Page 96 of Law Of Love

Kaleb hummed before smiling, stepping back and heading up the stairs.

I almost instinctively took a step after him, the electric current between us sparking and causing my skin to tingle in the most delicious way. I craved the feeling, desperate to chase it. Shit.

I snuck glances at Kaleb throughout dinner. He looked beyond belief when freshly showered, and it looked like he’d purposely avoided towel-drying his hair so that droplets of water trickled down his neck. He knew it was a weakness of mine.

“So, are there any cute guys at work, Freya?” Jackie asked me as I stabbed at the casserole, my eyes flashing to hers, feeling Kaleb tense next to me. He stopped chewing, arching his brow, waiting for my response.

The truth was… no. Women mostly worked at my company, and the few men we did have were much older than me—with wives and kids. I didn’t have a sliver of interest in other men besides Kaleb, though. I hadn’t even thought about anyone else over the past three months.

“No, not really,” I said, my social battery having depleted. Not only that, but I was exhausted. I hadn’t been sleeping. Will had been haunting my dreams.

Murderer.

Killer.

I mentally cringed as if I’d been scalded.

“Kaleb, Jackie tells me you’ve been assigned a job bodyguarding for Madison Ainsley,” announced my mother. “She’s an amazing singer, and I heard she’s single, too!”

“Not to mention gorgeous,” Jackie chimed in, and Kaleb’s eyes darkened.

“I stay professional,” he said. “There’s a strict no fraternising with our clients' rule, and even if I were allowed to pursue something with her, I wouldn’t be interested.”

My chest loosened at his admittance.

The rest of the dinner went by quickly, and as delicious as Jackie’s food was, I couldn’t stomach a lot, my anxiety getting to me.

It was always late at night when Will’s words would invade my mind, his hideous voice bouncing off the inside of my skull, reminding me of what I’d done and how evil I was. I even found myself talking back occasionally, letting him know that he deserved it and I was only defending myself, but he always chuckled tauntingly in response. The effect trauma had on the brain was frightening.

Kaleb and I hung back in the living room while our moms cleaned in the kitchen. They'd insisted they didn't want any help, but I had a feeling it was just because they wanted to sneak another few glasses of wine in. My eyes travelled to the photograph of Brie on the wall and Kaleb's own gaze followed mine before he sighed.

“Losing her was one of the worst days of my life,” he admitted. “We did everything we could to stop the bleeding, but it wasn't enough. I promised myself I'd never let anything happen to the people I care about again.” Kaleb's throat bobbed. "I hated who I was before I joined my organisation. I didn't realise how easily someone's life could be taken away.”

“We all live with regrets. You can't punish yourself forever. Everybody makes mistakes, Kaleb.”

He hummed. “But most people's mistakes don't end in them getting their little sister killed. I refused to let you succumb to the same fate, though. There was no way I was going to allow Will to—”

“I know,” I interrupted him, not wanting him to say the words. My heart was battering inside my chest, my throat barren. “You don't need to say it, Kaleb. I know.”

My hands shook slightly as I positioned my house key in front of the lock, shoving it in, having beaten my mom back from Jackie's house. But once I pushed the door to the apartment open, my eyes popped out of my head.

Roses. Everywhere. Tied together in large bouquets and positioned all over the living room. My throat ran dry, and I followed the trail of them leading up to my bedroom. More bouquets surrounded me—bright and bold—and I picked up the lilac-coloured note on my bed, scruffy male handwriting having been scribbled onto it.

My little artist,

I told you that if I were going to get you flowers, I wouldn’t stop at fifty.

I hope this made you smile. I know breaking into your apartment and gaining worried looks from your neighbours made me do so.

-K

Forty-five: Kaleb

Iquickly checked myself in the mirror, glowering at the dark circles hanging under my eyes. God, I needed to get some fucking sleep. I could never switch off, though. My mind was always racing, and there wasn’t anything I could do to slow it down.

I caught sight of the bear Freya had given me sitting on my desk, and I clicked my tongue, my insides knotting up at the sight of him.

I was meeting her today, and although I claimed that anxiety was something I didn't have the capability of experiencing, it was all I’d been feeling for the past three months—pure, intense anxiety.

---