Page 24 of Untethered Heart
“Caleb,” Dad says, loud enough to direct the conversation from my siblings’ squabble. “How’s work been for you?”
“No work talk,” my mother says, walking into the room with Grandpa following behind her. Her deep caramel hair is loose around her shoulders. Her face is free of makeup, and she wears no jewellery apart from the diamonds glittering on her wedding rings. She’s a simple woman. Kind, loyal, effortlessly elegant. Family is her greatest treasure.
I adore my mother. I’ve always admired the way my parents seem to work like partners. Supportive of each other’s endeavours. I remember as a child, I would always catch my parents talking late at night, or early in the morning, when most of the house should be asleep.
I often went to bed late and got up early because my mind was always overthinking, needing to be doing things. I would get up for a drink, and my parents would be sitting on the couch or on the deck outside, just talking. Listening intently to the other and sharing everything. It’s how I always imagined a partner to be. A person you shared everything with. The person you confide in. To help bear the weight of your worries and doubts. To seek your solace within. The person whose hand you held, and whose eyes you’d look for when you wanted to share the moment.
I always imagined one day, when I had achieved a certain level of success, I would know it was time to slow down and look for the person to share those quiet moments with. There’s still so much to do, so much to achieve, and I haven’t made time for it. So, I looked for women who also weren’t looking for that. Some would try to turn me into the person they wanted. Namely, their sugar daddy. One fooled me into thinking she was different, Tiana faked a pregnancy to tie herself to me. Well, the pregnancy wasn’t fake, just the fact that it was mine. It was actually one of the managers at Heart Assets. Turns out, they were both scheming to secure themselves further into the company and steal our billions for themselves.
As I look at my mother, the wife of a billionaire, I notice how perfectly uncomplicated she is. She must feel my stare as she sits beside me, leaving me sandwiched between my parents. She looks at me with her light brown eyes ringed with a deep chocolate, golden flecks like flames around her pupils. She smiles. Soft and content. She reaches up to hold my hand that rests against the white linen tablecloth and gives a reassuring squeeze before she pulls away to pick up her wine glass.
“So,” Mum says after a sip of her rosé. “What about the girl from a few weeks ago?”
And just like that, my father becomes my favourite.
“Oh, yes,” says Grams. “I, too, have been wondering about this girl Caleb likes.”
I groan. “I don’t like a girl.”Lies.“She was just some random at a club.”You disgust me. “I’ll probably never even see her again.”So let me fucking cry in peace about it.
“Well, you’ve seen her twice at the bar now, surely she’ll be there again,” Gage says. He brought his Great Dane, Tiny, with him tonight, who’s looking up at his owner with affection as he’s hand-fed some chicken.
“You’ve seen this girl?” Grams asks, stroking the top of Tiny’s head. Between Gage, Grams and Mum, he’s the most spoiled and wimpiest dog you’ve ever met. He may look mean and intimidating, like his owner, but he’s a total softie.
“The redhead from last night?” Beth asks.
Fuck. I forgot I ran into Beth there. Right after the hottest fucking moment of my life in the middle of the dancefloor. I’m relieved she didn’t spot us any earlier. I had to throw out those pants.
“Ohhh, a redhead. Not enough of those around.” Grandpa pumps his eyebrows at me, then winks across the table at Grams.
“I hear redheads are fiery.” Mason leans on his elbows, waiting for me to confirm what he’s really asking, and I’m absolutely not indulging him with an answer on that.
“She’s not red like copper, she’s red like cherries,” says Beth.
I wish everyone would stop bringing her up. I’m already going out of my mind with my own unanswered questions about Lex.
“And she seemed sweet,” Gage says, then snorts. “Way out of Cale’s league.”
“I beg your pardon?” I say.
“Any woman would be lucky to have Caleb.” Mum finds my hand again and squeezes.
“And many women have been,” Gage says, causing Mason and Beth to lose themselves in laughter.
Mason’s dual-coloured eyes light up as they look at me, as if I’ll join him in laughing at my womanising reputation. He’s just as fucking bad.
Beth’s wiping tears from her eyes as her laughter slows to little hiccupping sighs.
“We’re all guilty of using the Heart name to our advantage.” I raise my eyebrows, daring my siblings to challenge that fact.
“I certainly hope not,” says Mum.
“Oh, come on, Matilda,” Grandpa says. “They’re young, single, good-looking, and they’re worth billions. Of course, they indulge a little.”
“Well, you can’t buy love and happiness,” says Mum.
“And that’s all that matters in the end.” Grams raises her bottle of apple cider in a toast. “To love and happiness.”
We all raise our drinks and join Grams’s toast before returning to our meals. Idle chit chat fills the table, but once again, I’m stuck in my head.
