Chapter 30
Carli
It feels like I’ve sat on this bed for a billion years. Did Leah decide to live inside the bathroom or something? She has spent more than an hour inside making weird sounds, but my patience is wearing thin.
Sighing. I stand up and walk over to the door to knock on it.
No response.
what is even happening right now!
“Leah? Is everything alright!” I ask as I cautiously turn the handle and enter the room.
Leah is sitting on the beige bathroom mat with her arms wrapped around her legs. She looks depressed as hell, something which worries me since I’ve never seen her like this before. Did I do something wrong”
I kneel down in front of her. “Earth to Leah! Are you there!”
She finally looks up, and my heart clenches when her lips form a smile that’s obviously forced. “Shit, how long have I been sitting here?”
“For more than an hour. I sigh. “Mind telling me what’s wrong?
Her smile disappears, and I curse myself inwardly for asking that question when she stares down at her feet. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”
I don’t believe her. Not when her voice cracks to betray her words. This is something, and I’m not going to give up on her opening up to me
I sit down beside her on the mat, our shoulders touching. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Leah is silent for a long moment, which worries me. This is the first time I’ve seen her so sad, and I already hate it. So far, she has only been blushing or yelling at me in between smiling on this trip. I’ve teased her every day and now I’m worried she is going to shur me out since she doesn’t deem me capable of a deeper conversation.
But then she takes a shaky breath, and my hopes get up until she whispers, “I just need to rest will you hold me tonight?”
I suck my lips into my mouth, wetting them before saying. “Of course,” even though I know there’s n dead on the inside, but if she doesn’t want to open up right now, then I will be patient.
“Come on,” I take her hand in nine. “Let’s get comfortable in bed and watch a bad movie.”
more to this than Leah being tired. She looks
Leah tries to keep the smile on her face, but I can tell she is fighting tears since I know her better than she might realize.
“Are you sure you’re okay!” I ask even though I know the answer is no
“I’m fine,” she fake smiles again. “Thanks for caring, though. You’re a good man, Caleb.”
Her words echo in my mind as we make our way to the bedroom. She called me a good man. But am I really? If I were, whatever is troubling her? Wouldn’t I be able to take away her pain and make everything alright again?
wouldn’t I be able to fix
We settle into bed, Leah’s petite body curled up against my chest as I wrap my arms around her. There is tension in her body, and no matter how hard I hug her, it doesn’t go away.
1 flick on the TV and find some mindless comedy, hoping it will distract her from whatever dark thoughts are swirling in her head.
But as the minutes tick by, Leah remains silent. I stroke her hair and comment on the bad show we are watching, but nothing seems to reach her. Not even the jokes.
Just what is going through the pretty head of hers!
Eventually, Leah falls asleep, and I’m left staring at the TV screen while wondering what I’ve done wrong for her not to open up to me. Am I the worst boyfriend ever!
I tell Leah to sleep in the following day. She is in no shape to work and even though she didn’t want to take a sick day, I assured her it’s fine. It’s not 1/2
Voucher
3:23 PM & d
Chapter 30
like there’s a lot to do today. We are leaving Tokyo tomorrow, and I actually benefit from not having Leah with me since I have a secret meeting with a woman named Jenna today.
And no.
I’m not cheating on Leah Jenna works at a jewelry store and is helping me pick out the perfect engagement ring. I’ve been planning to propose to besh for two weeks, and yes, this might be rushing is, but I’m old–1 need to tie her to me as quickly as possible before she changes her mind and realizes being with me is stupid.
I hurry to enter the elevator when it opens, grimacing when my ex–wife grabs the door to get in with me.
“Caleb,” Lana greets me coolly as the elevator doors close. “Where are you headed Care for coffee!”
I have to fight the urge to laugh. “And why would I get coffee with a bloodsucker like you?”
Lana sighs, “Caleb, Caleb, Caleb why do you fight with me when we both know that you and I are made from the same scrap and corn!”
“We are not.” I growl in a tone that shocks her. To be honest, I’m shocked as well.
I’m usually able to stay cool and collected around Lana, but not today Yesterday the crazy lady groped my ass, and now she is claiming I’m just as lad as her, like, excuse me? I’m not the one who drank alcohol while I was pregnant and had our unborn daughter killed.
“We are Calch, we are.”
care of?
I grit my teeth as Lana looks me over appraisingly “Listen, I don’t have time for your games today. I have more important things to take care
She arches a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “More important than catching up with your devoted ex–wife?” Her voice drips with sarcasm.
I don’t respond since it will only encourage her. Luckily, the elevator dings to save me, and the doors slide open to whisk me away. I move to step out, but Lana blocks my path, ber hand splayed against my chest.
“You can’t avoid me forever, Calch. We have unfinished business, you and 1”
I grab her wrist and push her hand away. “The only unfinished business between us was settled in the divorce. Now, if you will excuse me?
1 shoulder past her, ignoring the knowing smirk on her face as I search for Jenna. I see her waiting for me by the doors leading outside.
I force a smile onto my face as I approach her.
“Well, well, well…if it isn’t Caleb Steele, Jenna greets me with a grin. “Are you ready to pick out the perfect ring for Leah?”
This time, I don’t have to fake a smile. It comes naturally. “Absolutely. I can’t wait to make Leah my wife”
Jenna leads ne out of the lobby, but while everything should be blue skies and sunshine, I have a bad feeling in my gut.
I turn around to look up at the hotel, pausing when I see Lana smiling at us from the window with the most unsenling glint in her eyes. It’s as if she knows something I don’t
“Everything alright?” Jenna asks, noticing my hesitation.
I tear my gaze away from Lana. “Yeah, let’s go
I follow Jenna towards her car, but I can’t relax. Lana is definitely up to something. I just don’t know what
