“I’m glad you took that class,” Caleb says, letting out a hard exhale, the relief apparent in his voice.
“Me too. I can’t even believe I remember what to do.”
“This is all some heavy shit,” Caleb now says, both of us feeling the severity of it all. This could’ve gone so many different ways.
“We’re navigating something pretty damn complicated, but we’re doing it.”
“We’re doing it together,” Caleb adds, smiling at me and with each word, I find a little bit of peace.
There’s no one else in the world I would rather be going through this with than Caleb. I’ve watched our relationship go from a friendship to falling in love and there’s nothing better. I’ve watched him fight for himself and accept help and learn from everything. The growth he’s made over these last few months has been unreal.
“Have you talked to Ed since all this happened? The civil suit?” I ask, even though not enough time has passed for this to all just disappear into thin air.
“Not yet. I figured I’d give him a call this morning and let him know what happened. He may already know.”
“Yeah, that’s possible, but I’m sure the police aren’t clamoring to tell him they fucked up.”
Caleb laughs a little, thinking about what that would look like. “I can’t imagine they’re jumping at the chance to say they were wrong.”
“So, do you think Professor Keller was paying the campus security to keep their mouths shut? He made that comment and it was kinda weird.”
“It seems that he was. He sorta was spouting off all kinds of shit when he knew he was going down. I’m sure those security officers don’t make a lot of money and getting a few extra dollars from an esteemed professor seemed like easy money. It’s hard to pass up when you’re poor. Trust me, I know.”
I’ve never lived like that and it’s hard to even imagine, but I’m sure it’s a struggle. I can understand how people are manipulated though and that’s exactly what happened once again with Professor Keller.
“Hey, what happened yesterday at work with Ken?” I now ask, totally forgetting that Caleb’s boss wanted to talk to him.
Our day was so crazy that it was pushed to the back of my mind, not that it wasn’t just as important. Caleb being worried about losing his job should be something we focus on. It’s been a huge part of his recovery and he doesn’t need any setbacks now.
“Oh, that,” he responds. “It feels like that was years ago. Shit, yesterday was the longest day I’ve had in a long time.”
“Yeah, I know, but stop rambling and answer my question,” I tease, tickling his stomach, my hand trailing across his warm skin.
“He’s selling the bar,” he responds back immediately.
“What does that mean for you?” I feel myself grow a little panicked over how this will affect Caleb and his job. I know there are other jobs out there, but for him, this job has been his starting over point, a time when he finally felt productive and needed. It helped him gain the confidence he desperately needed.
“He said he’s going to encourage the new owners to keep me on, but I’m sure that won’t happen.”
“Why would you say that? You’re doing an amazing job.”
“I don’t know. I guess because a new owner usually changes things. Tries something new to bring in revenue and that usually means cutting the staff and starting over,” Caleb says, as if he already knows the outcome.
“Who’s buying the place? Maybe you could talk with them ahead of time?”
“You’re full of suggestions today, aren’t you?” Now it’s him teasing me as he nips at my neck playfully. “He hasn’t sold the place yet. It isn’t even on the market, but I’m sure he has someone interested.”
“Okay, I’m going to make another suggestion since I’m full of them today. What if you bought it?”
Caleb laughs out loud as if this is the most ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. “I can’t buy the bar, Ruby. You know what happened last time I owned a bar.”
“Um, that bar was already failing. You had no way to turn it around. And well...” I stop for a second trying to figure out how to say it. “I mean you have the money. You and Sie and Reid. That money you got from Reid’s dad. What if you invest it in the bar and get an official do-over?”
He stops laughing, my words now resting in his head, an idea churning and hopefully sinking in. It’s a good idea, one that would allow him some freedom and some financial stability. It would also be exactly what he needs to prove he can do this.
“I don’t know. That’s a little...”
“Scary?” I say, filling in his missing word because I know that’s exactly what he’s thinking.
“Yeah. That and what if I fail again?”
“You won’t. You were set up for failure before. Talk with Sie and Reid about it, please.” I plead in the hopes he doesn’t just dismiss this conversation.
“Yeah, I guess I could give it some thought.”
“Maybe even talk with your therapist about it? See what she has to say and if she thinks it could be good for you.”
“The money is there, but still...I don’t know.”
“It’s just an idea, Caleb. If you don’t want it to be something more it doesn’t have to be.”
I lean over and kiss him, a smile forming on both our mouths.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Caleb
I’d like to think that Keller getting arrested is the magic bullet that fixes everything that’s fucked up in my life, but it’s not. I mean it’s a good thing for sure, but everything else is far from over.
I still have no idea what’s happening with the civil suit. No idea what’s happening with everything he did to Ruby or the other students on campus. I already feel a ton of guilt over the fact that he managed to get his hands on her again, that I wasn’t able to protect her from him and it was just lucky she was able to get away before he did much worse to her. She’s doing amazingly well, all things considered, but if the past two years have taught me anything, I know this will come back to haunt Ruby.
And I know I have to be here when that happens.
My head is still a huge fucking mess too and far from being fixed. I probably need to go see Liz again soon, maybe more frequently given everything that’s happened.
And now I also have to contend with the possibility that I may lose my job.
I wish it could be as simple as Ruby says, but it’s not. I have no idea how much Ken even wants for the place or if he already has a buyer lined up. No idea if Sie or Reid would even want to buy it with me. Fuck knows it would be Reid putting up most of the cash. Would he want to take that risk?
But the biggest part of me is wondering whether I can do this again. Whether I can set myself up for failure. To fuck up like I did back in Rhode Island.
“Hey, where’d you go just now?” Ruby asks, smiling against my mouth as she pushes me onto my back.
My hands move to her hips. “Nowhere,” I say, trying for a smile.
Ruby smirks down at me, her hands resting on my chest. She looks so relaxed and at ease, as though what happened yesterday is all a distant memory. As though it’s barely even affected her.