Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)

Today has been amazing.

As I walk to my car, I pull my phone out to text Caleb. I toss it around for a minute, trying to decide what to say. Separation. That is what we agreed on when it came to him and Sarah, but this is something I want to share with my boyfriend. I know that by now Eli has dropped off my keys and probably told him where I went. I’m not going to let Mr. Broody ruin this for me.



Me: I’m on my way back. I’m in a really good mood. Please don’t ruin this by acting like an ass.

Caleb: Um. Okay? Thanks for the vote of confidence.

Me: I’m sorry. I’m just really fucking happy right now, and I wish I could share it with you.

Caleb: Good visit?



Holy shit! Is he asking about Sarah? I’m not giving him the details that I know he doesn’t want. So I decide to keep it short and simple.



Me: Yeah. It was great! Can we go out to dinner?

Caleb: Sounds like a plan. See you soon.



And just like that, I kept up my end of the bargain and Caleb did the same. It looks like he and I might actually be able to make this work. This day just got even better.





I WOKE up early this morning and decided to surprise Caleb with coffee at work. Poor guy got stuck working two Saturdays in a row. I know I’ve only been in town for five weeks, but I’ve missed our weekends together. Recently, I’ve been busy doing some free shoots for local magazines to try and get my name out there. So between my running around town at odd hours for work, visiting Sarah two afternoons each week, and Caleb’s work schedule and woodworking hours, the last two weeks have had us running in different directions.

Saturday is usually our lazy day. No work or Sarah between us, just the two of us spending quality time together. This basically consists of lying in bed naked all day. Half the day, we make love. The other half, we just chat or watch funny movies. Thankfully he has a four-day next weekend, and he has already informed me that I’m not allowed to wear clothes the entire weekend. That makes days like today slightly bearable.

I’m patiently standing in line, waiting to order Caleb’s coffee and my scone, when I see a familiar face out of the corner of my eye.

“Casey?” I catch her attention, and when her eyes meet mine, for a brief second, they fill with surprise before immediately returning to a flat expression.

“I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

“It’s me. Emma—”

“Erickson,” Eli finishes, walking up behind her. “What’s up, babe?” He nods to me while rubbing his hand over Casey’s back.

I’ve seen Eli probably two dozen times since moving to Chicago. He is always with Caleb or some combination of Brett and Caleb. But I don’t think I’ve ever noticed how attractive he is before now. Sure, he’s got a nice body. I’m not blind. But he’s wearing a tight baby-blue button-down that really makes his toffee-brown eyes stand out. His hair isn’t the usual shaggy mess I’ve seen. It’s perfectly styled. It’s obvious he is trying to impress her, but it honestly confuses me.

“I didn’t realize you two knew each other,” I say, motioning between them.

“Yeah, we go way back,” Eli answers, pulling her into his side.

“Hi, Emma. Sorry I didn’t recognize you. You’ve grown up a lot since I last saw you.” Casey gives me a forced smile.

“Yeah, it tends to happen. How the heck have you been?” I ask her.

I’ve only met Casey three or four times, but I knew her better than Manda back in the day. After the accident, Casey went off the map. Sarah wouldn’t speak to her, and Manda was gone. She essentially lost her two best friends that night, and it broke her. I heard she’d moved to Ohio and never looked back. Seeing her with Eli now makes me smile. She deserves a good man, and what I know of Eli says that he more than fits the bill.

“I’m okay. Living in Ohio. I’m just here visiting family and decided to catch up with Eli.” His nostrils flair, but if possible, he pulls her even tighter against his chest.

“Look, I know things have been crazy over the last few years, but Sarah is finally getting help and dealing with her demons. Maybe I can talk to her doctor and see if you could go visit her? She really is getting better, and I bet she would love to see you.”

“I don’t know. I think it might be best if we just leave it as water under the bridge.”

Shit. She must have really done a number on Casey the last time they spoke, because those three were inseparable.

“Okay, but just know she really is a different person these days. She’s come a long way from how she was after the accident. If you change your mind, here’s my number.” I dig through my purse to find her one of my business cards.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll think about it.” She nods, but a small tear threatens to escape her eye.

“She’s not the same, Casey, but she’s still there.”