours I have isn’t enough to make up for it…”
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Caleb winced. “I didn’t want to tell you, because I swore I wouldn’t ask for help again. But since you moved out, I can’t pay rent all by myself and I don’t work enough hours to earn enough to live decently anymore.”
“What?” I cried. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I don’t want to live off your handouts, Benji!” Caleb snapped. “Don’t you get that?”
I frowned at him. “You’re being ridiculous. It’s not like you’re slacking off or whittling money away.”
“It’s disappointing,” Caleb muttered, glancing away. “I’m an adult and I can’t even make enough to live on my own. Meanwhile, my brother is living with his rich alpha mate in some mansion…”
I winced at his biting remark. Immediately I could tell Caleb regretted saying it. He set the cocoa down and buried his face in his hands. “I’m sorry. I just feel like you wasted your time and money saving me…”
A flash of irritation struck me and I somehow withheld the urge to shove him. “Shut up! Don’t you ever say that again, Caleb, do you hear me? You’re my little brother and you know I’d do anything for you. Hell, Idida lot for you. So it’s time for you to stop worrying if you’re worth it and justlive.”
Caleb looked miserable. “How can I, Benji? I feel so guilty. It’s like all I do is take handouts!”
“You were recovering from major surgery, and then had your brother suddenly move out and leave you with a financial burden,” I said with a grimace. “It’s not your fault. I should’ve given you more notice, so maybe you could’ve found a roommate or something. I’m sorry.”
“Maybe,” Caleb muttered. “I don’t think I can afford living there anymore. Even in the most dirt-cheap, crappy apartment, my wages and cut hours aren’t enough…”
Pierce cleared his throat mildly. “May I say something?”
Caleb nodded.
Pierce took a seat next to me on the couch. “Well, this has been on my mind for some time, but I wanted to get the green light from you before I went ahead with anything.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Pierce leaned forward, clasping his hands together on his knees in a casual business-esque gesture. “How would you feel about moving into one of the estates on our property?”
Caleb barked a laugh. “That’s funny that you think I can afford that.”
