Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)

I hang up the phone, baffled by how distant he sounded.

Last night, he was funny and sweet. Caleb might have been a dick at first, but I knew it was only because he liked me. I’ve met him exactly once, but I could tell that Caleb is all man. The minute I mentioned Hunter and Alex, he became a dick—typical alpha-male syndrome. He probably got off the phone, put on a leopard-skin loin cloth, and pounded on his chest like a caveman for a few minutes too. I mean, hell, just the way he reacted when I knocked Jesse down at the hospital gave him away.

I figured he’d be stoked to hear from me, but whatever. I can’t sit here trying to analyze Caleb Jones. I’ve got pictures to edit, wine to drink, and a pillow calling my name. He can figure out his shit on his own, but I can say that that will be the last time I call him just to shoot the shit.

I finally fall asleep with images of ugly King Charles spaniels floating through my head. I couldn’t have been asleep long when my phone starts ringing beside me. Caleb’s name flashes on the display, sending fear through my veins. No way would he call this late without it being horrible news about Sarah. I snatch it off the nightstand and immediately click the green button.

“Is she okay?” I don’t even bother with a hello.

“What?” he asks.

“Sarah? Is she okay?” I repeat.

“Oh, yeah. I mean, I guess she is. I haven’t heard anything today.”

“Shit, Caleb! You scared me to death. I thought if you were calling this late it had to be shitty news!” I yell as I try to calm myself down.

“Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about that.”

“Yeah, we definitely need to develop a system for Sarah updates. Maybe one ring for bad news, two rings for good.”

“Um, you picked up on the first ring this time. I didn’t have a chance for it to get to the second ring.” He starts laughing.

I amend my brilliant idea. “Okay, one ring for good, two for bad.”

“What exactly am I supposed to do after these one or two rings? Hang up? What if you don’t hear the phone ring and just see a missed call from me? Is that good news or bad?” he asks, continuing to laugh at me.

“Damn it! I don’t know! I didn’t exactly have time to think this plan through.” I sit for a minute, trying to catch my breath, then burst into laughter right along with him.

“How about if I have any news about Sarah, I’ll text first and ask you to call me? Would that keep you from worrying every time I call?”

“Yeah, that works. Although I’m kind of hating on you right now. Your plan is good, and mine sucked.”

“It really was a bad plan,” he answers.

I’d give anything to see the grin that I know he’s wearing right now. I only saw him smile once at the hospital, but it’s etched into my memory.

“Okay, so what’s up? I didn’t expect to hear from you again tonight.”

“Why not? I told you I’d call when I got home.”

“But then I said I was going to bed and to just call me tomorrow.”

“Yeah, but I said I’d call you when I got home, so I’m calling you now that I’m home,” he says firmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll still call tomorrow too,” he tries to tease.

“Wow, you’re just getting home? Did you hit the strip club on the way? Get a little Friday night eye candy before heading home?” I laugh at the silly joke, but Caleb is silent. “You still there?” I say, pulling the phone away from my ear to make sure the call didn’t get dropped.

“Yeah, I’m here,” he says before letting out a loud sigh. “I stopped at Manda’s grave. It’s on my way home from gym, and I can’t pass by without stopping.”

“Shit.” I bite my lip, feeling like a total asshole. “I’m sorry. I was just being funny. My jokes obviously need a lot of work these days.”

“It’s okay,” he says dryly.

“Fuck. I just… I’ll let you go.”

“Does it bother you?” he asks, catching me just before I hang up.

“What? You going to Manda’s grave?”

“Yeah,” he says sadly, and it makes my heart ache for him.

“No, it doesn’t bother me at all. You lost someone you loved. I’d be a bitch if it bothered me. I just didn’t know, and I made a stupid joke. I’m sorry.”

“I go about three times a week,” he oddly announces.

“Okay…” I trail off, not sure how to respond.

“I just thought you should know. I wasn’t sure if it would bother you or not. You know, now that we are kind of talking, I guess. I don’t know. I just wanted you to know.”

“Caleb, does it bother you that I know? Because you don’t have to share stuff like that with me if you don’t want to. But just so you know, I will never in a million years have a problem with any part of Manda or your past together. She’s gone, but I don’t expect you to forget about her just because we have started…talking.” I repeat his term from earlier.