CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Someone giggles from far away. Everything is foggy and dark. I can’t see who it is or why they’re laughing. For some reason, I feel warm and safe, though. That never happens in my dreams. Wait? Is this a dream? The giggling sounds too real, and it’s getting closer to me.
Suddenly, something around my waist tightens.
I startle awake and blink to clear the sleep from my vision. It takes me a second to remember I’m snuggled up to an incredibly bare chest… Caleb’s incredibly bare chest. The tightening around my waist was his arm.
Giggling echoes through the room, again, and I try to search for the source.
As I wiggle to sit up, Caleb’s arm pulls me closer to him. I peek up to find his eyes closed and his breathing even. He must not realize what he’s doing. Should I wake him?
Before I figure out a game plan, movement at the foot of the bed draws my attention. The thought of someone being in the room without knowing who it is, has me letting out a loud squeak as I jerk away from Caleb, scramble to sit up, and press my back against the headboard.
It only takes a second for four things to happen at once. First, Caleb jumps from the bed like it’s on fire. Second, Jaxon puts Cassie behind him in a protective gesture as they both take a few surprised steps backward. Third, I let out the breath I sucked in when I realize who’s in the room. Finally, Leanne sprints into the room with a rolling pin in her hand and flour all over her clothing and face.
Absolute silence for about ten seconds stretches through the room while everyone works out what happened. When our minds catch up, four worried sets of eyes train on me. The only thing I can manage is to cackle like a crazy person. Soon, Cassie and Leanne join me, followed by Jaxon and Caleb.
“You…should…have…seen…your…face!” Jaxon snorts while pointing at Caleb. “I was ready to grab Cassie and bolt!”
This sets us all off again and it takes a good five minutes for any of us to be able to breathe through the laughter.
As we all calm down a bit, the night before catches up to me. Leanne gives Caleb and me a curious stare. Without thinking, I blurt out the first thing that pops into my head. “Nothing happened!”
My outburst makes everyone stop and stare at me.
“Erm… I mean between Caleb and me. We went to sleep,” I finish with a whisper and gaze down at my hands. I broke a rule by staying with Caleb last night, and I’m sure there will be some sort of punishment for it. It’s the first rule I’ve broken in this house.
“Uh, oh,” Jaxon and Cassie murmur at the same time. I assume it’s because I admitted to sleeping in here, but then Leanne lets out a big sigh and surprises me with her words. “Riley, you aren’t in trouble. We have a few more things to talk about today. I assume something happened last night that had you ending up in here. Let’s go get some lunch started, and we’ll chat while we eat.”
“Lunch?” I ask, a little confused. Shouldn’t we eat breakfast first?
“Yeah, you two slept in.” Cassie smirks at us. “It’s 11:30 already.”
I gape at Caleb in shock. I don’t think I’ve ever slept so late in my life. Around nine hours with no nightmares! A first for me, but now that I think about it, my body feels refreshed and well rested. Leanne, Cassie, and Jaxon head down to the kitchen to start on chicken Caesar salad. I focus on Caleb, who comes back to sit by me on his bed.
“You all right, baby?” he asks softly while tucking my hair behind my ear. “You scared the hell outta me when you yelled like that. I almost set Jaxon on fire.”
He looks down at me with humor shining in his eyes.
“Maybe Cassie would have been able to put the fire out?” I try to joke back. It must work because his eyes light up, and he chuckles.
“Let’s get dressed, baby girl.” He pats my thigh before standing. “We have a lot of crap to talk about today.”
I groan as I pull myself out of the bed. “I’m really not sure my poor mind can handle more information, but I’ll do my best,” I grumble as I head for the door to get changed.
“Riley?” Caleb calls, making me turn back to him.
I’m a bit taken aback by his use of my real name. He almost never uses my name anymore. He always calls me baby or baby girl. I never really thought twice about it, though, since that first day he started using nicknames. He makes it seem perfectly natural. I raise my eyebrows and wait for him to continue.
“I really am sorry about how I acted last night.” He speaks so softly, I barely hear him. “I was an ass, but I was just really shocked at your reaction to my family’s money situation. I’ve always been chased for my money, and I didn’t want you to be that way. It’s stupid to think that because I know you, and you aren’t like other girls, but I guess it was just a knee-jerk reaction to be on guard like that.”
“I…don’t understand.” I stare at him, genuinely confused. “Why would it matter to me what your father does and what he makes?”
“I… Because… I mean… Shit,” he stutters and rubs the back of his neck while trying to collect his thoughts. “Because Jaxon and I will be taking over when our dads retire.”
Part of me wants to be upset he would think I’d try to go after him for his money. But a bigger part of me knows why he would be concerned. He’s cautious about it. It’s only normal for someone in his situation to worry about being used.
Caleb must take my silence as confusion because he lets out a frustrated huff and plops down. “Baby, that means I inherit a lot of money along with a huge, worldwide company. Most people, most girls, are attracted to that kind of thing.”
“Caleb, that kind of thing has never and will never mean anything to me. I grew up with nothing, I’m used to it. I can live on top ramen and second-hand clothing. What I don’t think I could ever go back to is feeling unwanted and unloved. You all give me that. Now that I have a taste of what it feels like, I’m not sure how I would ever be able to go back to the way I grew up. But money… It means nothing to me. Sure, it would buy a fancy house and nice things, but it can’t make you feel safe and protected by the people you live with, and it can’t make people love and care about you. I don’t need it.”
He gawks at me, completely stunned.
Before I process what’s happening, he’s up and pulling me into his arms. I tense for a second, wondering what his intentions are. When I realize he’s only giving me a hug, I melt into his arms and sigh with contentment.
“You really are perfect, baby.” He kisses the top of my head.
Before I protest his praise, he shoos me out of his room, giving me no other choice but to go find clothes.
“We have a lot of talking to do over lunch, baby. Go get dressed, I’ll see you downstairs.”
Heading to my room, I wonder what more there could be to tell me.