Change of Plans - C.L. Blackwell Page 0,60

take an ice bath? Your skin is freezing,” Caleb looked mad at me, but I gave him a look not to mess with me. Turning his back to me, he went to my dresser. He came back with a pile of clothes. Normally, I would have been embarrassed to have him digging around my underwear drawer, but instead I just said a ‘thank you.’ Leaving me to change, Caleb went to take a shower of his own, which was good. Not that I would tell him, but he stunk.

He was faster in the shower, probably because all the warm water was gone. He got dressed in an outfit similar to mine, sweats and shirts. Without hesitating he crawled back into bed, pulling me with him. Even though I just woke up, my energy levels plummeted just by taking a shower. On the other hand, Caleb looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks.

Before he could get fully situated, he was snoring. Poor Caleb, I thought while brushing my hand through his dark hair. He leaned into my touch, nuzzling my hand. I watched him a while longer before drifting off into my own sleep.

When I woke, Brody was opening the door with a tray full of food. Silvia filled my mouth as the scents of steak filled my nose. The scent woke up Caleb too because he stretched before sitting up next to. Brody, ever the comedian, was wearing my floral apron.

“Good morning, sweethearts. Breakfast in bed,” he placed the tray in front of me.

I looked down at al the food, falling in love. “Brody, you’re the best!”

Caleb reached around me to get to the food. “I thought I was the best,” he pouted.

“Yeah, sure, you too,” I muttered distracted. Cutting into the steak, I put a large piece in my mouth, savoring the juicy flavor.

Brody suddenly serious, and Caleb both looked at me concerned. “Al,” Brody said. “You may want to take it slow. We weren’t able to give you a lot of nutrients while you were sleeping. Your body hasn’t consumed anything in almost more than a week.

Wow, no wonder I was starved. I tried to slow down, but my body was screaming at me to feed it. Brody was turning to leave when I called out to him, “Where’s dad, Brody?”

Turning around, his face turned to stone. “Locked up, as he should be, in pack cells. He’ll be there till his Tribunal.”

Tribunal? I wanted to ask him more, but he left before I could. Even Caleb didn’t want to talk about because he kept shoving his mouth with food, not meeting my gaze. Dropping the subject, I started eating. I took it slow, but in the end, I finished a lot more food than the boys would have preferred.

Caleb set the tray back on the bedside table and drew the curtains shut, blocking all the light. “Back to sleep?” I nodded, wanting nothing more. Caleb pulled me to him until I was tucked under his arms, safe.

It was strange. Four weeks ago, I was happy with my best friend, Matt. Three weeks ago, all I wanted was for Caleb to leave me alone. Two weeks ago, I was head over heals for him. One week ago, I turned. And now, everything was different.

It was funny, I was so far from where I planned. I wanted to go to college, and leave this town. Yet, here I was. So far off track, but somehow I was right where I needed to be.

Chapter Thirty-three

Over

Caleb

I was downstairs talking to Brody about the Tribunal when I heard the screams. Taking the stairs two at a time, I bolted into Allie’s room. She was thrashing on the bed, trying to fend away an invisible monster. I had only left her for about five minutes, but I regretted it. Shaking her hard, I tried to get her to wake up.

Her eyes popped opened, bewildered. She turned her head quickly, trying to take in her surroundings. I pulled her into my arms, trying to chase away the demons for her. I could feel her silently shaking against me, sobbing. I pulled her closer to me.

“It’s alright, Allie,” I whispered to her, like I would to a baby. “It’s over.”

———————————

The nightmares always came. No matter how many times I assured her she was safe, she would always wake up screaming. It’s already been a week, and anytime I wasn’t sleeping with her, she would revisit the memories that haunted us both. It was the shift that