Page 19 of Outlawed Treat
My uncle is a big guy.I definitely wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley when he’s pissed off.Right now, I don’t want to be near him either.He’s still glaring at me and I know I’m about to have my ass handed to me.He’ll either do it verbally or physically in the ring we have behind the gym.I think it will be both ways today because of the shit I’ve been pulling.My dad already chewed me a new ass last night while my mom was helping Cali get the kids settled in at the house.He took me in my office and once the door was shut, he went off on me.
“I don’t know what the fuck your problem is right now, but the shit you’re pullin’ stops right now,” he yelled before I could move toward my desk to take a seat for the conversation we were about to have.
“I don’t know ...,” I start to say before he cut me off by grabbing the bottle of Jack I left on my desk and threw it against the wall where it shattered like my heart does on a regular basis when I see Cali or hear something about her.
“Don’t fuckin’ lie to me, Caleb.I know you better than anyone but Kreed and you’re fuckin’ spiralin’ out of control.You’ve got yourself so damn twisted over Cali that you’re hurtin’ yourself, the kids, and her.You’re hurtin’ the club and every person you promised to protect when you accepted the position of President.We all know you love Cali and want her as your ol’ lady.You’ve got a twisted sense of betrayin’ Darren when he didn’t think twice about doin’ the same to you when you were younger and he went after Cali.I know you’re better than he was and that’s why you won’t make a move on her.Doesn’t give you the fuckin’ right to drink the same way Darren was before he died.And it sure as hell doesn’t mean you can fuck your way through every woman out in the open when Cali and the kids could show up at any time,” he yells, slamming his fist on the desk in front of me before leaning in closer than he was before and leveling me with that look only a parent can pull off.
“Dad, you don’t understand.No one fuckin’ understands and you never will.I know the shit you and Mom went through before you got together.It’s not the same as the situation I’m in with Cali.Everythin’ is different with her,” I tell him, slumping down in my chair and looking at the floor by my feet.
I hate disappointing my dad or anyone I love.Right now, he’s pissed, upset, and disappointed in me.I’ve hit the trifecta with him and it sucks.If I thought I was hurting before, it’s even worse now.
“I do understand where you’re comin’ from, Caleb.I might not have been in the same situation with your mom, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t watched this story play out since you were nine years old and Cali moved to Benton Falls.I was there the day you and Kreed met her and I watched you fall in love with her every single day after.I know why you didn’t make a move and became a dick by datin’ the girl who bullied her
We were all there when Cali announced she was pregnant, got kicked out of her house on her birthday before discoverin’ the pregnancy, and as Darren and her got married.Your mom and I were the ones there for her when you were all at bootcamp.We picked up the pieces of her shattered heart when she realized she was alone and pregnant.I watched as her face lit up the second she saw you.Not Darren or Kreed, but you.You’ve made an impact on her and you’re throwin’ it all away because you can’t pull your head outta your ass.Fuckin’ fix this shit!I’m not the one you have to worry about though.Have fun tomorrow,” my dad says, a sinister smile lighting up his face as he finally pulls back and takes the seat in front of me.
“Dad, Cali is the only one who can calm me with a single touch.One look from her and my heart races in my chest.Seein’ those blue eyes point in my direction is all it takes for me to feel like I’m home.When she smiles at me, the world around the two of us lights up and fireworks explode in my stomach.She’s the only woman who isn’t related to me that I want to protect in every situation and slay the demons hauntin’ her when she’s sleepin’ or awake.You don’t know half the shit I’ve done to protect her.Only Kreed does,” I tell my dad, my voice full of the longing I try, and fail, to hide on a daily basis.
My dad doesn’t respond to me, but lets the words hang in the air between us.He knows how I feel about Cali.This isn’t new information I’ve dropped on him.The truth has been out there for everyone but her to pick up on for years.There’s nothing more I can say to him because I know he’s not the only one who wants to have this same conversation.My papa, grandma, and mom are all here.With my dad’s comment about tomorrow, I know they won’t be the only ones here.Someone else is coming.I’m sure I can guess who it is.
“Let’s fuckin’ go,” Tank says as he walks across the common room toward the gym.Yeah, I’m about to get my ass handed to me and I’m sure there will be an audience.Kreed will be there for sure because this is what he’s been telling me is going to happen for weeks now.
On my way through the gym, I remove my cut and tee-shirt.Draping them over my arms, I continue walking, dragging my feet like I’m being led to my demise in the most painful manner I can imagine.Honestly, that’s not a wrong assumption based on Tank and the mood he’s in.Even if he rode his bike here, I know it wouldn’t have been enough to calm the raging storm building up inside him.Tank is going to take his anger out on me and I deserve every hit he’s about to deliver.
“Get your ass in the ring.I’m not goin’ easy on your ass, Caleb.You need to have some sense knocked into you and I’m the man to do the job.You get first hit,” Tank orders, as I walk up to Kreed where he sits in a chair close to the ring and hand him my cut and shirt.
“Sorry, Reckless.Told you I was gonna make the call.Tired of seein’ you and Cali hurtin’ the way you both are.You’re not the only one who’s gonna get talked to durin’ this visit,” Kreed says even though he doesn’t look, or sound, sorry in the least.If anything, he’s happy I’m about to climb in the ring with Tank.
I ignore my best friend as I climb in the ring and wait for Tank to join me.He’s talking to my dad who just walked in the room and I watch them whisper to one another as they usually do when others are around.My dad is pissed and gesturing wildly with his arms flinging all over the place.Tank just stands there with his arms folded across his chest and listens while saying something every now and then.I’m sure they’re plotting my downfall.I’d be lucky if my dad were telling Tank to take it easy on me, but that’s doubtful.
