Stay With Me (19 page)

“That’s okay. I still want to see it.”

Caleb sighs. “Do you have any change on you?”

I fish in my tiny purse and find a quarter. “This good enough?”

“That’ll work.” Caleb takes the quarter in his hands, moves them about, and opens them.

The quarter is gone.

“Wait, where did it go?” I ask, looking around.

“It’s right . . .” Caleb leans forward, reaching behind my ear. “Here.”

And shows me the quarter.

“That’s fun,” I say. “Show me another.”

The guys start laughing.

“What?” I ask.

“It’s just . . .” Nick’s bright blue eyes crinkle in amusement. “That’s the only trick Caleb can do.”

Caleb shakes his head sadly. “Three weeks of magic camp, and all I am good for is a disappearing quarter trick.”

“Nah, that’s not all you’re good at,” I say and kiss him.

A
FTER A VERY EARLY BREAKFAST,
we all pile back into our cars. I’m with Caleb, and Daphne and Nick are in the back. Caleb drops Daphne off at the college, then takes Nick home.

“My place or yours?” he asks me, the car still running.

I eye the house—all the guys are there, and I want to be alone just with Caleb. “Mine.”

“Sounds great.” He pulls out of the driveway and heads to my apartment building. “So,” he asks, “have you decided yet about the art showcase?”

“Not yet. But I did get some more info on it. It’s all students’ work and shown at the college in one of the main rooms in the theatre.” I take my ponytail out and let my hair fan out over my shoulders. “It’s not a huge thing, but there’s a reception for the students on the opening night of the showcase. No speakers, thank God. Just look at the art in the room type of thing.”

“Low key, but still pretty awesome.”

“Yeah.”

Caleb finds an empty parking space near the back row. “But you don’t have to decide yet?”

“Not until December 12.” The day after my birthday. “After Thanksgiving.”

“Thanksgiving is a week or so away.”

“I know.” I get out of the car and adjust the belt on my cardigan. The wind is cold, but I don’t put my jacket on. I’ll be inside soon enough.

We make a dash for the apartment and take the elevator up to my floor.

“Hailey,” Caleb says. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving?”

“Oh.” I let us into the apartment, switching on the lights and taking off my boots. “Staying here.”

“Alone?”

“Yeah.” I hang up my jacket and take Caleb’s. “I’m not going back to California. I’m actually putting my house on the market in the new year.”

“You . . . are?”

“I’m not going back to California,” I say. “I like it here. I’m staying.”

“And you’re not doing anything for the holiday?”

“No,” I say, not understanding why he’s focusing on this. “But I’m used to being alone for the holidays. It’s nothing new. My mother was always doing something, and we were never big on that.”

But there were many times I wished we had been—that we’d sat around, had turkey and all the traditional Thanksgiving fare, and then fallen asleep because we stuffed ourselves silly.

Caleb grabs my hand, pulling me to him. “Hailey, you don’t have to be alone. Come home with me.”

“For the holiday?”

“Yeah.” He brushes my hair aside. “Spend Thanksgiving with me and my family. I want you to meet them anyway.”

“Are you sure? That’s a family thing, and I don’t want to be intruding.”

“You won’t be intruding. My family is dying to meet you. And I want you there. With me.”

I lean up on my toes and kiss him. “Yes, I’d love to.”

Caleb takes me in his arms, deepening the kiss. His mouth presses against mine, and he backs me toward the kitchen. We keep kissing along the way, stopping to take a long, slow taste of each other. My cardigan is tossed to the floor. I rip his shirt open as we cross into the kitchen. My tee lands on the kitchen counter. Caleb turns me around, and I reach my arms up and hold onto his neck, arching my back. Caleb runs his fingers over my bra, and I let out a moan.

“You need this off . . . and your jeans,” he says, biting my earlobe.

“You too.”

We both nod and then break away to hurriedly remove the rest of our clothing. Caleb kicks the pile to the side, and then he presses himself to the back of me and caresses my breasts. He presses them together, his finger grazing over the tips of each nipple. I rock back into him.

“Let me . . .” Caleb groans. “Wanna make sure you’re ready.”

I bring his hand down to my core. “I am.”

He dips inside, teasing me with slow, sure strokes. I can’t take this teasing tonight. I want him. Badly.

“Take me.” I bend forward, placing my hands on the kitchen table. “Caleb. Now.”

