One More Time - Ali Parker Page 0,45
happened?” My sister’s voice was soft and understanding as she released me, blue eyes sweeping mine before she led me to the kitchen, made us each a cup of tea, and then sat me down. “Right, go. Tell me the whole sordid tale.”
And so I did, ending with Caleb walking out on me almost a week ago. I kept of lot of details private, not only the sexual stuff, but a lot of the things that we’d talked about that I didn’t think Caleb would’ve wanted broadcasted.
“And that’s it. I haven’t heard a word from him since. I don’t think I’m going to, either.”
Alicia was wide eyed and quiet as she processed everything I’d said. “Okay, well I’m going to take a pragmatic approach to start with. What are you going to do about GNM?”
“GNM?”
“Your employer?” Alicia prompted me, though I still didn’t quite get what they had to do with anything. “You’re going to have to choose, or at least, be upfront with them about sleeping with one of your subjects. They’re fine with gonzo journalism, so maybe it’s not the end of things.”
Ugh, I hadn’t even thought of that prospective screw up. The profile I was doing on Caleb was my first subject profile for Gathers No Moss, and I’d gone and slept with said subject. And then he dumped me.
Or no, actually. He didn’t dump me because we were never even together to begin with. I’d jeopardized a fantastic opportunity with my brand-new employer, and for what? A couple of orgasms and a fake sense of mutual affection.
It was clear that Caleb felt nothing for me, and yet, when I thought about the time we’d had together, and the last time specifically, it couldn’t all have been in my imagination. Though I didn’t think that my employer would care about that little detail.
Grabbing my pillow, I buried my face in it and suppressed the urge to scream before lifting my head once I’d regained my composure. “I don’t even know what to say to that. It could be the end. I’m not sure.”
“And you and Caleb?”
I wished that I had the answer to that question. “I don’t know that either. I think it’s over. I pushed him too hard, but I was only trying to help. The road to hell, right?”
“Hey, your good intentions haven’t led you all the way down that road yet. He may come around still.” Alicia didn’t sound any more confident than I felt.
“I don’t think he will. He’s just so hard to understand. Straight-up party guys? Them, I can understand no problem. But Caleb? I have no clue what’s going on in his head or what makes him tick. Even the bits that I do know that make him tick, I have no idea why or where it came from.” It seemed like too little too late to be trying to figure him out now.
Alicia sipped her tea thoughtfully and then sighed and ran her hands through her long hair. She was growing it out, probably for the wedding. The golden strands stayed slightly upright with static at the ends, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“I might know why some things make him tick,” she admitted quietly, judging my reactions carefully. “Jared went to see him the other day, and when he got back, he told me everything. I think you deserve to know too.”
“It’s not Jared’s story to share, or yours,” I told her half-heartedly. Truth be told, I was dying to know what Alicia knew, but I also felt like I had to hear it from Caleb.
“I know. That’s how he felt too. That’s why he didn’t tell me before, but when he got back, he said it was time for him to step in. Also, both of us felt like you deserved the truth, and Jared’s convinced Caleb will never tell you. Apparently, he doesn’t talk about it. Ever.”
My curiosity was definitely piqued. And if both Jared and Alicia felt like I should be told the truth and Caleb wasn’t going to tell me, then why not? I’d come clean to him later and take whatever might come my way for hearing his story from someone else. But for right now, I just wanted the truth. I was desperate to make even a lick of sense of the infuriating man.
“Okay, I’m all ears. I should warn you. We both might be taking that road to hell together for talking about this behind his back.”
Alicia nodded, sadness in her eyes