He pulled me back into his arms and grinned down at me. “Jared sure brought it, didn’t he? Don’t think there’ll be any more rumors about him, or us, losing any edge after that.”
“No, I don’t think so. But he wasn’t the only one who brought it. You were breathtaking up there. I could watch you every night.”
Caleb smirked and smacked my ass lightly. “Oh wait, it’s a good thing you’re going to be watching us most nights then.”
I stuck the tip of my tongue out a him, smiling wide. “I can’t wait. You guys have set the bar insanely high. It’s going to be a tough one to beat.”
I could’ve been imagining it, but I could’ve sworn that his chest expanded a little bit. Confidence oozed from his every pore in a way most men wouldn’t have be able to pull off, wearing skinny leather pants and black eyeliner smudged underneath his smoldering eyes.
“We’ll beat it. You’ll see.”
“I don’t doubt it. You guys were electric up there. I really think that this tour, combined with how successful the album release was, are going to put things over the top for you. Well done. I’m really proud of you, Caleb.”
The corners of his mouth dropped, and he suddenly looked a whole lot less happy. I was puzzled until I remembered what he’d told me during our first interview about the lobsters, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out why he was suddenly so sullen.
He was unhappy about my comment about the levels of success I thought they were going to reach. I knew how he felt about getting too big, how certain he was that it wasn’t going to last, but he should’ve been enjoying it while it lasted. It was unimaginable to me how someone whose dreams were coming true could be so negative about it.
It was time to quit beating around the bush. I had to ask him about it point blank. “There are thousands of bands around the world who would give absolutely anything to be in your position right now. Why does success bother you so much?”
Caleb clenched his jaw, and a spark in his eyes went out. “Because success has led to sacrifice for me.”
“That might be a part of it, Caleb. But it’s just a small part of it. I don’t think you know anymore what it actually is that you want.”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about. You don’t know what I’ve sacrificed to be here. Maybe I don’t know what I want anymore, but that’s not your problem, is it?” Gone was warm, excited Caleb with his eager lips from minutes ago. I barely recognized the man standing in front of me now.
“It could be. If you want me to, I’m willing to be there at your side and to help you figure it out. I could be there for you.”
Eyes narrowing, he crossed his arms defensively, raised an eyebrow, and shot me a challenging look. “Oh really? You’re willing to stand by my side, are you? Tell me Kelly, would you give up your job if it came to that? How long would you actually be by my side?”
I was so shocked by his mocking tone and sudden hostility that I couldn’t immediately come up with an answer. Caleb took my silence as my answer and shoved his hands deep into his pockets, brows drawn together.
“That’s what I thought. I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I don’t need you to be there for me or to stay at my side. I don’t need your help. You’re just another notch on my bed post. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Each word that he spat out felt like he was slapping me with it. It made me so damn angry that I was thrown out of my speechless daze, rage coloring my cheeks and making a blob form in my tummy. “That’s not fair, Caleb. Don’t—”
“Hate to be the one that has to break it to you, but life’s not fair.” Caleb gave me a last, long look, twisted the doorknob so violently that I thought it might come off, and stormed out without another word.
I stood there, stunned and completely unable to comprehend what the hell had just happened. One second, Caleb was kissing me like the ship was going down, and the next, he was storming out without so much as a backward glance.
I couldn’t help but wonder if Caleb’s force of nature had finally caught up with me.