Tank finally turns and walks over to me with my dad following behind him.He doesn’t hesitate to remove his cut and shirt before climbing into the ring.My dad holds his stuff like Kreed does for me.I briefly warm up while Tank does the same.While we’re preparing for this fight, the room fills up with the members of the club, my papa, and grandma.My family stands together in Tank’s corner and I know my grandma is waiting to get me alone.She’s got that look in her eye that lets me know I’m in deep shit.I hate that look on her and avoid it at all costs.This time I’m not so lucky.
“Ready?”Tank asks me, lashing out and slamming his fist into my jaw.
My head whips to the side as an ache already forms.I’ll be drinking my dinner for the next several days from one punch.Tank truly isn’t holding back with me.I don’t bother trying to go after my uncle.This isn’t about us fighting or sparring in the ring for fun or some other reason.He’s in this ring to beat the hell out of me and I’m sure he won’t be the only one.It’s just a matter of how much is left of me when Tank decides to be done.If there’s enough of me left, my dad or papa will get in the ring with me.I’ll find out soon enough.
“You gonna fight back?”Tank asks me after he lands several more hits and I don’t make a move on him.I don’t even try to defend myself.
“Do your worst, Uncle Tank.This is what you’re here for,” I tell him, spitting blood out on the mat and moving closer to him.“You wanna knock some sense into me and this is me lettin’ you.”
“Then why didn’t you just pull your head out of your ass?”he questions, his voice lower this time as we move around the ring.“It would save you the pain I’m gonna inflict on you.”
I don’t answer.Instead, I let Tank continue to knock some sense into me.Blood is dripping down my face from a cut above my eye, my jaw is killing me, and my ribs are on fire.I’m swaying on my feet as Tank continues to land one hit after another.They aren’t as fast-paced as he would throw in a normal fight, but even spaced out as he gives me a chance to fight back against him.I wasn’t lying when I said this is what he’s here for.
I’m not sure how much time passes while Tank beats the hell out of me.All I know is I end up on my back looking up at him.I’m breathing heavily and my vision is blurry from the hits he’s landed.My body is covered in sweat even though I didn’t fight back.Tank isn’t even breathing hard as he looks down at me with a smirk on his face.
“Everyone get the fuck outta here.Kreed, you stay.Mom, go out with the girls and we’ll be out soon.Need to talk to my son,” my dad orders everyone as I turn to look at him but don’t attempt to get up from my spot in the ring.
Kreed joins me and holds out a water bottle for me to drink from.He helps me sit up and drink from the bottle before I collapse back against the mat.Tank remains in the ring with me while my dad and papa climb in to join us.They want to talk now that I’ve had my ass handed to me.
“Your mom and grandma will help you clean up when we’re done here,” my papa says, as I turn my attention to him and the smile he’s aiming in my direction.“You gonna tell us what the fuck is goin’ on here?Why we got a call from Kreed that you’re drinkin’ every day and fuckin’ the girls out in the open when that’s never been your style?”
“You all know I’ve loved Cali for longer than I truly knew what love was.She’s been the one girl I’ve always wanted to make mine.Darren got to her first.He stole her first kiss in the bathroom of our high school and then made her his girl.When he got her pregnant, they got married.Cali was his wife until the day I didn’t protect him and bring him back home alive.That means she can never be mine.I cost Darren his life and I won’t betray him by makin’ Cali my ol’ lady and wife like I’ve longed to do for years,” I state the words I’ve said repeatedly to the men surrounding me now.
“We know all that, Caleb.And we all understand why you feel the way you do.But you’re wrong.You weren’t the one to kill Darren.He was killed while you were deployed and there was nothin’ you could do to save him.I don’t need to know the details to realize you would have traded your life in a second for his because that’s the kind of man you are.You’ve been there for Cali and those kids like they’re yours.Even when Darren was still alive, you were the one she relied on.Cali counted on you for everythin’ she needed help with.Do you know how Cali feels about you?”my papa asks me, his words sinking in so I can ponder them later as I lay in bed because I won’t be able to move once I get off this mat.
“I don’t know how Cali feels because we haven’t talked.I’ve barely seen her over the last several months.Kreed is the one spendin’ time with her and the kids.I take care of things around the house, but that’s it.The closest I’ve been to her is when she had a panic attack after someone was in her house.Kreed knew he couldn’t get her out of it, so I went over.She ended up wrappin’ her body around mine as I held her on the floor of her kitchen.For the first time in months, I felt like everythin’ was right in my world.There was no fog holdin’ me back or the need to drink myself into oblivion so I wouldn’t go to her.For a few minutes, no one else in the world existed but the two of us.I’ve never had that feelin’ with anyone before.Now, she’s livin’ in my house with the kids and I’ve been avoidin’ it since we unloaded the stuff there last night.What you walked in on, Tank, is me tryin’ to drink until I can’t walk straight.Carly just kind of showed up before you walked through the door,” I say, closing my eyes as I remember the feeling of Cali wrapped around me while she cried and took the strength I was giving her freely wanting nothing in return.
“The point we’re all tryin’ to make is that it’s okay to be with Cali.Do you think Darren would want the two of you to be playin’ this game and hurtin’ one another on a daily basis?I wasn’t close to Darren, but that’s not somethin’ he’d want if he were truly your friend.He’d want a man like you to take care of his family when he couldn’t be there to do it himself.Especially if he knew you loved her when you were younger and didn’t push for him to leave her alone because of your friendship.I know he told you he was gonna ask her out.You’re choosin’ loyalty over the love of your life.We all understand that’s who we’ve raised you to be, Caleb.I think you’re makin’ a huge mistake by not followin’ your heart,” my dad says, he crouches down and places a hand on my shoulder in comfort as I remain on my back.
