I couldn’t stop smiling. “Just home.”
He stopped all of a sudden, and I would’ve tripped if he hadn’t caught me. He smiled from ear to ear. “Home.”
* * *
We had just arrived inside Caleb’s apartment when his phone started ringing. He just stared at the screen, looking reluctant.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s Beatrice-Rose.”
Beatrice-Rose. Last time she phoned, I blew up like a cheetah on crack, as Caleb had put it. Truthfully, I felt guilty. They were just friends. Childhood friends, he told me. And I had overreacted.
“Please answer it,” I urged.
He raised his eyebrows.
I bit my lip, trying to hold my laugh in. “I promise I won’t overreact this time. I feel so bad. Please.”
He nodded.
“Hello? I’m good, you? Right now?” His eyes turned to me. “Hold on.” With a quick tap, he muted his phone. “She said she’s on her way over. Is that okay with you?”
I worried my lip.
“If it’s not, I can always tell her no. It’s up to you, Red. It’s not a big deal,” he assured me, his thumb rubbing my elbow.
For some reason, I didn’t want her to come. I didn’t want… Whatever. I was overreacting again.
“No, let her come. I can just leave and give both of you some privacy. I’ve imposed on you too much already.”
“What?” He frowned. “Where’d this come from?”
I shook my head. “Caleb. Tell her to come.”
“No,” he replied, his voice emphatic. “If you feel this way, it’s better if she doesn’t.”
“Feel what way? She’s waiting.” I gestured to his phone.
He shrugged.
“Fine.” I crossed my arms. “I’ll stay.”
He tilted his head, a knowing smile on his face as he unmuted the phone and placed it against his ear again. “Okay, come on over.”
When he hung up, he curled his hands around my shoulders and turned me to face him. “There’s nothing to worry about, Red. You’re my girl.”
I held my breath as his thumb played with my bottom lip, rubbing it softly. “There’s only you,” he whispered before he dipped his head to kiss me, and all my doubts were forgotten.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Caleb
“Only you,” I told her softly, holding her face in my hands.
My thumb caressed her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin. Her dark cat eyes were wide as they took in my face, revealing an innocence that I wanted to grab and hold on to…and keep.
Beatrice-Rose was going to be here in less than an hour, but I couldn’t stop myself from pulling Red close and kissing her lips. I hadn’t kissed her since this morning.