One Step Closer(104)

“You’ll what? You can’t blackmail me by holding my integrity against me. I have plans for my life, and if this turns out to be true I’ll deal with it, but you and I are still done. Either way, we will not have a relationship, Macy.” He shrugged and lifted the beer to his lips. He kept his eyes trained on her as he drank. He could almost see her squirm, her mind searching to find the right thing to say to convince him, which gave away her lie. Her mouth pursed and her eyes narrowed. Her rage was almost palpable. “What, no crying act?”

His words and how he was acting went completely against who he was, but he had years of watching a vindictive, manipulative woman in action, and his skill was honed to the point of artistry. When he compared and contrasted Macy and Wren, the truth was crystal clear.

“When did you turn into such a prick, Caleb?” she spat.

“When you tried to f*ck with my life, I guess,” he said flatly, completely devoid of emotion. “My future is with Wren.”

“Don’t be too sure of that!”

Caleb was about to open a third drawer when he stopped and turned back to her. She was still seething, but her chin rose and jutted out.

“What did you do?”

Macy laughed bitterly, the sound filling the small space. Maybe it was because Caleb’s own temper flared that made it seem so obnoxious.

“I said, what. Did. You. Do?” he yelled again, even more loudly. Macy didn’t expect it from him and she physically jumped. “Tell me!” he railed, getting in her face as she cowered in front of him.

“I showed her the test and she believes me, even if you don’t! I wish you could have seen her fall apart,” she touted, smugly regaining some of her superiority.

“You are one ruthless bitch!” Caleb was beside himself. He felt that if he didn’t punch something, his whole body would literally blow apart. He lunged toward Macy, but then turned away abruptly, fisting both of his hands in his hair. “Goddamn you!”

When he turned back to her fifteen seconds later, he was in control, but his mind was racing to figure a way out of the situation.

No wonder Wren had fled Colorado without talking to him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what happened; Veronica set up a meeting with Wren, then Macy ambushed her with a fake pregnancy test. He hoped it was fake or his whole world was about to come crashing down. His heart ached for Wren thinking how she must have felt when Macy launched on her. Especially, after the night they’d just spent together.

Caleb took a deep breath and smoothed back his hair with both hands. “Let’s go.” He motioned toward the door. His keys and wallet were resting on the counter and he went in to retrieve them before heading toward the door of the apartment. He opened it and waited for Macy to precede him through the doorway. “Come on!” he blasted, when she didn’t move.

Macy hesitantly walked through the doorway, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Where are we going?”

“Pacific Med ER. If you’re telling the truth, you have nothing to lose.”

The door closed behind him and Caleb pressed the button for the elevator that would take them to the underground parking garage and his Infiniti QX30.

Macy reluctantly followed. “Caleb…” she began.

He shook his head and hatred overtook him as he looked at her. He would not let her ruin his life and hurt Wren unspeakably with a lie. “Uh uh. I want to know, so whether you’re pregnant or not, we’re going to get a real test.”

“I’ll schedule an appointment with my OBGYN next week.”

“No. We’re doing this, right now.”

“You can’t force me to take a test, Caleb, and it won’t prove paternity.”

The elevator opened and they walked the twenty-five steps to where the dark silver car was waiting.

“You’re right, but if you aren’t pregnant, you won’t be able to put me, or Wren, through months of agony.

“I won’t take a test.”

“Get in the goddamn car, Macy,” Caleb commanded, pushing the button on his fob that unlocked the doors. “Now.”

They locked eyes over the roof of the car but she made no move to open the passenger door and get in. Caleb’s door was open and waiting.

“Why don’t you believe me? We had sex, and we didn’t use condoms the last few times.”

“Yeah, because you said you were on the pill! I trusted you and you’re f*cking me over, so guess what? Now I don’t trust you! Get in the f*cking car!”

Slowly, she opened her door and slid inside. Caleb had the car started and in reverse before her door even clicked closed. “The truth is, I know in my gut there is no baby, Macy. You’re far too narcissistic to be saddled with a kid. This is just a ploy to manipulate me, after I ended things.”

Macy’s stoic silence as she sat in the passenger seat was telling.

He pulled the car smoothly out of the garage and the apartment complex to merge onto Highway 101. “The worst part is that Wren is innocent. Nothing is her fault; she has done nothing to deserve this kind of vindictive bullshit game you’re playing. I’ll never forgive you for putting her through this.”

“It’s not what you think, Caleb. Just listen.” Macy pleaded, turning toward him in her seat.

“Nothing you can say will change how I feel. I love Wren.” Caleb glanced at Macy as he drove, and she was turned away to look out the window. He was angry enough to hope the words sliced her to the bone. “Do you get that? I love Wren. Right or wrong, kid or no kid; after this, I’m done with you, and you will stay. The f*ck away from her.”