Chereads / Beside Her Always / Chapter 14 - Caleb

Chapter 14 - Caleb

The remaining bids went by quickly and soon we were back in the dressing room, waiting for the hired butlers to get the room ready. I had to admit, I was a little excited to meet the man that bought me for sixty thousand. It was a whole lot of money, especially for a stranger. He seemed not to care, like he'd pay the world for a simple date with me. It felt good.

I scanned the room, everyone was doing their own thing. Mal was staring at herself through a little dresser mirror, much like the ones pop stars usually sit in front of in reserved rooms. Aleecia and Ray were having a whispering fight at one end of the room and everyone else was minding their own business by chatting amongst themselves.

Ray's eyes wandered up to mine and I looked away, turning to face Mal. She was starting to creep me out a bit, she appeared distant and bitter. She seemed withdrawn. Something must have happened since the last time I saw her. She was completely out of it.

"Amelia" Ray's voice stopped my attempt to approach Mal and even though my feet ceased their movements I refused to acknowledge him. It was funny how his voice, the thing that always seemed to calm me was now making me unbelievably infuriated.

He huffed "You're not upset, are you?" he questioned and my eyes crawled over to his involuntarily. "No shit" he scoffed "Well, try not to burst, will you?" He shook his head dismissively

I turned to face him entirely, ready to start a full-on war. I felt my anger swell inside me and I just wanted to let it loose. "You are such an asshole, I regret the day…"

"You regret what Mia." He asked stepping closer to me, daring me to say the next words.

"You are a sad excuse for a human being" I spat above a whisper, wanting it to sink through his alarmingly soft skin and poison him.

He chortled cynically "And you?"

"O. I'm the idiot"

"That you are"

"Frig you Ray"

He eyed me distastefully before grabbing my elbow and shoving me behind the curtain, away from everyone else. He took a deep breath and I glared at him, my fury giving me a mild headache.

"It was a fair game" He spoke finally, not a bit calmer than he was before.

I snickered "Which part of that was fair?"

"Your flour prank could have gone just as bad"

"You know what Ray? When I thought of my prank, I thought of something you could recover from, not something that would ruin how you view yourself."

"Mia you don't know me. That could have gone horribly wrong"

"But it didn't, did it."

"You know what, Mia, frig it but you sound just like a frikin hypocrite"

"Says the guy who was willing to spend 80 thousand dollars on a subject"

"A total stranger who's eager to spend over thirty thousand on a farting baboon, should ring some serious alarms Mia. I was doing my frikin job"

I stepped back, feeling my anger being replaced by pain. "Baboon?" I repeated, hurt present in my voice and he struggled to find his next few words. I nodded understandingly, trying to keep my composure. "Uh. Well…this baboon, was brought for sixty thousand, so this baboon is going to enjoy her meal with the obvious idiot who was stupid enough to buy her" I mumbled

"Amelia?"

"Enjoy your meal Ray. You deserve it" I pulled the curtains and returned to the dressing room, almost immediately my eyes caught Aleecia's and I focused my attention to the wall at the other end of the paint stripping room.

"You'll each be escorted down the red carpet and to your seats where your highest bidders will be waiting for you. Show them a good night. They paid for it" Kisses spoke and a series of excited mutters strung throughout the room.

I didn't feel like smiling but I summed up a good show while walking the carpet. My date led me to our table, pulling my chair before taking a seat at the other end. He took a deep breath, exhaling through his mouth and I rolled my eyes, feeling already done with this event. I just wanted all these people out of the house, so I could go to my room and have a fit.

"I'm so nervous" He mumbled, letting another breath go

"Why?" I eyed him confusedly.

"God. Do you see yourself" He looked at me in disbelief and I curled my eyes, a bit oblivious. "Your beauty takes my breath away and gives me Parkinson" He whispered, showing me his shaking fingers and causing a small chuckle to escape my lips.

"There's the smile I've been waiting all night to see again" he smiled and I tried not to return it. I wasn't a girl who was easily flattered but darn he was good, a complete opposite to the asshole of the year- Ray.

