“I’m going to call my parents and Mallory while I’m making us something to eat.” I focus on drying my hair with my towel. The steam is billowing out of the bathroom behind us after I take a few steps into his bedroom.
“You do that. I’m going to check in with the guys and see if we can get a plan started. I want this over with. I can’t live my damn life outside of here, not knowing what his next move is going to be. We need to find him and strike first. This time, he’s not escaping.” With all the numerous emotions scouring through the both of us right now, I’m glad he’s going to check in with the guys. They need to know he’s doing alright. They’ve driven down this road of mass destruction right along with both of us, their anger and fear bleeding as much as ours.
“I love you,” I say tenderly, the words sweetly escaping like I want them to. Even though he’s not going to be that far away from me and we’re all safe here, I still hate the fact I can’t watch over him and be there to help him if he loses his shit again. I’m not an idiot. I know damn well he’s going to study that tape and repeat every line and angle of it over and over until he’s satisfied he hasn’t missed a thing. If he needs this, I’ll give it to him, but I’ll be right here if he needs me.
“Love you too, babe. And Jade,” he says with adoration, “you’re incredible, and I’m so fucking lucky to have you.” I stand there with my towel wrapped around me, my hands going to my throat, to the same spot his hand was encircling not even a half hour ago.
“So am I, Kaleb,” I whisper to the closed door.
I make my way to the kitchen to find something for dinner and make a phone call I won’t miss making again.
“Hey, mom.” I can’t help but flash a smile into the airy kitchen when she hollers through the phone for my dad to pick up the other line without even acknowledging me.
“Jade, honey,” she finally says. “Well, hello there, baby girl.” My dad bellows out, and I sit my cell on the long island countertop in Kaleb’s kitchen. I start filtering through the fridge for something quick and easy to make while I listen to my parents go back and forth a few more times about if they can hear each other.
It amazes me that this damn place is stocked with fresh fruit and vegetables. Hell, there’s even juice, milk, a variety of meats, and beer. Of course, there would be beer. God knows a man like Kaleb would have it nearby.
“What have you two been up to?” My dad laughs loudly, and I almost drop the tomato and head of lettuce on the floor. I’ve decided on BLTs. “What’s so funny?” I ask. I sit the items on the counter, then reach in and grab the bacon. I kick the door shut with my foot and place the bacon alongside the other items before I set out in search of a skillet.
“Our lives are boring. We’ve been doing the same routine for years, baby girl. Now, tell me what you can. Are you doing okay?” Ha. I wish I could tell them the truth, that I’ve been suffering like I never imagined possible. That the man I love has been all but dying a slow death inside, because he can’t wrap his head around his own brother beating him half to death before leaving him to hang for the wild animals to feed off of. Instead, I go with my heart.
“I’m in love,” I say tentatively, starting up the gas stove as I go to warm the skillet.
“Come again?” My dad seems to be doing all the talking, while my mother’s heavy breathing and gasping ‘oh my god’s’ swelter through the phone.
“His name is Kaleb. He’s retired from the Army. Owns his own private security firm.” That’s all the information I’m going to give them for now. They don’t need to know how we met. To be honest, I have no clue if I can tell them or not. My mind is beyond foggy to remember a damn thing right now.
“Well, shit. I’m dying to meet him. I’ll need to see with my own eyes if he’s good enough for my daughter.” I laugh at my dad’s joke. He’s the basic nobody's-ever-going-to-be-good-enough-for-my-daughter kind of dad.
“This makes my heart swell, sweetheart. I can’t wait to meet him. And don’t pay your dad any attention. It won’t matter if you marry the man and have a handful of babies. No one will ever be good enough for you in his eyes.” Oh, good god. Marriage and babies. “Shit. Mom. Marriage isn’t even in the picture.”
This joking banter between the three of us is exactly what I need. I’m laughing and carrying on with my parents for the longest time, and it feels as if no time has passed by us at all. I’m more comfortable than when I showed up unannounced at their house several weeks ago.
We say our goodbyes, then I try a few times to get a hold of Mallory, but it goes to voicemail every damn time. I leave one last message for her to call me back while my mind wonders where the heck she is. She knows I had to take off, but we both talked about getting together once I returned. It’s not like her to ignore my calls.
“Where are you, Mallory?” I ask out loud like she can hear me.
CHAPTER TWELVE
KALEB