Page 133 of Penalty to the Heart

“That… that is… none of your business.”

“Agree to disagree. Now answer the question, Roxanne. Why don’t you sleep in your own bed? Why keep a second bedroom?”

“I repeat, that’s none of your business,” I finally manage to say with conviction while straightening my spine.

Caleb stares at me with those emerald eyes that spell nothing but trouble.

A shriek escapes me when I’m forced to jump back after he springs to his feet and eats the distance between us with only two strides. He stops a few inches away from me, but I can still feel the heat of his body graze mine, coaxing memories of what we did two nights ago.

My breathing turns shallow when he gently presses his hand on my cheek, staring deep into my eyes.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Roxie. Truly.”

I swallow dryly because I don’t know what to say.

He means every word.

I’ve heard the phrase a million times, and traditionally, thank you is always my knee-jerk response, but to Caleb, I say nothing.

I’m not sure how much time passes with us just staring at each other, but when he drops his hand off my cheek, a cold chill runs down my spine in mourning.

He begins to move towards the door, my stiff shoulder slumping in relief, but just as he reaches it, he turns to me with an unfamiliar look on his face.

“I know you still mourn the love you lost, but I’m here to tell you that my intention is not to replace him. He had a part of you that I know I’ll never be able to touch. But that doesn’t mean I won’t fight tooth and nail to win the rest of your heart and keep you all to myself.”

“Is that another threat?” I rasp, shook by his words.

“No, love. It’s a promise. This… is just our beginning.”

Chapter 24

Caleb

Instead of going home after leaving Roxie’s place, I head over to the hospital to visit Jack.

Usually, Roxie would be my go-to when I want to talk things out, but since she’s the reason behind my state of unrest, the only other person I can confide in is my brother.

Like always, I pull out the chair stashed away in the corner and put it by his bedside, the scent of fresh flowers in the room announcing that our mother must have visited him today, too.

“Hey,” I greet, grabbing his hand, grateful for no longer having a tube shoved down his throat to help him breathe.

The doctors have assured us that Jack is now able to breathe on his own and that his lungs are no longer an issue of concern. That would have been all good and well if I hadn’t witnessed firsthand him having a seizure a few days back. No matter how many times the doctors explain that seizures, such as the one Jack had, are common occurrences with coma patients who suffered a traumatic brain injury, it will still be one of the scariest things I have ever seen.

Thankfully, there seems to be a bit more color to his cheeks tonight—enough to fool myself into believing that he’s just resting his eyes while he’s listening to me vent.

“I’d ask you how’s it going but… well… I already know that nothing has changed much since the last time I was here. You know… if I were Erin, I’d start to suspect that the only reason you don’t snap out of your coma is to have unlimited sponge baths from the hot nurses. Hate to break it to you, big brother, but I’ve seen your nurse, and he’s not your type,” I snicker.

I don’t take it personally when he doesn’t reply or chuckle.

It’s not one of my best jokes.

Then again, this place doesn’t exactly encourage comedy.

“Guess you want me to give you the rundown of how things have been going without you.” I drag my hand over my face. “Erin and the girls are good, or at least they’re trying to be. By the way, you should see Erin, Jack. Your wife is fucking huge right now, and you’re missing it. I know how much you like it when she’s about to hit her third trimester whenever she’s pregnant, you big freak.” I chuckle, remembering how Jack was even more affectionate with Erin whenever she got so big that she started to wobble around the house. Barefoot and pregnant was always his kink, the big weirdo.

If there was a way to get Erin even more pregnant, I’m sure Jack would have succeeded in that mission.

Not that I ever heard her complaining.

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