Caleb kisses my shoulder. “I want it to always be good for us.”

“It’s always been good. Great. Awesome.” We’ve had sex since that first night, and it’s always rocked my world. Caleb always takes his time to make sure I’ve come and that I’m completely satisfied. But tonight I want him hard and fast, and so I tell him that. “You inside me now.”

“Just let me put this on.” Caleb unwraps a condom, rolling it over him.

I lower my head, widening my stance, and feel his lips at the nape of my neck.

And then I feel him at my entrance, filling me slowly.

“Caleb.” My heart pounds in my chest, and I roll my hips to bring him deeper inside me, to make him start to move. “Please.”

He leans over me, his chest against my back, his fingers threading through mine, and he thrusts.

I clench around him and he lifts himself up, so that his hands are tight on my hips, and he slams into me. Again and again and again. I cry out as he keeps a hard, relentless pace, one that holds us both a prisoner of passion. I tighten, squeezing him each time he enters, and his pace becomes faster, more uneven, and I know he’s on the brink of losing control. Of truly letting go, like I am. I squeeze again and slam back into him on his next thrust.

Caleb mutters a curse.

And then he lets go, taking me with him.

I scream my release, my body heaving with sated pleasure.

And somehow we make it to my bed, and I fall asleep in his arms.

Exactly where I’m meant to be.

Chapter 24

C
ALEB’S FAMILY DOESN’T LIVE THAT
far away from Green College. It’s only a twenty-minute drive, and Caleb explains to me on the short ride that even though he and Daphne both attend somewhere close, their parents are cool enough to just let them do their own things. Although, he admits, that his parents are guilty of hovering over Daphne as he does, too.

Daphne rolls her eyes at this in the backseat. “I already told Hailey that one. And you and all the guys are way too overprotective. My mother acts like she’s really laidback and nonchalant, but she is such a worrywart. And Dad is so protective. Like Caleb but a million times worse.”

“And you should prepare yourself for my sisters,” Caleb says, pausing at a stop sign. They’re going to go crazy over you.”

“I’m sure Mom has given them the riot act.”

Caleb makes a left hand turn, driving along a curvy road that shows a view of Lake Champlain on the right. “You really think that’s going to stop them?”

“You’re right.” Daphne scratches Goliath behind his ears. “You better prepare yourself, Hailey.”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” I say. “I’m more nervous about meeting your parents. What if they don’t like me?”

“They’ll love you,” Caleb reassures me. “We have a few more minutes and then we’ll be there. See that street at the corner?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s where we live. We have a brick house at the end of the cul-de-sac.”

I hold tight to the bouquet of flowers I bought earlier this morning at a local florist shop. “I think I’m going to throw up.”

“You won’t.” Caleb pulls onto the street. “Although you might want to if Phoebe offers you a brownie.”

“Stay away from the brownies, Hailey.” Daphne shudders. “No one who has eaten them has survived.”

“Gotcha.”

Caleb’s house soon comes into view.

A standard Tudor all done in brown brick with a black roof, shutters, and doors. There are pine trees lining the sides, and more trees can be seen from the driveway, their branches bared. Caleb pulls into the wide driveway and parks in front of the garage door. He reaches into the console and takes out a garage door opener, pressing the button, and then pulls in when he sees that the space is empty.

We wait until the garage door closes until we open the doors. Daphne holds onto Goliath as she grabs her duffle bag from the trunk. Caleb takes his bag and mine, closing the trunk, and looks over at me.

“It’ll be okay,” he says. “Promise.”

I loosen my grip on the flowers so that I don’t bend the stems and break them. My heart is racing a mile a minute, and I really hope Caleb’s family likes me.

“If you say so.” I take a deep breath, and slowly exhale, trying to calm my nerves. But I won’t settle down until I actually meet his parents. And even then I’ll still be nervous. What if they don’t like that Caleb is dating
me
.

I shake my head and walk with Caleb to the door. Daphne enters before us, putting Goliath down so he can scamper into the house. I hear a man’s voice cooing at Goliath, and then a different bark.

“You have another dog?”

“Yeah. Her name is Honey. She’s a Golden Retriever. She’s four.”

“You didn’t tell me about Honey,” I say.

“Well, I wanted there to be
some
surprises.” Caleb leans over, kissing me quickly. “And remember what I said. You might want to brace yourself.”

