“Caleb, this is stunning.”
They decorated the table with LED candles and an assortment of pink roses, her favorite. A bottle of champagne chilled in the metal bucket.
“I can’t believe you did this.”
The stars sparkled in the night sky with the full moon looming over the horizon. There was this energy between us that flowed into the air. This magnetic pull that never went away. If anything, it only intensified as the years evolved.
Evie always controlled my thoughts.
My actions.
My choices.
Consuming every last part of me since the first time I set eyes on her.
“Come here.” I motioned with my finger.
She cunningly smirked, as I pulled her toward me instead, making her straddle my lap. She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to.
Her eyes spoke for themselves.
“I’d do anything for you. Look up, darlin’. Look at all the stars.”
She glanced up for a second before she questioned in a conceding tone, “Why are you doing this to me, Caleb? Is this just another scheme to get your way?”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Which part? The one where you pretended you didn’t know me after the day we had shared? Or how you not only ruined my social life, but also my dating life all through college?” Her voice remained sturdy and strong, though the tormented expression on her face gave away her anguish. “Or how about all the years you pushed me away before you knocked up my roommate and then married her?”
I didn’t respond, listening intently to the allegations I knew she still had to spew.
“Do you know I’ve hated my birthday until today?”
“At least I did something right.”
“Why would you do that to me, Caleb? How could you hurt me like that when you’d already hurt me enough?”
I winced. Her admitting that was worse than already knowing it.
“You want me to forgive you, but it’s so hard to do that. You pushed me away, completely dropped out of my life. Why? I deserve to know the truth. I knew there was something more to you and Tessa. It was written all over your face when you came to my apartment the next morning. You wouldn’t tell me then, but you have to tell me—”
“If I didn’t marry her…” I paused for a moment, catching my bearings.
This would be the first time I’d ever confessed this to anyone. I didn’t think I’d get a second chance to make things right, and I wasn’t going to waste another minute without her by my side.
Looking deep into her glossy gaze, I finally told her the truth…
“Tessa was going to tell Jax about us.”
Chapter 25
Evie
“What?! How did she know Jax was my brother?”
“I’m not exactly sure, but she did.”
“She didn’t tell you how she knew?”
“Tessa doesn’t tell me much, Evie.”
“Then why did you sleep with her?”
“Darlin’, I don’t even remember fucking her. It was weeks before your birthday, and I wanted to do something special for you. You already had everything because Jax made sure of it. I was going to offer you the only thing I could. Me. But with that came the realization of how much I’d hurt you, and I started second guessing myself. Fucking drank my weight in whiskey, then I somehow ended up at your apartment. I walked into your bedroom, and she was in your bed, but I thought it was you. All I remember is waking up the next morning with her in my arms.”
My heart was pounding against my chest.
Loud.
Hard.
Beating into my head.
“I threw her off me. We fought and before I left, I threatened her. I told her to keep her mouth shut, or I’d make her pay. It’s why I stayed away from you. I couldn’t bring myself to face you after what I did. Weeks later, she ended up at my place telling me she was pregnant. I didn’t believe it was mine until we took a paternity test, proving it was.” He grabbed my face. “I swear to you the only reason I married her was because of Jax. I couldn’t let you lose him too.”
“Ugh!” I abruptly stood, suddenly pissed as fuck. “After all this time? All these years? You hid this from me?!”
“Evie—”
“No! This is bullshit! You have no idea what I went through! For years, Caleb, I hated you! I still fucking hate you!”
“You don’t mean that. You’re just mad at me.”
“I’m more than mad at you, Caleb! I’m fucking furious!”
“I understand. Trust me, I’m fucking livid too!”
“Oh, no! You don’t get to play that card!”
“Evie, I lov—”
“I hate that you made me feel so alone for so many years! I hate that I missed you every single day you weren’t with me! I hate that I felt like I was this pathetic little girl chasing you around, praying you would love her!”
“I fucked up. I know that. Don’t you think I know that? I lost you too, darlin’. It’s why I stayed away while we were married. I couldn’t see you because if I did, I would have told you the truth! Screamed it from the fucking rooftops, and then what? Huh?”