"I'm Mia Stennett" I offered my hand for a shake but he laid a small perk on my fingers instead.

"Caleb" he stated, looking up through his thick, long eyelashes. He didn't release my hand, he just kept it clasped in his paled ones, periodically caressing my fingers with his thumb.

"Can I sit next to you Honey Bear?"

I chuckled "Honey bear?"

"Mhmm, can I?" he questioned sexily

"It's your night. I'm obligated to do almost anything you wish" I mumbled as the butler served us our menu.

"Okay" he spoke enthusiastically, pulling his chair inches away from mine.

"Let's play a game then" He stated after a moment of silence and I nodded, finding him oddly interesting.

"What game?"

"Truth" he mumbled

"Are you kid in me?"

He laughed "I see what you did there, that was smart. It's okay if you can't handle it. I understand completely, it's really not for everyone" he pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows, holding back pretended tears.

I swallowed a chuckle "Con me to hell Caleb"

"I swear if you call my name five times, I'll turn into a fairy and grant you a wish"

"O my God" I smiled "You need to change your friends, they give really bad pickup lines"

"I don't have friends. These are completely original and they're not that bad because they make you laugh, so try it. Come one. Five times"

"No"

"Chicken"

I shook my head, taking a deep breath. This was silly. "Caleb, Caleb, Caleb, Caleb…Caleb"

"O God, yes of course I'll kiss you. I'll even have your babies if you want."

I laughed wholeheartedly "Technically, you can't have children"

"Apparently, you've never watched the movie Junior"

"Stop" I begged and he chuckled

"Fine" he mumbled "How about that kiss then?" He questioned smoothly, taking his lower lip between his teeth while brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. He ran his fingers across my cheek, bringing my chin up so that our lips were parallel. I held unto his arm, trying to stop him as he came closer. This was bad.

"Um"

"Say yes" he urged coming closer

"Um" I tried, knowing exactly what to say but my mouth wouldn't allow it. I mean, why shouldn't I spend a couple relaxing minutes with the guy that has made me laugh so hard in a manner of seconds?

Yet still, I couldn't, I couldn't because I didn't want to. All I wanted was for Ray and me to get this stupid fight under control. I wanted him to see me the way this guy did. I wanted Ray and no one else. He held my heartbeat and because of that, I was the idiot.

Immediately there was a loud crash and I looked behind me to see what it was, causing Caleb to retreat his hands and I exhaled. I was a bit relieved that I had been saved from the situation because I had no idea how to get out of it. I scanned the floor, trying to give myself a moment to recover, it was scattered with glass fragments. I allowed my eyes to wander up to the table closest to the mess. I choked as Ray's irritated gaze met mine. I returned my focus to Caleb. Apparently, he'd pushed off an empty glass cup by mistake.

"Boyfriend?" Caleb asked with concern and I shook my head

"Dirty, Asshole Zoo Keeper" I mumbled. After all, he was the asshole fooling around with the baboon he was supposed to protect.

"Damn"

"I'm sorry Caleb. I have to go" I managed, getting up and walking out. Caleb was too nice of a guy. He didn't deserve this pile of shit. He deserved better.

I walked to my room feeling a rush of anger and sadness wrapping me in its arms. I grunted in distress. I couldn't see Ray and me getting over this and it scared me but it shouldn't. We were never a thing. I shouldn't feel this way. What was I doing? What did I do?

"Hey"

I jumped in fright before spinning around to see Mal. She closed the door behind her.

"You look like shit" she smiled and a brief laugh popped my lips open.

I took a deep breath. "You too" I replied while smoothing my dress. Thank God she came when she did or I'd be a crying mess.

"Yea. I know. That's what I needed to talk to you about" She bobbed her head and I curled my brows, a bit confused. "We need to talk about how you killed my mother" she spat, her face becoming hard and I felt my insides drop. The whole room became still and the atmosphere thick and unbreathable.

"W-what?" I couldn't have heard correctly.