I follow Caleb into his house and take my shoes off in the mud room when Caleb does the same. From here, I can smell something delicious cooking—maybe pasta and meatballs, or some other type of Italian food.

He gives me an encouraging nod and holds his hand out to me. His grasp is comforting, and helps my nerves settle slightly, and then we step into the kitchen area. His house has an open plan so that the kitchen looks into the eating area and the living room.

But the first thing I notice is Caleb’s dad. His father is tall, and an older and leaner version of Caleb, with black hair and striking green eyes. He’s at the coffee machine that’s stationed on an island, pouring some into a cup. He’s talking to Daphne and glances over at us.

“Caleb,” he says, striding over. “Just making some coffee and have dinner on the stove.”

“Smells good,” Caleb says.

His father stirs sugar into the cup. “Daph, don’t let your mother know I almost burned the sauce just now.”

Daphne places her duffle bag down on a bar stool. “Your secret is safe with me.”

His father nods approvingly.

“Dad, this is Hailey.”

Mr. Fox heads toward us, holding out his hand. “Hi, Hailey.”

I shake it. “Hi, Mr. Fox.”

“Call me Mark.”

“Where’s Mom?” Caleb asks.

“Still at work,” their dad says, sipping a cup. “She had to work late today, and your sisters are—”

“
Hailey Bloom!”

“—or were outside with the dogs.”

“Oh my god! It’s
you
!” A girl shrieks as she comes in from the backyard, her raven hair cut in a bob, freckles dotting across her nose. “Oh my god!”

“Rhea,” their dad says. “Remember what we talked about last night?”

“
Dad!
” Rhea drags the word out, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m
not
stupid.”

Then she turns around, yelling out the door:

“Percy! Get in here!
Now!
”

“Rhea,” their father says again, his voice firm.

“Oh. Sorry. I’m being rude.” Rhea strides to me, smiling wide, braces on her teeth. “Hi, I’m Rhea. The
fun
sister.”

“Hi,” I say.

“Oh! My! God!” A younger voice shrieks, and I turn to see the girl from the supermarket. “It is you! I totally thought Mom was lying last night.”

“Hi . . . Percy.”

Percy squees. “She knows my name. Oh my god. This means we’re already best friends.”

“Percy,” Caleb says. “Chill.”

“Caleb,” Percy says, jumping up and down on her feet. “You’re the bestest brother ever.”

“Nice try,” he says. “Try and be cool. Please. No need to scare Hailey off.”

Percy’s hazel eyes widen. “I’m not scaring you, am I?”

“No,” I say smiling, and notice her shimmery pink nails. “I love your nail polish.”

“And I love yours!” Percy takes one of my hands, looking at the dark purple. “See, Caleb? We’re totes best friends.”

Daphne shakes her head, then looks around the room. “Where’s Phoebe?”

“Upstairs. Reading.” Their father puts some garlic bread into the oven. “Why don’t you all put your bags away? Mom should be home in fifteen, then we’ll eat . . . and, girls—”

“Yes, Dad,” Rhea and Percy both say at the same time.

“Stay down here. I need your help.”

“But, Dad!”

“No ‘buts’ about it.” Mr. Fox smiles at us. “You’ll have some peace and quiet for a little.”

“Thanks,” Caleb says.

Daphne grabs her bag and heads upstairs before us.

“Percy, Rhea, and Phoebe’s rooms are down that hallway,” Caleb says, pointing to the right. “Percy and Rhea share a room.”

“Let me guess. They’re room is behind the bright pink door.” From here, I can also see a sign that looks like it has names written in glitter.

“Yup,” Caleb says. “There’s also a bathroom that they all share at the end.”

“And our rooms are down this way.” Daphne turns to the right and stops at the first door. “Here’s my space.”

“Am I staying with you?” I can’t imagine their parents being cool with me sharing a room with Caleb. Vermont is different from Hollywood. And somehow I don’t think some parents are as laidback as my mother was about living arrangements. “Or somewhere else?”

“You’re taking my room,” Caleb says. “I’m going to sleep on the couch in the upstairs den.”

Daphne steps inside her room, and then peeks her head out. “The den just happens to be across from his. Convenient, that.”

“Please,” Caleb says. “Grow up.”

“You first.” Daphne closes the door, laughing.