. “I didn’t mean any of the hurtful things I said. I only said them to protect myself. I was being a selfish coward. I was afraid of getting hurt. But hurting you only hurt me—hurt us. I didn’t trust you enough.” I sobbed, soaking his shirt with tears. “I’m sorry, Caleb.”
“It’s all right, Red. If I could change what happened that night, I never would have left you. I’m sorry that I did.”
“You were being a good friend, and she—”
“Shh. I want to explain.”
I let out a sigh, my arms tightening around him. I felt him take a deep breath, stroking my back for comfort—for mine as much as his.
“I already told you what happened that night, but I let you go before I told you everything. And for that, I failed you and I’m sorry, Red. I fell asleep, and in my dreams, I was kissing you, but when I woke up”—he paused, his whole body tense—“Beatrice-Rose was on top of me. She’d taken off her top.”
I took in a sharp breath.
“I pushed her away. She’s only a friend, and I would never want anyone but you. Just you, Red.”
He kissed my hair. I rested my cheek on his shoulder, silently urging him to go on.
“So I left her and came home to you. Trust is very important to me. My parents didn’t have enough of it to make their relationship last. I didn’t want that for us. So when I asked you if you trusted me, your answer meant a lot to me. And I knew you didn’t.”
“Caleb—”
“Shh. Listen, baby.”
He waited until I relaxed before he continued. “I let my pain and my pride control me. I wasted so much time. I never should have left town. But I wanted you to realize how much I mean to you. I wanted you to fight for me. So I stayed away. You don’t know how many times I desperately wanted to drive home and beg you to come back to me. I drove myself insane. I don’t want scraps anymore. I want everything. All of you. You have to know. How can you not know? You are the most important person in my life. Look at me,” he pleaded.
I gazed up at him and saw the desperation, longing, and pain in his green eyes.
“Red, when you left…I never felt so empty. Never felt so lost. It was like you cut out a piece of my heart and took it with you. I miss you so much, it hurts to breathe. I miss everything about you. I miss your body pressed against mine. I miss your soft sighs and the rapid beat of your heart when I touch you. I miss your hand in mine. I miss the vulnerability in your eyes that you hide from everyone but me. How can I not fall for you?”
I held my breath, waiting for him to continue. Afraid to hear more, but wanting—desperately wanting—to hear more.
“From the moment I saw you, you captured me. Body, mind, and soul. Take everything from me. It’s all yours.”
“Caleb.”
“If I’m to choose my cage,” he said, his voice thick with emotion, “I choose you. I’m a willing prisoner sentenced with a lifetime of loving you.”
He cupped my face in his hands as his eyes, so sincere, looked into mine. “I love you,” he whispered.
I felt something click into place, like the final piece of a puzzle.
“I love you, Caleb,” I whispered before he claimed my lips and kissed me under the moonlight.
Chapter Seven
Caleb
We stayed up all night.
I had her in my arms, and that was all I needed right now. That was all I was going to need for a long, long time. Her absence had left a gaping hole inside my chest. When she wrapped her arms around me, she filled that hole so quickly, so completely, it felt like it had never been there.
We sat on the beach and watched the sun rise. I wrapped her in my jacket and blanket. We left our shoes in the trunk of my car as we walked along the shore. I pulled her close to me as we walked, my arm around her shoulders, hers around my waist.
When she looked up at me, my heart thudded loudly against my chest.
God, how I’d missed her.
“Don’t,” she said, sounding embarrassed.