One Step Closer(57)

After that, she’d cried for weeks. She felt bad about hurting Sam, and sad because the ache she felt inside didn’t subside. She had no hope that she and Caleb would ever reconcile. She’d get over Sam… she’d never get over Caleb.

“Is there anyone else?” The deep tenor of Caleb’s voice brought her out of her thoughts and back to the present.

“What?” She looked up into his eyes, doing her best to hide how the memory affected her. “Um, nothing serious, no.”

She didn’t need to ask about his relationship with Macy or their future plans because Macy had made it clear the night before.

“Why not?”

Caleb took a deep breath, just as Suzy appeared with their breakfast. She set the plates down and asked, “Is there anything else you need?”

“We’re all good. Thank you.”

The waitress flounced off and looked over her shoulder at Caleb. He smiled, despite himself.

“Will Macy be angry that we left without her?” Wren wasn’t sure why she was annoyed he’d flirt with the silly waitress, considering the woman waiting for him back at the house.

Caleb shrugged and began to put blackberry jam on one of the pancakes, then proceeded to lift them up one by one to coat them all. He took the syrup and drizzled it over the whole mess. “Nah. We’ll see her later.”

“Caleb, I can understand if you’re upset with me.” Caleb looked up from his plate, his brow creasing.

“For what?”

“Well, because your dad was good to me.” Wren had a certain amount of guilt because of it. “After you left for MIT he was so much better to me than he had been to you. I feel so badly about it, and I’m sorry. I’d understand if you resent me for it.”

Caleb set his fork down and met her eyes without wavering. “I don’t! I don’t, Wren. I’m thankful that someone stepped in to keep that bitch Veronica from hurting you. I’m sure if he hadn’t taken care of you, I’d probably have killed them both.”

“Caleb, no. Don’t say that.”

He shook his head. “I would have.” Caleb wondered if she knew why he went to MIT instead of CSOM. “You know I hated leaving you unprotected. At least he held up that end of the bargain.” Caleb stopped before going any further, pissed at his slip.

“Bargain?”

“Nevermind. It all worked out.”

Wren frowned and shook her head slightly. She wanted to know. “Tell me what you mean,” she demanded.

“I will.” Caleb wanted to wait to spill the beans about Edison using Wren as leverage to manipulate him to leaving Denver for college. She obviously cared for and respected his dad and the occasion of his death wasn’t the time to disillusion her. “But, now isn’t the time. Trust me.”

Wren paused to consider for a moment. Things had happened to cause distance between the two of them, but the years of Caleb being the one person she could trust were deeply seated. It would take more than the denial of lovemaking or his refusal to give her away at her wedding to break that bond. Those things had hurt; devastatingly so, but Wren could be honest with herself: she still trusted him more than anyone else, and despite the pain he caused, she wanted him to be part of her life. In whatever way was possible.

“Edison was wrong to withhold love from you, Cale. You deserve love more than anyone I know.”

Caleb’s heart stopped dead. He had already forgotten about eating, but this gave him hope. Maybe she wouldn’t resent him if he gave her half of the estate. That’s what his heart and gut wanted to do. It was the only way he could ensure she’d be taken care of, and the only way he’d know she was okay. And if he were honest; the only way it would guarantee he’d see her. For the next five years at least, until the option to sell became available. It would at least buy him some time to put their relationship back together.

In that moment, his decision was made. He didn’t need to tell her there were two wills and he decided then and there to call Jonathan and let him know when they returned to the house to pick up Macy.

“We both had shitty lives for a while. Just the way it was,” Caleb tried to sound casual. “Wren, are you going to eat?” he questioned.

“Oh.” She picked up a knife and started to butter half of her English muffin. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Huh?” He picked up his fork and resumed eating.

“You said you wanted to talk. That’s why we came here, right?”

“I just,” Caleb began, “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. We haven’t talked much. I came to see you for your birthday, though.”

Wren’s eyes snapped up and she halted her task. “Wait. What?”

“Keep eating, Bird.” Caleb picked up one of the sticky buns and took an oversized bite, hoping to lighten the mood. “Wow, these are good.” He shoved the plate containing the second one toward her. “This one is yours. Eat up! They’re awesome.”

“Cale, really?” She couldn’t believe her ears. The night of her birthday he’d waited so late to call, and she’d been upset all day, waiting. “You came to New York?”

He sighed at the hurt look on her beautiful face. He still didn’t know if he should tell her the whole truth, but if he wanted to rebuild things with her, he had to be honest. “Yeah.”