Page 151 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

I looked at him questioningly.

“I asked Clooney to look for your dad.”

“What?”

“I didn’t want him bothering you again.”

“Caleb…”

“He’s dead, Red. A few years ago. Your mom must have known. They had to notify next of kin. He was living on the streets, homeless. Breaking and entering, stealing, dealing and using drugs.”

His brows drew together when I remained quiet. My throat had gone dry.

“I told you I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore. I had to make sure that after the incident with Beatrice-Rose…” He took a deep breath. “If you’re mad at me—”

The breath whooshed out of him as I threw my arms around his neck. I wanted to answer him, to thank him and pepper him with kisses, but if I spoke, the tears would come.

“You’re not mad at me?” he asked after a moment.

I shook my head, my arms tightening around him. He couldn’t possibly know how much this meant to me. I had been wondering about my dad for so long, afraid that he would come back and hurt me again. Afraid that he wouldn’t, and that I’d never know what happened to him. Now I did.

“I will always keep you safe.”

“Oh God, Caleb,” I choked out. “I love you. I love you so much.”

He stroked my hair gently, pulling back so he could hold my face in his hands. Leaning closer, he kissed my forehead. “That’s what I love to hear from you every day, my Red.”

“I’ll say it every day.”

“I’ll make sure you say it.” He grinned, kissing me on the lips. “Let’s go back. Wanna watch a scary movie?”

I’d learned something new about Caleb. He loved scaring himself.

We walked back to the cabin and settled on the couch in front of the TV. Caleb picked Evil Dead, The Descent, and Jeepers Creepers.

He was adorably loud and hilarious, covering his eyes or staring wide-eyed at the screen during the scariest parts. Not even halfway through the first movie, he grabbed a blanket to cover our faces, his arm wrapped around my waist to glue me to his side.

Every time I screamed, it was because Caleb waited for the movie’s silent, suspenseful parts, and once I was completely absorbed in the scene, he growled and poked my ribs to scare the hell out of me. It worked, but I did land a few playful slaps in retaliation.

By the time the first movie ended, his cheeks were flushed, his long and lean body plastered to mine. By the time the third movie ended, I jumped up from the couch and threatened to electrocute him in his sleep.

He laughed, scooped me out of the blanket, and dragged me into the kitchen. It seemed like he’d grabbed all the food from the fridge before he dragged me again, this time outside to the garden, where we ate on the blanket he had spread on the grass.

It was a beautiful day.

A very beautiful day with my Caleb.

“Red?” he said softly.

It was hot, with the sun hanging high in the sky. Caleb had removed his shirt to battle the heat, and he’d twisted my hair into some crazy semblance of a ponytail.

We lay side by side on the blanket, staring up at the clouds, but when I turned my head to look at him, he was staring at me. His green eyes looked incredible in the sunlight, his lips pinker than usual. He rolled to his side to face me, his gaze lingering on my mouth. I licked my bottom lip unconsciously.

“I feel married already,” he whispered.

When his eyes lifted to mine, my breath caught in my throat. He was so beautiful.

“Should we just elope?” he asked.

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