Like some sort of subject matter he was trying to figure out from a textbook.
“Wow, my high school bestie, a big ol’ macho guy in a biker gang. Who would’ve ever thought?” I asked.
He snorted. “We prefer the term motorcycle club.”
“Ah, okay. No gangs. Got it.”
“We’re more like a family that looks out for Twin Bays.”
His sentiment warmed my heart. “You’ve always been so caring.”
He licked his lower lip. “So are you.”
“Here we go!” the waitress chirped as she set our food down onto the table. “I’m not sure how you guys are splitting things, so I’ll just set it all right here and you can pick at it as you go along.”
I nodded. “That sounds great, thank you.”
But instead of Caleb saying anything, I watched him pull his phone out of his pocket.
Before his face fell into something akin to disappointment.
“Caleb?” I asked.
He stood to his feet. “I’m gonna have to get my half of the food to-go. Duty calls.”
My heart plummeted to my toes. “Really? You have to leave so soon?”
The waitress nodded. “I’ll get you a couple of to-go boxes and a to-go water, then.”
“Thanks,” Caleb murmured.
I walked over to him, abandoning my seat. “Are you sure you can’t stay for a little bit longer.”
He looked me square in my eyes. “I have to go.”
“Okay, yeah. No, no, absolutely. I hope everything’s okay.”
He reached one arm out and wrapped it around my shoulders. He drew me in for a side-hug, and while I attempted to garner some sort of comfort from it, I knew it was his way of keeping me at arm’s length. I knew I had hurt him. I knew that I had a hell of a lot of groveling to do.
But I hadn’t even gotten around to being comfortable enough asking him for help.
“I hope you get things sorted out,” I said as I took a step away from him.
His gaze bored a hole into the top of my head. “Rose.”
I looked up into his face. “Yes?”
He gripped my chin. “You gotta give me some time. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you or heard your voice.”
“I know.”
He slid his thumb along my skin, and god damn it, it felt so amazing. “I have some stuff to handle this afternoon, but if you still have things that need to be moved out of that motherfucker’s place, you know I’m always willing to help.”
Hope blossomed in my gut. “Really?”
“I’ll even come change the locks if you’d rather live there as opposed to wherever you’re living.”
“That isn’t necessary, but thank you. I still have yet to go through the stuff in the attic and the basement, so I may actually take you up on that offer. If you don’t mind.”
