One Step Closer(56)

“I said, no, Wren.” He turned and started walking away again. When she didn’t follow, he stopped and turned back. Coming closer and taking her cold hand in his and starting to pull her along with him down the sidewalk.

Wren yanked her hand free of his abruptly, and stopped, causing Caleb to turn to her again. She held out her wrist, pulling up the sleeve of her coat to expose her tattoo. “Remember this? Remember when you took me to get it? You wanted to know why I wanted it.” She was crying full out now, her voice breaking. “I can’t believe you didn’t know. A white f*cking horse?” A bitter laugh burst from her as she stood shaking in front of him. “It’s you, Caleb. YOU. You are the white horse, the savior, the knight in shining armor of my life!”

Caleb’s head dropped and his shoulders slumped as she railed at him. He couldn’t meet her eyes. “I know that.” It was a simple statement that held the weight of Thor’s hammer.

Tears poured from her eyes and sobs broke from her chest. She wished she could fall to her knees into a broken mess on the wet pavement, the rain falling around her. Her heart was breaking, as much as the morning after their night together, when she gave herself so fully to him. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted her Caleb to save her once again; to save her from the misery of not being everything to him. “Then live up to it, like you always have. I need you in my life, Cale.” Her voice was so soft he barely heard her words. “Please.”

Wren waited for him to speak for what seemed like forever. She used her cold fingers to push the wet hair out of her eyes and blinked; unsure if the drops on her eyelashes were tears or raindrops.

When Caleb finally lifted his head, the expression on his face and the tone in his voice said it all. He was hurting as much as she was. “But you’re asking me for something, I can’t do. I don’t know him. I can’t give my blessing to someone I’m not absolutely certain can take care of you.”

“That’s not it, Caleb. Just… tell me the truth!” She felt like she was begging for her very last breath.

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll take you back to your hotel. Sam’s waiting.”

Pain exploded inside Wren. Every cell in her body protested and felt like it would implode and she gasped for breath. “He’s a great guy if you’d give him a chance. You two are a lot a like.”

“He’s nothing like me,” he railed. “How can he take care of you? He’s a * who prances around in tights; my wrists are bigger than his biceps! He can’t protect you!”

“Caleb, I’ve been protecting myself just fine! I’ve been in New York for more than two years without you. I’m okay.” She pulled her hand from his and put her palms out at her side. “See?”

He shook his head as he lifted his hand and quickly wiped at one eye with his thumb, starting to walk away from her toward the curb. “The hell you are.”

Traffic was moderate, a mixture of cars, SUVs and cabs. Caleb whistled and held up his hand, hailing one of them.

“Who else do I have to walk me down the aisle?” She took a step closer to him, reaching out her hand.

“My dad.” His answer was harsh and abrupt.

A cry broke from her chest. Edison had become dear to her, but no one meant more than Caleb. She’d hoped her getting married would have taken the pressure of the sexual tension that always existed between them away and they could be close again. Caleb opened the door of the yellow cab and waited for Wren to get in. She stopped in front of him. “I miss you, Cale. Please do this for me. I want you back in my life.”

He ushered her inside and she fully expected him to follow her but he only leaned in and gave the name of her hotel to the driver. “Then, don’t get married.”

He shut the door, hammered on the roof of the car, and then turned away as the sky opened up and rain started pouring down. She was sobbing in the backseat of the cab, and once again, Caleb was walking away from her.

When she got back to the hotel it was easy for Sam to see how upset she was, despite her attempt to convince him she looked so ruined due to the rain pouring down outside. She was in so much pain she finally broke down and told him everything. She couldn’t help it, and it was the honest thing to do.

“You’re in love with your brother, Wren? That’s so f*cking sick!”

Sam stormed around her hotel room gathering his things and throwing it all in his suitcase in angry outburst. He was hurt and Wren couldn’t blame him, but there was nothing she could do or say to change reality. She did love Caleb. She’d always love Caleb and she had to face it. She wasn’t strong enough to pretend that she didn’t or that she was okay.

She’d sat on the edge of the bed, still crying softly. “Cale isn’t my brother.”

“Whatever,” he huffed, tears in his eyes. “Do me a favor; don’t f*ck some other poor schmuck over and make him think you want a relationship.”

“Sam! I didn’t know that I felt this way. I thought I was over it.”

“Save it, Wren. I’m not a fool.” With that, he left her in the hotel room and she never saw him again.

The next day she took a cab to the airport alone, but the empty seat next to hers on the return flight was a blatant reminder of how alone in the world she really was.

She’d tried to build a life with Sam to get over Caleb, but he still haunted her life and owned her heart. She was wrong to think she’d see him, introduce he and Sam, and everyone would live happily ever after.