Page 79 of Unexpected Love
I don’t have a damn clue how that’s going to work out, but I’ll figure something out. As long as I can keep my little hodgepodge family safe, everything will work out.
Chapter 32
Jules
I’m pacing my floor, trying not to be a nosy bitch and eavesdrop from the balcony. It’s killing me not knowing what’s going on next door. I’ve circled my bedroom for what feels like hours without a word from Cal.
I’m on my four hundred fifty-eighth lap when the balcony door slides open and a tall, broad-shouldered figure blocks out the light from the streetlamps below.Huh. Look at that. It’s already dark.
“Hey,” Cal greets softly.
“I’m guessing from that gooey expression on your face that it went well with Dani?” I say, going immediately to wrap my arms around his waist. He returns the motion, holding me tight. Like I’m his lifeline.
“Yeah. She’s putting Charlie to bed now,” he says into the crook of my neck. “Thanks for giving us that time.”
There are a thousand things I want to ask him. Why is she here now? Where has she been? What was she thinking when she left her daughter behind? Does she think that it’s okay? And all of my questions boil down to one. “What happens now?”
He straightens and blows a huge puff of breath out. “Well, I don’t know.” He shrugs. “We’ll just start with giving her a good, safe place to rest tonight.”
I don’t like it. I don’t want her anywhere near Cal or Charlie. My protective instinct over the two of them is in full swing. And if that means offering her my uncomfortable futon to sleep on and letting her in my space, so be it. “Do you want to offer her my place? She can stay on my futon.”
“Maybe? I’ll ask her what she wants to do. Right now, I’m regretting getting rid of that second bed. I think being in jail and everything that followed really did a number on her, and she just needs rest.”
“Okay, of course.” Except I will definitely be packing up my valuables, because even if Cal trusts his sister and has forgiven her, I sure as hell don’t. “Let me grab a few things and set things up for her. Give me five and send her over.”
He leaves, and I make a mad dash, stowing stuff in an overnight bag that I will definitely be taking with me. But instead of Dani coming over, I receive a text that she was already passed out on the couch when he returned, and that he thinks it’s best if I forgo coming over.
The message smarts. A fucking text message. Telling me not to come over. A tiny dagger pierces that still-tender place in my heart that tells me I’m not enough.
“Whatever,” I mutter aloud to my empty apartment. I want to turn on my music because my place is suddenly too quiet. There’s no distant sound machine playing, no sound of the dishwasher endlessly running.
There are also no warm arms wrapped around me tonight. On a night that I could’ve used the reassurance. A night after a very panicked morning where I thought my whole world had changed.
Maybe it has, just not in the way I planned.
I don’t answer his message. Instead, I change and crawl into bed. Alone. I’ve been sleeping alone every third night, but in Cal’s bed. Being alone in mine feels wholly different.
The door to the balcony opens, cascading warm light into the room. Over my shoulder, I watch as Cal quietly closes the door and pads over to the bed.
“Hi,” he whispers, shoving his hands into his pockets. In this moment, he looks like a lost little boy in a grown man’s body. “You were too far away.”
My pride is still smarting, but I toss the covers back anyway.
He makes quick work of stripping down to his boxers and crawling under the covers. In an instant, I’m in his arms.
The next morning, Cal decrees that he likes his mattress better, and it’s decided that Dani can stay at my place, and I will stay at Cal’s.
I’m still not one hundred percent on board with this arrangement, but I’m willing to be flexible for the short term. First, I’m moving some things next door, and then I’m going down to the shop to pretend like I’ve gotten my paperwork sorted and everything is fine and dandy.
I’m busy packing some bags to make life easier when Dani appears in the balcony door.
“Hi,” she mutters, ducking her head like she can’t bear to look me in the face.
I glance in the mirror and make sure my RBF is under control. “Hi, come on in. I’ve cleared some drawer space for you.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She surveys my room, looking anywhere but at me. I wonder what she sees as her gaze flits fromone spot to the next. Is she casing my apartment? Or is it something entirely different?
“I’m getting the feeling that you’re not comfortable around me,” I state, startling her.
