Stolen Course (Wrecked and Ruined #2)(58)

“I can’t believe Caleb is going to be a dad,” Jesse says, setting down a plate of cookies “When are you due?”

“February first. I’ll be fourteen weeks tomorrow.”

“How is Sarah taking this?” Jesse asks. She’s not nosy like Kara. She’s genuinely concerned. Brett is a really lucky bastard.

“Okay, I guess. She’s not all that happy about me and Caleb. I think it’s still weird for her. In her eyes, Caleb will always be Manda’s fiancé and I’ll always be her baby sister. As soon as we got back, I sat her down with her counselor and explained that this was my life and not hers. She said she understood but her attitude says otherwise. I just ignore it.” I shrug and take a sip from the virgin daiquiri Jesse made me.

It’s girls’ night at Caleb’s house. Brett and Eli came over to help Caleb with some stuff out in his workshop, so Jesse brought Kara and came over to keep me company.

“And how are you and Caleb?” Jesse questions, picking up a cookie.

“Now that is the million-dollar question.” I sigh. “Caleb and I are great. Caleb and the baby are not so great.”

“What do you mean?” Jesse asks, concerned.

They both lean in close, ready for some good gossip.

“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk about the baby at all. When I bring up decorating the room or names or even doctor’s appointments, he basically shuts down.”

“Well, you know guys don’t get all excited about the planning the way women do. It’s probably just such an abstract idea for him at this point. It’s not like you have a big pregnant belly or anything yet.”

“Hey, I’ve got a little bump.” I rub my stomach.

“Oh please. I’ve eaten hamburgers that have made my stomach bigger than that,” Kara says, causing us all to laugh.

“Just give him some time. You watch. He’ll be passing out pink or blue cigars in no time.” Jesse tries to reassure me, but I can’t help that something just seems off.

Suddenly, Kara’s phone rings and she excuses herself outside to talk. I instantly see this as my moment to ask Jesse something that I’ve been dying to know.

“What really happened the night that Sarah broke into your apartment? I mean, I know the gist of it, but I get the feeling from everyone involved that it became some sort huge, life-altering moment in y’all’s lives, including Caleb’s.”

“It really was. It was horrible at the time, but that moment was a lot like the wreck except it changed everyone’s life back to moving in a forward direction. Before that night, the whole group was living at a standstill.”

“What did Brett say to her that night? I mean, he had to have said something because she had been struggling with this for years. And no offense, Jesse. Brett loves you unlike anything I’ve ever seen, but he had this misplaced guilt and responsibility to Sarah. How did he finally just walk away?”

“He finally let her go. He told Sarah that, wherever his wife may be in the heavens, he would always love her, but he accepted that it wasn’t her anymore. He recognized that his wife died right alongside Manda.”

“Oh wow,” I gasp.

“It was the worst night of my life, but we are all better for it—that includes Sarah.”

“Yeah, she definitely is. What about Caleb?”

“You want my personal opinion on what changed for him? Because really that is all I have to offer.”

“Yeah. I’m just curious about his actions that night. Knowing him like I do now, I can’t see him being in the same room with Sarah, much less rushing into a traumatic situation to carry her out. He said he did it for Manda, but the very next day, he went right back to hating her.”

“That was Caleb’s first experience with letting love triumph over hate. You should probably remind him of that sometimes.” She gives me a gentle smile, and I have no idea what her last statement means, but before I can overanalyze it, Kara comes back.

“Well as very entertaining as you boring people are, Devon is coming to pick me up,” she announces.

“Wait, what happened to the bartender?”

“No! Don’t get her started on him!” Jesse yells just as Kara sits down to enlighten me.

“Okay, so we were finally getting down to business when, all of the sudden, his mom called. Okay, fine. Whatever. We’ve all got a mom. However, his mom was pissed, all screaming over the phone. Come to find out—”

“He bought her dinner using his mom’s credit card while cruising around town in her Mustang,” Brett finishes, interrupting her.

“Damn it, Hot Ass! You ruined the best part.”

“Sorry, I have a seven-story limit, and that was number eight.”

“Oh whatever. You suck,” she says, heading to the front door. “Okay, ladies and sexy men, my chariot awaits. See you guys later.” She smiles.

“Night, Kara!” we all yell in unison.

I turn to Caleb, who came in with Brett and parked beside me. “I freaking love her.”

“Why does that not surprise me?” He gently kisses me.

“Okay, gorgeous. We need to get going,” Brett announces, pulling Jesse to her feet.

“Why? It’s still early.” I whine.