Page 25 of Hold Me
I’m not sure how to comfort him, so I settle down on my pillows and extend my hand to him. “Come here.”
He just watches me for a moment but then crawls toward me and places his head on my lap. I caress his hair until he falls asleep, and as I observe his serene features, I wonder how much Heather’s death has affected him.
The next morning, when Caleb tells me he wouldn’t mind making us breakfast, I think he’s joking. But as he places a plate of perfectly fried eggs and ham in front of me, I narrow my eyes at him. “So you know how to cook too?”
“More or less. I’m not a chef.” He shrugs, popping a piece of ham into his mouth.
“But you didn’t burn my kitchen down. That’s amazing. I’m hopeless at cooking.” I take a bite and am surprised that the food is even better than it looks.
“It’s not that hard, really.”
“It’s not? Oh, let me tell you about that one time I tried to bake some cookies and they turned out inedible.”
“I don’t know how to bake cookies either. Eggs are easy.”
“Only if you’re not me. I somehow managed to screw that up too. They were black and smoking, but I guess I shouldn’t have tried painting my nails at the same time.” I take another bite. “God, this is delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He takes a seat across from me, a proud smile on his face.
When we’re done eating, the doorbell makes us both jump. I immediately go for the door, unsure who it could be. Caleb gets to his feet too and looks alert, but he picks up the empty plates and puts them in the sink.
“Should I get a shirt?” he asks. He’s wearing only his pants, but I shake my head. It’s unlikely I’ll have to let anyone inside. Maybe it’s the postman and he has something that I have to sign for.
“Just stay here.” I’m sure I can keep any unwanted visitors away from my kitchen. Although, it has to be someone who has the code to enter the building, so I doubt it’s anyone I don’t know. I look through the peephole, and the sight in front of me makes me freeze. Katherine’s makeup is smeared all over her face, her hair all tangled and messy. I immediately open the door.
“Kat, what happened?” I take in her whole appearance. Her black dress is torn at the front, barely covering her chest, and she’s holding her shoes in her hand. There’s a dark bruise forming on her forearm. She pushes next to me and heads straight for the kitchen.
“Don’t ask,” she says. “Sorry for barging in on you like this, but I need to borrow a decent shirt to cover up this mess.”
I don’t have time to tell her about Caleb because she’s already at the kitchen door where she stops dead in her tracks, her shoulders tensing, her brows drawing together. “What the fuck is he doing here?” she all but snarls.
“That’s none of your business,” I say, not willing to deal with her dislike for Caleb right now. “I’ll get you a shirt and then you can go.” I head toward the room, keeping an eye on her. She leans on the doorway and crosses her arms, glaring at Caleb. It takes me a minute or two to find the shirt, so I rush back. But as I near the kitchen, I see Katherine is no longer in the doorway.
“Stay away from her,” she hisses. “She doesn’t know anything about your world. If you know what’s best, you’ll break this off once and for all.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Caleb’s voice is low and calm.
“Oh, please. I know you’re...”
I hear a commotion and a gasp.
“Should have known. You’re Raphael’s,” Katherine says.
I dash to the kitchen and find Katherine clutching Caleb’s pants and exposing his tattoo. Caleb is gripping her wrist, anger written all over his face.
“Hey, let go of him!” I yell, unsure what the hell is going on. Katherine steps back, swaying on her feet and blinking rapidly. She’s drunk. She’s fucking drunk.
“Here’s your shirt.” I throw it at her and she barely catches it. “Call someone to get you home so you can sober up!”
“Fine. I will. Thanks for the shirt,” she mumbles, smiling at me, then her smile disappears as she looks at Caleb.
When I hear the door close behind her, I turn to Caleb, flush creeping up my cheeks. “I’m so sorry. She’s just... drunk,” I say, but Caleb’s brow is wrinkled, his body rigid. As I reach out for him, he steps away.
“I should go,” he says. “And I have to ask you something. Please don’t call for me anymore. I think you want something I can’t give you. It’s better if we never see each other again.”
With those words, he strides out of the room, and my mouth goes slack, my chest tightening. I’m sure Katherine knows something, because she didn’t seem drunk enough to act the way she did. Somehow she knows Caleb and maybe he knows her too. I just need to find out what their connection is.
And who is this Raphael Katherine was talking about? I don’t want to lose Caleb because of her, but I know that no matter what I say now, he won’t change his mind, not after Katherine practically assaulted him. I need to give him time, and I sure as hell need to find out what’s going on.