Page 100 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

“He’s in Saskatchewan,” I replied. “They built a hotel there a few months ago, and Caleb said it needs a lot of attention since it’s new. His brother is training him.”

“Benjamin Lockhart?” Kara sounded impressed. “Have you met him?”

“Not yet. Caleb mentioned he’ll be at the party. You know him?”

“Not really. I heard rumors around campus about him. I saw him, though. Damn. The Lockhart brothers are insanely gorgeous, but…get ready. Benjamin Lockhart is deadly. You know those types who give you one look—just one look—and you’re ready to drop your panties? That’s him. Yup.”

I snorted.

“Hold on. Will Caleb be staying in Saskatchewan?”

Oh.

“I-I’m not sure. We haven’t talked about it.”

“What if he is?” she asked quietly. “Will you be moving there with him?”

Would I?

“My life is here.”

“I know.” She sighed. “But that was before you met Caleb.”

My knees felt weak, so I sat down on the bench inside the dressing room. I hadn’t thought about relocating.

“I don’t know, Kar. Caleb wants us to buy a house here so I just assumed…”

“He wants to buy a house?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. He’s thinking long-term commitment. Like the have-my-babies kind.”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down and cut off my disturbing thoughts. I refocused on the conversation.

“No.” I laughed, but it was strained. Yet I felt a flutter in my stomach at the thought of carrying Caleb’s child someday. I shook my head. “Every time I give Caleb an inc

h, he takes a mile.”

“Don’t they all?” Kara said wryly. “Listen, I’ve watched you and Lockhart this past week. You look at each other like you want to rip each other’s clothes off. It’s pretty sick, really.”

“Jealous?” I teased.

“Bitch. Of course I’m jealous.”

I laughed when she rapped the door loudly.

“I also know you well enough to say that if you don’t want to give him that mile, you won’t,” Kara continued. “You’re really stubborn. But you do give it, so that means you want it too. There’s no point in denying it.

“That’s why you’re perfect for each other, you know? You think too much, worry too much. He looks like he doesn’t, but I’ve got Lockhart’s number now. You think he’s just another dumb, handsome face, but he’s pretty smart. And sneaky. That bastard.”

I giggled.

“He knows what you need, what you want, even though you haven’t realized it yet,” Kara continued.

“You’re too careful to take risks; he isn’t. And he makes you see how simple it is, because you never do. Sometimes it is that simple. You don’t need to make it complicated.”

I thought about Caleb’s mom. “But sometimes it is complicated.”

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