“Raven,” James calls.
I step into the corridor, watching as they chase after this Raven girl. Was she the redhead who ran past?
My taxi arrives, preventing me from thinking about what happened or why Theo was chasing another woman. Sliding into the cab, I shake it off, knowing for tonight, it’s not my problem.
Chapter Nineteen
THEO
Knocking on the door to one Professor Anderson’s home, I shuffle on my feet, waiting. An eight-pack of beers hangs from one hand, while the other holds snacks. I refuse to watch a game without snacks—that’s got to be some sacrilege or something.
It’s the first time I’ve seen him since everything went down with Raven and James at the gala. It still has my head reeling a week later. That was some scary shit for all of us but mainly those two. I don’t even want to digest the encounter with Blake in the hallway and how right her words were… as usual. I don’t know how she manages to hit me right where it hurts. I guess she still knows me after all.
Caleb finally answers the door wearing gray sweatpants and a black T-shirt, his tattoos on display. My heart flutters a little at the sight. “Well, Professor. Don’t you look mighty fine,” I say with a wink, my own sweats and hoodie matching his. Sometimes you need comfort over style.
He chuckles and takes the beers from my outstretched hand. “I worry about you sometimes, man. You’re not normal.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I quip, taking off my shoes and following him into the kitchen.
I lean against the counter, watching as he places the beers into the fridge before getting me a cold one out. He pops the lid and hands it to me. I gulp down half of it in one go, feeling slightly more relaxed as the alcohol starts taking effect.
“You spoken to James?” Caleb asks, worried. “I keep messaging him, but he’s not replying.”
I run a hand through my hair, sighing. “Yeah, things got a bit crazy for a while. I think he’s just trying to get his head around everything that happened. Add in Raven, and he’s gone into overprotective mode.”
Caleb nods. “Understandable. If that was Lauren? Fuck, I wouldn’t cope.”
“Where is Lauren, anyway? I thought you said she’d be here?” I ask, glancing around. “I need some eye candy other than you.”
“She’s with Sydney. She’ll be back in a bit,” he replies, leaning against the counter. “Can you please keep the flirting to a minimum? I don’t want to have to punch you.” He raises an eyebrow, and I chuckle.
“Can’t promise anything, but if you give me enough attention, itmightstop the urge,” I reply, giving him a wide, toothy smile.
Caleb rolls his eyes, his lips quirking. “Come on, I’ve got the living room how you like it.”
My heart threatens to burst in my chest. “You didn’t?” I begin jumping up and down on the balls of my feet. “Did you? Don’t mess with me here, man. I won’t be able to take it.”
Caleb laughs as he says, “Go and have a look. See if I’m telling the truth or not.”
I don’t wait; I race into his living room, my socks slipping on the hardwood floor like I’m Tom Cruise inRisky Business. I grab hold of the doorframe to stop myself from falling on my ass as I come to a stop and see that he was indeed telling the truth.
I squeal when I take in what one of my best friend has done. “PILLOW FORT!” I bellow, running and throwing myself into the cozy nest. “You built me a pillow fort.”
I glance around, my eyes wide and my heart full. My little softie has rearranged his living room—the sofa cushions are on the floor facing the TV, with the pre-game warm-up playing softly in the background. He’s draped a sheet over the top and added more pillows and blankets inside.
Caleb chuckles as he sits down next to me, his bones creaking as he does. “This wasn’t me. You can thank Lauren for this.”
Nestling under the blankets, I stretch my long body out, propping my head against the back of the sofa, then take my forgotten beer from Caleb’s hand.
“She really loves me,” I state, my heart swelling further at how thoughtful she is. Caleb was lucky to have found her.
After Lauren was attacked by a deranged bastard, I took her on as a client and made damn sure the guy who hurt her ended up behind bars. We spent night after night going over her testimony—sorting through the facts, talking about her fears, and what she ultimately wanted from it all. And over the past few months, she’s become someone I genuinely enjoy being around.
“She does,” he says gently. “We all do.”
I sigh. “Dad put you up to giving me alecture, didn’t he?”
“We just want to make sure you’re okay, man. We know how hard it is for you. And in all honesty, we’re worried you’re slipping.” He gives me a knowing look, and I can’t hide it from him.
