Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 22788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22788 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 114(@200wpm)___ 91(@250wpm)___ 76(@300wpm)
“Yeah, she was afraid we were young and making a mistake, but I knew. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. She was worried that I was going to have regrets because she was my only girlfriend through high school, and I waited for her, and I didn’t leave town. She was worried I would resent her.”
“Do you?”
“Fuck, no. I know this is going to sound a little weird, but I love Halloween Point. I love the life I have. I love being a husband and a father, and my job. I love it all, and I wouldn’t trade a single moment for anything.”
“So, you knew.”
“Caleb, what is this about?”
“Did you know you wanted Emily to be the mother of your children?”
“Yeah, I was in love with her. Of course I knew.”
Caleb poured himself a large mug of coffee.
“What’s going on?” Pete asked.
“Nothing.”
“You called me to talk and you’re not going to tell me anything?”
He thought about Mae. “I ... I don’t mind the way things are going with me and Mae.”
Pete chuckled. “You don’t mind?”
He gritted his teeth. “Okay, I like being around Mae. I like falling asleep with her in my arms and in all honesty, I liked waking up with her in my arms. Fuck, what is happening to me?”
“Caleb, are you trying to tell me you’re falling for Mae?”
He had a sneaky feeling he was more than just falling for Mae, but had in fact already fallen for her.
“I’ve got to go.”
Pete tried to stop him from hanging up, but Caleb pressed the button and terminated the call.
He had fallen in love with Mae. And now, he didn’t know what the fuck he was going to do about it.
Chapter Five
“Do you want to talk about it?” Emily asked.
Mae looked up from her coffee and cinnamon bun to her best friend. Emily always came by the shop after she had dropped the kids off at school. Today, she had come with coffee and sweet treats, which was rare. The bakery didn’t open for another hour. The diner served breakfast. The buns were good, but the bakery was better.
She looked to her friend and sighed. “I don’t know. What do you know?”
“Well, I know that Caleb stayed at your place, and this morning you look deep in thought.”
“You read about him leaving my place or is that the town gossip again?”
“No, I saw it with my own two eyes. I also saw that before he left you, he escorted you to the front of your shop, pulled you into his arms, and kissed you passionately.”
“You read way too many romance books,” Mae said.
“Fine, he kissed you goodbye and I can consider the way he did it was sweet.” Emily winked at her, and Mae laughed. “And, I guess if you want to talk about it, I am here to lend an ear, if that is what you need today.”
Mae sighed. “I don’t know.”
“But you do know something?”
“Am I crazy for even having anything to do with Caleb?”
Emily grabbed a seat and settled down. “First, we need to establish what exactly you and Caleb have?”
“I think it is just sex.”
“Just sex? Mae, I have known you all your life and you do not do ‘just sex.’”
Mae sighed. “I know, but Caleb doesn’t do anything else, does he?” She nibbled her lip. “And, he’s not going to see anyone else while he is with me.”
“He’s not?” Emily asked.
She groaned. “Please don’t act so surprised by that.”
“What? Can’t a friend get all surprised when she hears some shocking news? I’m not going to pretend this isn’t shocking, when we both know it is. Caleb is the town bad boy. He has more notches on his bedpost than, well ... I’m not exactly sure where I am going with this.”
Mae looked at her friend. “I don’t want to get my hopes up, you know. We’re having some fun, and that is exactly what it is going to be, and exactly how it is going to stay.” She pressed her lips together and nodded her head. “Yeah, that is exactly what it will be.”
“And why do you not look convinced of that?” Emily asked.
She sighed and then dropped her head into her hands. Her glasses were pushed up onto her head.
“I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Do you have feelings for Caleb?”
“I don’t know,” Mae said. “A part of my brain is saying I must have some kind of feeling for him because I went home with him from the bar, and I was not looking for anything, and yet, we ... you know, had sex, and we had sex again last night. Could it just be sex?” She frowned and looked at her friend.
“What if Caleb does have feelings for you? How does that make you feel?” Emily asked.