Shay hesitated. “I feel I’ve expressed my feelings, but that doesn’t change the fact that my gut tells me that he’ll leave if things go wrong. I feel it. I know him, and that’s the problem. I know I’m right. So of course, I didn’t want to tell you guys about us. Why would I shake things up if I feel he could be gone tomorrow?”
Her mother’s eyes narrowed keenly. “You just pointed out that Caleb has only us, only our family. He lost his. That kind of thing leaves a mark on a person.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “He knows we love him, but I’m sure it’s hard to feel he has a real place where he belongs. Maybe, Shay, you sense he’s willing to leave because you haven’t convinced him you’re that place.”
Shay squeezed her eyes shut against a sudden pinching sensation. Her mother was right. Shay had been so afraid of being hurt, she hadn’t truly given herself to Caleb. If this was their time, as Caleb had said, if she really wanted it to be their time, she was going to have to put herself out there. She was going to have to risk getting hurt.
Shay pushed to her feet. “You’re right. You’re so right.” She hugged her mother. “Thank you so much. I have to go, Mom.” She was already walking. She’d been so blind. So worried about being hurt that she’d hurt Caleb. And in the process, she might have lost him.
Shay had her cell phone out and dialed Caleb before she even made it to the car. No answer. She dialed again. Still no answer. “Caleb,” she told his voice mail, “please call me. I’m coming over.”
Thirty minutes later, she pulled up to the trailer. Caleb’s truck was there, but Caleb wasn’t. Shay pounded the steering wheel. He wasn’t here. Caleb wasn’t here. Still, she got out of the car and ran to the door. She knocked. And knocked. No answer.
She started to dial Kent’s number but thought better of it. She didn’t want to explain herself to Kent right now. Not until she had explained herself to Caleb. She leaned against the door and used her last resource. She called Sabrina.
Sabrina answered on the second ring, the sound of country music in the background.
“Sabrina,” Shay said.
“You’re looking for Caleb?” she asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Yes. I’m looking for Caleb.”
“He was as miserable as you, and we talked him into coming out to the country bar we all go to every Friday night.” She named the bar and the address, and then added, “He’ll be glad to see you, Shay.” She hung up.
Shay stood there, shaking inside, but clinging to Sabrina’s assurances that Caleb would be glad to see her. Still, she was scared to death of being rejected—and in public made it worse. But she was more afraid of losing Caleb. She couldn’t wait. She had to go see him tonight.
***
CALEB STOOD AT A TABLE near the crowded dance floor, not far from the DJ booth, as a Tim McGraw tune wailed from the jukebox about a real bad boy trying to be a real good man. Bobby and Ryan were out there, too, trying to prove they were real good men to their wives. Kent was doing the proving to Lori. It was going to be interesting for sure to see where those two went. Maybe a one-night stand. Maybe more.
Lord only knew, Caleb had tried his share of one-night stands in the early days of the Army, trying to bury himself and the horrors of war and loneliness in a woman. Never worked. Anyone that wasn’t Shay had never worked.
Caleb finished off his first beer, the bitter bite adding to his bad mood. He needed another one. He was dead serious about getting drunk. Every heartbroken man deserved one good night of getting legless before they got up the next morning and moved on.
A beer appeared in front of him, brought by a blonde named Heather something—he wasn’t sure she’d ever told him—who’d been hitting on him for two months. Every weekend, she’d buy him a beer and he’d turn it down.
“You can take that one,” she said, leaning in close so he could hear her. “That’s to soothe your broken heart, and don’t tell me you don’t have one. It’s written all over you. So drink the beer. I’m not into being a rebound chick. You’re safe.”
“If I’m that pathetically obvious,” he said, “I’ll take the beer.” He took a sip. “Thank you.”
She leaned on the table. “Who is she?”
“A woman destined for a very long time to break my heart,” he said. “I knew, but it didn’t matter.”
“Because you love her.”
“Because I love her.”
“Lucky girl,” she said. “Maybe I should have a talk with her.” She touched his arm. “Hang in there. She’ll come around. She’d be a fool not to.”
At that moment, Caleb’s skin tingled with awareness. His gaze lifted, searched and connected. With Shay’s. With the hurt in her eyes at the sight of the other woman next to him. “Shay!” he yelled, but she was already turning and cutting through the crowd. He was not going to get to her.
Caleb’s mind raced and he turned to Heather. “Don’t go anywhere.” He dug in his pocket and rushed to the DJ booth, holding up a big bill. That and the fact that he and the Aces were well known around here would buy him favors. The DJ leaned down, and Caleb made his request.
He grabbed Heather’s hand. “Come with me.” They rushed through the crowd right about the time the DJ made an announcement.
“Shay White—Caleb Martin requests you wait for him at the door. I repeat, Shay White, meet Caleb Martin at the door.”
Caleb was almost to the door, Shay in view, when she grabbed the microphone at the front desk, and made her own announcement. “Caleb Martin, go to hell.”
The crowd roared with laughter and cheers, but the announcement had told the doorman, an ex-Army Ranger and friend, Caleb wanted Shay stopped. She was arguing with the guy when Caleb came up behind her.
“Shay,” he said.
She whirled and took one look at Heather and turned back around. “Shay, she’s not with me.” He gave Heather a look of appeal.
“This is her?” Heather asked.
Shay whirled. “Yes, this is her.”
“He’s telling the truth,” Heather said. “He was just telling me about the woman he’s in love with, and it wasn’t me. It was you. I swear to you there was nothing going on.” She glanced at Caleb, and said, “I’m so sorry.” And then faded into the crowd.
Caleb walked toward Shay, and she backed away. “Damn it, Shay,” he said. “That woman is nothing. But if you need another reason not to be with me, then I guess you can use her. I’m not the problem here. I love you. I’m ready to announce it to the world.” He grabbed the microphone on the counter. “I love Shay White.” He faced Shay again. “Your brother is here. I don’t give a damn anymore.”
Frustration overcame him, and he walked to the door and headed outside. He was done. He had no idea why she was here, but it clearly wasn’t for the right reason.
“Caleb,” she called from behind him.