One Step Closer(2)

Was it Marie? He wracked his brain. Maryann? Michelle? He knew it was an “M” name, but not sure exactly what. Fuck!

Movement in his peripheral vision made his eyes return to Dex and Wren. Aside from the girl at his side, everyone else was playing pool on the other half of the big room, except for the one couple dancing. Caleb’s chest was tight as he tried to breathe; it physically f*cking hurt to watch.

Dex was pulling Wren close, pressing her against him and they were swaying softly to the song. Wren seemed to be enjoying herself. Her head was tilted up to look at Dex; she was smiling alluringly. She was so beautiful when she was happy. How could she keep getting more f*cking beautiful every time he saw her?

Wren laid her head on Dex’s shoulder, her hands slipping up around his neck, clearly losing herself. She had just turned eighteen a month earlier, but Caleb was sure she’d had a drink or two; which was enough to make her less inhibited.

Caleb swallowed. He was mesmerized, unable to look away from the two of them. It was nothing short of torture knowing it was impossible for him to touch her the same way Dex was able to. Not only was she the daughter of his father’s second wife, she was younger by close to three years. Sure, he could protect her from that abusive bitch. He could spend time with her. He could even fantasize about her, but that’s where it stopped. Even though Wren had developed a kind of crush on him at first, he’d never considered they could be more. He loved her. He’d always loved her, but he’d always considered her off limits.

He tried to keep making small talk with the girl whose name he couldn’t remember. He nursed what was left of his beer, until he caught sight of Dex’s hand sliding down over Wren’s ass to the hem of her dress and then creep up slightly; underneath.

Caleb's eyes narrowed and adrenaline started to flood his veins abruptly clearing the alcohol haze. Suddenly the music was deafening. The beat was pounding in his head like a hammer; the dim light flickering with the beat. It was getting brighter with each hit of the base drum.

“It looks like Dex likes your little sister.”

Caleb’s nostrils flared, and the skin of his face felt as if it was lit on fire. He ran a quick hand over the scruff on his jaw trying to alleviate it. The girl reached out to touch his muscled bicep.

Caleb clenched his teeth. “Wren isn’t my sister.”

The girl rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Stepsister then. Same diff.”

No. It wasn’t the same thing, not even close. If the “M” girl sensed Caleb’s irritation, she didn’t show it.

His instincts made his muscles coil, and it was all he could do not to fly across the room and pummel his best friend down to the floor. He still fought in the occasional underground fight club, but he was in even better shape now. The boxing club at MIT was official, and kept him lean and honed. He could still beat the shit out of anyone who challenged him. He could probably do it even easier than before, and right now; he wanted to pound Dex into the f*cking ground.

Didn’t he know how Caleb felt about Wren?

When Dex’s hand rose higher under Wren’s dress, his intent to grab her ass full on, Caleb couldn’t stand still any longer. He dropped his beer and the glass bottle broke with a loud crash on the hardwood floor; making the girl beside him jump.

“Party’s over,” Caleb growled deeply.

The girl looked dumbstruck as Caleb left her standing there and moved quickly across the room to shut down the music.

“Party’s over!” he said, louder this time; shouting so he would be heard over the music.

Dex and Wren split apart when the music stopped abruptly and everyone in the room was staring in Caleb’s direction with blank looks on their faces. However, they sat down their drinks, and began putting on their coats.

Dex’s hand slid down Wren’s arm and his fingers closed around her hand, as he took a couple of steps toward his friend. “What’s up, man? Why? The house is empty.”

Caleb met his eyes unflinchingly. “I’m tired. Everyone out.” Caleb’s tone was low but the only sound in the silent room. “Now.”

Dex looked incredulous, and shook his head. “Why Caleb?”

Caleb continued to stare him down, his eyes menacing. “I said; I’m tired.” He was livid and he didn’t even understand why he was so f*cking pissed off. Shit, if he’d been dancing with a beautiful girl he was into, he’d probably have copped a feel too.

Wren pulled her hand from Dex’s grip and walked to Caleb, looking up into his face. She looked so damn innocent, her brilliant blue eyes wide. “Cale, what’s going on? We were only dancing.”

Caleb looked down into her face, his eyes softening at the confused look in her blue eyes, and his thumb lifting her chin briefly. “Stay here.”

The others, sensing the palpable tension between Dex and Caleb had already started to file up the stairs to the outside door. Caleb nodded in the direction of Bret, who was waiting for the two girls to precede him up the stairs, then followed.

“I don’t get it, Caleb. I mean, what the hell?” He took two steps in Wren’s direction.

“You don’t have to get it,” Caleb commanded, nodding at the stairwell. “You just have to get the f*ck out of here.”

Dex looked pissed, then glanced down at Wren. “You wanna come with?” he asked Wren.