One Step Closer(103)

The managing partner of his firm was not happy about his resignation, but he understood Caleb’s new commitments. Caleb had full AutoCAD software loaded onto his laptop, so he was able to soften the blow by committing to completing all of his current projects; even if it meant doing so from Colorado. He also agreed to take an occasional freelance job as needed. The two things together, meant he could leave as soon as his apartment was sublet. He had the money to buy out his lease, but it went against his convictions to throw thousands of dollars in cash to the wind.

Macy had been relentless in her calls and texts, before Caleb left Denver and once she knew he was in back town and it had gotten ten times worse.

Caleb had listed all of his furniture online and he had already sold his living room set, so the front room of his apartment was empty except for the stack of boxes starting to accumulate along one wall. Most of the boxes were marked for Goodwill or the food pantry.

Caleb grabbed a beer out of the now almost barren refrigerator. He’d been able to run, but no boxing workouts and he didn’t feel like himself. Even though missing a few workouts wouldn’t have an adverse effect on his body, he felt lethargic and he didn’t like it. His stomach grumbled. He didn’t have a lot of food left. He had a takeout menu from Chopstix hanging on his refrigerator by a magnet with an old 49ers schedule printed on it. He grimaced, looking through it. What could he order that wasn’t completely bad for him? He needed protein, but he hated all the gloppy sauce that typically coated Chinese takeout.

He took a long pull on his beer trying to decide, when there was a short knock on his door. Taking his Dos Equis with him, he went to open it and was unprepared for who stood there. Macy stood in front of him dressed in black jeans, a bright orange tank top, and high-heeled sandals.

She came forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, and pressed her lips to his, though he was unresponsive. “I’ve missed you,” she said against his mouth.

Caleb quickly pulled back, and moved away from her a displeased scowl on his handsome face. Macy’s gaze took in Caleb’s faded jeans, and old grey T-shirt with an open light blue plaid button down layered over top of it.

“What are you doing here?” he asked abruptly, continuing to stand in the doorway without asking her in.

“I thought you’d be glad to see me.” Macy walked passed him without waiting for an invitation.

Caleb shook his head at her presumptive behavior. By all means, barge in, he thought. “It’s only been a few days since you left Denver; nothing’s changed since then. As you can see,” he indicated around the apartment. “I’m getting ready to move.”

“Yes.” Macy had been at his apartment a few times and knew her way around. She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, leaving Caleb no choice but to follow her. “Hmmm, nothing in there for me. You’re out of bottled water.”

“Thanks for the live action grocery list.” He didn’t feel like fighting with her, but neither did he stop what he was doing to focus on her. He grabbed one of the empty boxes sitting on the floor and opened the one of the four drawers he needed to empty, hoping his lack of attention would make her leave.

“Look, I was hoping we could make up, and play nice.”

Caleb picked up the tray full of silverware and loaded the whole thing into the bottom of the box, and opened the next drawer. “Why are you here, Macy? I’m leaving. I’ve made it clear this isn’t going any further. I’m not trying to hurt you, or be a dick, but as I said, nothing’s changed,” he said flatly.

“I’m pregnant. That’s what’s changed, *.”

Caleb stood up holding a stack of dishtowels he’d just removed from the open drawer. He dumped them unceremoniously into the box on top of the silverware without caring how they landed. His blue eyes met her brown ones unflinchingly as he straightened. She was tall, but he still towered over her, and his face registered his revulsion. “Bullshit.”

She pulled the used pregnancy test out of her purse and held it out for him. “Really?”

“It won’t work, Macy.” Caleb pulled out the next drawer, barely looking at the object in her hand. He had a brief moment’s dread, but he couldn’t allow her see to it. “You know I’ll insist on a doctor’s appointment, where I’m present, and there is a blood drawn pregnancy test. Now, if it’s positive, which, I don’t think it will be, I will insist on a DNA test as soon as it’s medically possible.”

“It is true, Caleb,” Macy’s tone turned pleading.

“Stop. Why are you doing this? I don’t believe you, but even in the remote chance of it being true, it won’t change a damn thing between us.”

“Your child doesn’t change anything?” she asked incredulously. “Are you crazy?”

Caleb refused to believe this was even a possibility. It would ruin everything he hoped to have with Wren, and he wouldn’t allow that. He leaned up against the counter across the kitchen from her and took another swallow of his beer. His casual and uncaring demeanor was not what she expected and he could see the anger building up and ready to blow inside her.

“You’ll do the right thing by me, Caleb Luxon, or I swear, I’ll—”

He wanted to come off as an uncaring *. If she was bluffing, this was the way to force it from her.