“Oh hey, there you are,” Caleb says when he exits the building. “You okay?”
I glance over at him. “They’re all talking about us.”
He frowns. “You think so?”
I nod. “Definitely. And now they all hate me even more than they did when they didn’t think I was your girlfriend.”
“They don’t hate you.”
“They’re not very friendly, Caleb. They feel like I stole the dock girl job from them,” I say.
“They couldn’t all be dock girls,” he points out, which is true but still.
I roll my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
We head down the steps at the same time, in sync as we turn toward the back of the building where Caleb parked this morning. I sort of hate how in sync we are. Again, it’s as if we really are a couple. Is this some sort of sign that we should give it a try?
Ugh, no. I can’t give us a try. He’ll fuck with my heart, I know it. This is a guy who views life as one big joke. And getting with girls is an endless party. He will use me—and use me well, I’m sure of it—I’ll fall for him and then he’ll leave me behind. It’ll hurt more with Caleb because I’ll still have to see him. Deal with him. Work with him.
Live with him.
I should’ve never listened to Eli. His idea was so stupid. Move in with us, he said. You’ll save rent and feel safe living with two guys, he said.
Living with Caleb doesn’t make me feel safe at all. He makes me feel unsure and nervous. He makes me want something I shouldn’t. He makes me feel a lot of emotions I don’t understand, and can’t explain.
Men in general are users. This is why I became one myself, I think. Beat them at their own game, so to speak. Watching my mother suffer through my father’s antics over the years—lying and cheating, just to name a few—made me realize I don’t want that kind of life. It’s better to keep them at an arm’s length than let them get too close. I can flirt and fall for them just like anyone else, but that’s it. That’s as far as I’ll let it go.
Caleb pulls his keys out of his pocket and hits the unlock button. I climb into the car, wincing at the stifling heat, pressing my body against the passenger door once I’ve closed it, hoping for distance from him.
But it’s impossible. He climbs into the car and eats up all the space. He’s big and broad and difficult to ignore, especially in the close confines of his vehicle. He should be driving a truck. Or a SUV. Something big with plenty of space so my arm doesn’t brush against his every time I move.
“Why are you looking like you’re going to hop out of the car at any moment?” he asks me once he’s pulled out of the parking lot and we’re on the road headed home.
“What do you mean?” I try to ignore the slight pain I’m currently experiencing with my shoulder slammed against the door.
“Afraid I’m going to touch you?” He reaches toward me, wagging his fingers in my direction. I recoil from them and his hand immediately returns to the steering wheel. “Get over it, G. No one’s around to see us.”
I push away from the door and slump in my seat, crossing my arms and huffing out a breath. Acting like a baby, which kind of sucks, but I can’t help it. What is it about this guy that makes me behave so…ridiculously? “Why did you have to tell Noelle we were together?”
“Is it really that big of a deal?” He grips the steering wheel tight. “That chick is persistent. I couldn’t shake her. I haven’t been able to shake her for like a week, and I was desperate. I saw you watching us like you thought what she was doing to me was funny, and I decided to draw you into it.”
“So you did it on purpose.”
“Only to save my ass.”
“Right, but now, I’m tortured too! That’s kind of messed up, Caleb. You don’t think about what you do and how it affects other people. You just—do things, and it doesn’t matter if it hurts them or not. Now I’m left dealing with a bunch of girls who don’t like me because I’m supposedly dating their dream man,” I say, my voice rising.
“I’m really their dream man?” The fucker actually has the nerve to sound pleased by this revelation.
I glare at him. Is he really that oblivious? I don’t think so. He just wants the accolades. “That’s not the point I’m trying to make. And of course, you’re their dream man. You know this.”
“No, I didn’t know this. Actually, I don’t believe it,” he says, his lips curled upward. Oh, he looks so pleased.
I kind of want to sock him in his pretty, stupid face.
“We’re not having this conversation. I’m not going to tell you how great they think you are just to stroke your ego,” I practically spit at him.
“Huh. I can think of a few things you could stroke,” he says, his tone vaguely suggestive.
That’s it. This time, I do hit him, slugging him in the arm, which is totally ineffective and I end up hurting myself because damn, his biceps are solid as a rock and now my knuckles are smarting.
“Ow, what was that for?” He rubs at his arm, sending me a wounded look, and maybe I did actually hurt him. Huh. I’m stronger than I thought.
“I knew the real Caleb was hiding in there somewhere,” I say, discreetly massaging my sore knuckles. “I can’t believe it took almost a month for you to reveal yourself. Talk about restraint.”
“You’re lucky I’ve been holding back. You’ve given me way too many opportunities to say something inappropriate. I just bit my damn tongue every time you did,” he says, sounding irritated.
“You’re gross,” I toss at him.
“And you’re a prude,” he throws back, though he has to know this isn’t true.
Judgey asshole.
We sit in angry silence for a solid ten minutes. Me scrolling through my phone, even though reception is for shit through this part of the drive and the only thing that will load are text messages. Not like I have many.
Caleb remains focused on the road, his jaw clenched, his mouth formed into a deep frown. He’s mad. Which is fine because guess what?
So am I.
“I didn’t mean to pull you into my drama,” he finally says to me, his gaze still on the road, his voice tight, edged with irritation. “I saw you watching us, and it seemed like the logical thing to tell her. That you’re my girlfriend. I wanted her off my back.”
A sigh escapes me. This is probably as close to an apology as I’m going to get. “Well, it worked. She left you alone.”
He sends me a quick glance. “They’ll talk about us for a few days, but then some new drama will happen and they’ll forget all about it, G. I promise.”
I see the sincerity in his blue eyes, accompanied by a hint of remorse. He feels bad for telling Noelle I’m his girlfriend? Good. He should. “You owe me.”
Caleb raises his brows. “What do I owe you?”
“Dinner,” I say without hesitation, my stomach growling.
“You should’ve grabbed something before we left,” he says.
Gross. I’m over the food at Mitchell’s already. That’s the last thing I want. “I want Mexican food.”