CHAPTER THIRTEEN - CALEB

Tara left in a hurry the next morning, but I didn’t mind. We had a therapy session scheduled for later that day, so I knew I would see her again soon. I was still flying from our night together, the memory of her begging me to fuck her still fresh in my mind. It felt incredible to be inside her again, but even more incredible to spend the entire night by her side. I never wanted to let her go, and when she left that morning, I had to fight the urge to go with her.

Instead, I spent the morning thinking about her and watching movies. My leg was starting to feel like normal again, but I knew I shouldn’t push myself too hard. I used my crutches to get around the apartment, wanting to rest my leg for PT. Tara took a lot out of me the night before. Our sex was strenuous in the best way. I wouldn’t have changed a single thing, but it did leave my leg sore.

When it was finally time for my therapy session, my mom arrived at my door to drive me. I was going crazy not being able to drive myself, but I knew it was only a matter of time. My leg would be healed soon, and then my life would get back to normal. Only now Tara would be a part of it. That thought kept a smile on my face the entire way to the hospital.

“What’s got you so happy?” my mom asked, glancing at me with a frown.

“Nothing,” I said, shrugging. “Just in a good mood.”

“Uh huh.” She didn’t believe me, but she didn’t push it. My mother wasn’t stupid. She knew how strong the connection between Tara and me was. She saw it firsthand all those years ago, and unlike Darren, she didn’t try to fight against it.

We got closer to the hospital, and my mood stayed high. After last night, I didn’t think anything could bring me down.

“I know this isn’t any of my business,” my mom said suddenly. We were pulling into the PT building parking lot. She glanced over at me with a furrowed brow. “But are things between you and Tara? I mean, is something happening between you two again?”

“Mom,” I said. “Do you really want to talk about this?”

“I guess not,” she said with a sigh. “But I’m worried about you. And her. Things didn’t end well last time.”

“And whose fault was that?” I asked sharply.

“Darren was just doing what he thought was best,” Mom said defensively.

“It wasn’t his place then, and it isn’t your place now,” I said firmly. “Whatever is or isn’t happening between us, it doesn’t concern you, okay? Please, leave us be.”

Mom nodded but still looked worried. I leaned over to kiss her cheek before I climbed out of the car.

“Just be careful, okay?” she called out. “That’s all I’m asking.”

I nodded and hurried inside the building, eager to see Tara’s face. We’d been together just hours before, and already I missed her. I missed her pale blue eyes and her adorable button nose. I missed the way her cheeks flushed when I kissed her lips. I missed the sight of her hips swaying seductively as she walked toward me. I could already feel my desire growing as I walked over to her desk.

Tara was leaning down, scribbling furiously on a chart in front of her. She didn’t see me walk up, but there was no one around, so I slid my hands over her shoulders and leaned down.

She jumped and spun around. I kissed her cheek and moved over to her earlobe.

“Hey sexy,” I whispered.

“Hi,” she said, laughing nervously and pulled away from me.

I adjusted my crutches and moved back to let her stand up. When she did, her eyes darted around as if she were worried we would be seen. No one was in the room, though, so I leaned forward to kiss her. She let me but pulled away quickly.

“That’s all I get?” I asked. “Come on, after last night I think I deserve a little more.”

“What?” she asked, her eyes dazed. “Oh. Um, I’m sorry.”

She kissed me again, but I barely felt it. Her mind was somewhere else. She was distant again, but this time, it felt different. She wasn’t just pulling away from me. It was like she was pulling away from everything. Her eyes were glazed over, and when I asked her what was wrong, it took three times before she even heard me.

“What?” she asked.

“I said, what’s wrong?” I said again, louder this time.

“Oh.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m just distracted today.”

“I can tell,” I said with a laugh. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head again. “Just a little foggy today. My last few patients were pretty wearing.”

“Do you want to skip my session?” I asked. “We can always reschedule for tomorrow and go grab some food instead.”

“Nice try,” she said, smiling and leading me toward the bars.

I rested my crutches against the wall like last time and walked over to the bars. This time, Tara let me walk myself. She didn’t offer her hand as I stumbled my way between the bars. I was surprised, but when I looked at her face, I saw that she was barely paying attention to me. Her mind was a million miles away.

My session progressed normally. I walked across the bars a few times while Tara mumbled words of encouragement. She wasn’t into it, though, and I could tell. Her entire body was tense, and she kept glancing at the clock, just waiting for my session to end. I tried not to be offended, but I was getting tired of her pulling away from me.

We had sex again, and already, she was distancing herself. It pissed me off.

“Look,” I said when the session ended. “If you regret last night, just tell me.”

“What?” She blinked. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about? I don’t regret anything about last night.”

“Then, what’s going on with you?” I demanded. “You’ve been somewhere else. It’s like you’re not even here.”

Tara sighed and closed her eyes. She rubbed her forehead, and when her eyes opened again, they were swimming with emotion. She opened her mouth to speak but never got a chance to explain. The door to the PT building swung open with a bang. I jumped and spun around to see Darren walking toward us.

The same suspicious expression was on his face. I’d grown to know it well, and after everything that happened with Tara that day, I didn’t have time for it.

“Can you give us a second?” I asked. “Tara and I were just in the middle of something.”

“No,” Darren said flatly. “Your mother got pulled in with a patient, so I need to take you home. I don’t have all night, so let’s go.”

“Okay, in a minute,” I said, turning back to Tara.

“Unless you want to walk, let’s go.”

I was livid as Tara handed me my crutches and Darren led the way toward the parking lot. He climbed behind the wheel while I struggled to put my crutches in the backseat, then fell into the passenger seat with a sharp pain in my leg.

“Thanks so much for the help.” I snapped once I slammed the door behind me.

“I’m giving you a ride, aren’t I?” Darren asked. His voice was sharp and juvenile. I hated how much he acted like a child sometimes.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I demanded.

“Don’t talk to me that,” Darren hissed.

“Darren, I’m not a child anymore, okay?” I said. “I’m twenty-seven years old, and if you have something to say to me, then just fucking say it already.”

“I want you to stay away from Tara,” Darren said bluntly. “I don’t like how close you two have gotten since she moved back to town. It’s not healthy, and it’s inappropriate.”

“Why?” I asked. “Because it makes you uncomfortable.”

“Don’t you remember what happened last time?” Darren demanded. “Don’t you remember how much you hurt her?”

“Whose fault was that?” I snapped. “You sent me away to military school because you couldn’t stand the thought of me being with your daughter. You were so terrified that what we had might have been real, that you couldn’t deal. You sent me out of the state just to keep us apart.”

“And it was obviously the right decision,” Darren said. “Considering how long it took her to get over you.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, his words catching me by surprise.

“Nothing.” Darren sighed and shook his head.

“No,” I said sharply. “You started this conversation, now finish it.”

“You destroyed her,” Darren said. “You broke her heart, Caleb. She spent years trying to get over you, and now that she finally has, you’re back in her life. You’re just going to hurt her again.”

“You don’t know that,” I said.

“Don’t I?” he asked. “Your reputation isn’t exactly a secret. I have a few buddies down at the fire station. I know the kind of man you are.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I said. “You never did.”

Darren continued to lecture me the entire way back to my apartment. I tuned him out; my mind focused entirely on Tara. I had no idea how much I’d hurt her when I left town. I thought I was doing the best thing for everyone by not putting up a fight. I was trying to protect her, and instead, I did the opposite.