Page 71 of Bittersweet Legacy

“Yeah, anyway – I went to the library sometimes with an old lady living nearby when Luke had episodes. This was what we called it when he went on benders, again not really the point here.”

“No, but maybe it should be,” he replied darkly.

I scowled at him, I wanted to tell him that at last Luke didn’t mess me up on purpose, at least I knew he loved me unconditionally and made so many sacrifices for me. I wanted to tell him the truth, but he wouldn’t understand.

“Anyway, this old lady told me stories and one of them was the story of a little girl collecting feathers so she could pay an angel to go to heaven and speak with her mom.” I took a shaky breath and turned toward the sea. “So, I thought,” I closed my eyes, resting my forehead against the glass. “I’m not sure what I thought.”

He stayed silent for a few seconds and I was startled when I felt his hand take mine. “It was not stupid, Esme.”

I looked at his hand on mine. “Tell me about Theo.”

“You like my brother, don’t you?”

I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of Theo.

He sighed. “I found out about my brother when I was five years old,” he admitted, stroking my knuckles with his thumb absentmindedly. “My father is obsessed with perfection and Theo was a flaw in his perfect family picture, a defect that needed to be hidden away.”

I was surprised that it was his father who hid Theo, I somehow expected that from his mother but not his father. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. But I knew it touched him more than he admitted. “Theo’s our family’s dirty little secret, he’s treated well in the centre, he’s happy there so I don’t fight it. Part of me even thinks he is better there than in the cold, unfeeling house. I go see him every week, he is happy.”

“He is a gift,” I admitted.

Caleb detailed me for a second as the wheel started to go down slowly and we both sighed with our disappointment. Who would have thought we would enjoy some alone time?

When we reached the bottom, Caleb helped me out and kept my hand in his as we walked back to the parking lot.

I took a sip of my drink.

“So, orange hot chocolate huh?”

I nodded. “It’s amazing, do you want to try it?” I extended my cup toward him.

He stopped, turning toward me, glancing at the cup before looking at my lips.

“I would much rather taste it on you,” he whispered huskily, taking a tentative step toward me.

My heart dropped in my chest at the thought of his lips on mine. I wanted that more than I cared to admit. I looked at his lips and nodded.

He wrapped a possessive arm around me and pulled me against him.

He brushed his lips against mine softly, once before starting to kiss me gently, softly as if I was breakable, precious – it was a kiss I never thought Caleb could ever give me, ever give anyone – I didn't think he had this softness in him.

When he ran his tongue on the seam of my bottom lip I didn’t think and opened my lips, inviting him in. I let the cup fall and wrapped my arms around his neck, playing with the short hair there, making him growl softly against my lips and pulling me closer.

When we broke the kiss, both breathless and flustered, he rested his forehead against mine.

“I liked that chocolate,” he whispered. “Remind me to order one next time we come here.”

I couldn’t help the warmth his comment caused me. “Yes, but I do like the way you tried it,” I admitted truthfully.

He pulled back a little and detailed my face, I wasn’t sure what he was looking for but what he saw made him smile. And it was not the type of bitter smile I was used to with him, it was a sweet smile, almost tender.

“It was the best way to try it for sure” he confirmed pecking my lips gently, before grabbing my hand again to take me to the car.

The drive back was made in quite a comfortable silence, both of us enjoying all the feeling this day brought us.

It was already pitch dark outside when he parked in front of the manor and I stayed seated, safety belt on, looking at the door.

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