Changing Course (Wrecked and Ruined #1)(50)

"You okay with that, baby girl?" I swear as soon as I get Caleb alone, he and I are going to have a serious conversation about boundaries. It sets my blood on fire to hear him call her baby girl. Jess nods with her eyes glued to mine. She's mad and she has every right to be. Time to pull out some charm and see if I can get back in her good graces.




Jesse

"YOU WANT something to drink?" I ask Brett as Caleb collects his coat and shoes preparing to leave.

"No thanks." He flashes me one of his beautiful smiles.

"You hungry? I was just about to make lunch." I try to be polite, but the last thing I want to do right now is eat.

"Don't you dare make him my Panini!" Caleb says as he finishes putting on his shoes.

"For the love of God, get out!" Brett shouts at Caleb.

"Fine, but you owe me, Jess. I was really looking forward to that bacon avocado thingy you mentioned." I giggle because I know he's lying. He almost threw up when I mentioned avocado earlier. Caleb apparently is not a fan of the green super food. He walks over, pulling me in for a quick hug, then kisses me on the forehead. This would have been weird yesterday, but Caleb and I have bonded over the last few hours. Now, it just feels nice. He leans over and whispers, "Remember that you promised to call me if you see Sarah? I mean it. I put my number in your phone. Day or night, you call me if you need anything."

"Thank you," I respond as my heart warms at how gentle and caring he can be. He really is a good guy. I look up to see Brett watching us with an infuriated look on his face. Call me mean, but I decide to give him a little dose of his own medicine. I reach out giving Caleb a tight lingering squeeze of my own. He begins to chuckle, seemingly on to my game.

"I may have underestimated you, little Miss Addison," Caleb says before lowering his voice to a whisper again. "I like it. Give him hell." He releases me turning to face Brett. "Alright I'm out. Brett, I'll expect that beer soon. Be good, ladies and gentlemen," he says, strutting out the door.

"He is such an ass," Brett releases a breath running his hands through his hair.

"Oh yes, Caleb is the jerk. Not the crazy man who just showed up beating down my door, and accusing me of sucking off his best friend." I throw my hand up covering my mouth. I can't believe I just said that. I really have to stop hanging out with these foul mouth guys.

"I've done a crap job of handling things with you recently. Can we just sit down and talk for a minute. I have a lot of explaining to do. Why don't you let me order in some food? I don't want you to have to cook right now."

"I'm not hungry anymore. Just talk."

"I'm sorry about last night. And this morning. And for pounding on your door. And for insinuating you were ’sucking him off.’ I'm appalled with your dirty language, by the way." He tries to tease, and to some degree it works. I can feel the corner of my lip twitch. "Damn, I really do have a lot of apologizing to do," he says, shaking his head. "Where do you want me to start?" He walks over to the couch, sitting down on the edge. He doesn't bother to lean back or get comfortable.

"Where's Sarah now?" My question must surprise him because it takes him a second to answer.

"At her apartment."

"You should go be with her."

"What? Jess, no!" he says, flying back to his feet.

"No, I don't mean it like that. I just mean, she isn't exactly stable. I would hate for you to be over here, and her do something to hurt herself. We can talk on the phone later, or maybe one day next week."

"God, I'm such an *. After everything that's happened, here you are worried about Sarah." He walks over, knocking me off balance and pulling me hard into his chest.

I have no choice, but to let him hold me. It only takes a few seconds for me to melt into him. No matter how much I want to fight it, being in Brett's arms just feels right. He holds me whispering heartfelt apologies into my hair. I'd pull away on pure principle alone, but I can tell by his slight rocking and content breathing, he needs this. It's strictly for him though. I don't love every single second of it. A tear definitely does not slide down my face at how perfect this feels. I absolutely don't send up a prayer for this to never end. That would be stupid after all the crap that we have been through. Yet, I do it all anyway.

"Ask me anything," he says as I reach between us to wipe away my stray tear. "Jess, I don't know what she said to you, but I do know the truth. I'm an open book. Don't let anything fester in that beautiful mind of yours. Please just ask it. No matter how small it is, I want to give you the answer."

"Okay," I say not yet releasing him. I'm needy for this connection too. I've been in an emotional upheaval for days now. I just want someone lean on even if it isn't real. Caleb was great company, but with the exception of the hug when he left, he didn't touch me at all. Besides, there is just something special about the way Brett holds me. It makes me believe he would never let me struggle. It makes me feel safe. Too bad it's a load of crap. He made me feel anything but safe today. He abandoned me...for his mentally injured wife. Great. When I think about it like that, maybe I'm the jerk in this situation.

"Is Sarah alone right now?" I ask.

"No, I hired a nurse to sit with her. I gave her some meds, so she’s most likely still asleep. The sitter has my number. She'll call if she needs anything."