Caleb sat quietly for a moment that felt like an eternity, until he said, “Rae, did someone hurt you?” His voice was so calm and comforting.
I sat there, looking at my hands twisting around the stem of my wine glass.
“Rae, you don't have to tell me anything, or you can tell me everything, just know that I'll be here for you if you want to talk,” Caleb said in the most gentle tone I had ever heard as he put his hand out towards me, palm up. I really looked at him for the first time since the conversation had started. His brows knitted together out of worry, but his eyes were so kind.
Seeing him care so much broke the barrier the words were hidden behind. I took a shaky breath and let it out slowly. “My ex,” I said with a voice flooded by tears. I couldn’t help it. “It wasn't...He didn't...” I didn’t know where to start, or even how to start.
His hand was still extended out towards me, palm up, steady, strong. I put my hand in his, feeling his warmth and saw the concern in his eyes. Thoughts about if I could trust him with this raced through my head. I was so scared to lose my friend if I told him.
Caleb noticed my hesitation, his expression only looking more concerned. His thumb moved slowly back and forth on my hand.
With a wavering voice, I continued to tell him, “My ex...”
Chapter 16
Caleb
Ihad been overjoyedwhen one of my closest friends had returned to town and looked to be staying for a while, but it seemed that there was a sad reason as to why she came back home, one that I had only guessed until now. I was hoping what she was about to tell me was not what I had imagined.
Rage pulsed through my veins at the thought of someone possibly hurting her. I was trying to stay calm so I could focus if she wanted to talk.
She had taken my hand, and it felt like she was holding on for dear life. Like if she didn’t hold it tight, something bad may happen. When Duke saw her take my hand, he moved his head away but stayed right next to us, almost like he thoughtDad’s got this.
“My ex, Ethan, and I met in my final year of college. We were both studying at a cafe and went to sit at the only table available. We ended up sharing it and chatting with each other while working on our assignments. We saw each other there a few more times, and each time agreed to share a table while doing homework. Eventually...” She had a death grip on my hand and her wine glass. “...he asked me out and we went on a date. He seemed kind, charming, I thought...”
She took a sip of wine and cleared her throat. “Fast forward—” She paused again, took a shaky breath, and looked at me for a moment. “Sorry I’m taking forever,” she said in a tiny voice.
“It’s okay, Sunshine. You take as long as you need. I’m not going anywhere.”
She took a deep, shaky breath, and continued. “We moved in together after a bit. I don't remember how long we'd been dating, but it was a little over a year after we'd met. Everything seemed okay and normal for the first year of us living together. Things were good for the most part. We would disagree on things, but nothing major. Just normal disagreements couples have. But then something changed in him. He had been getting a bit ‘nit-picky’ at things I would do, but then it got worse.”
Her voice broke as she said those last words, and it broke my heart to hear it.
She stopped talking for a couple minutes and hadn't looked at me either. I, however, hadn't stopped watching her. She shivered despite the fire still being warm enough, and her hand felt so cold. I knew the shaking was probably mostly due to what she was telling me, but with my free hand, I grabbed a blanket from the corner of the truck.
“Rae, you don't have to tell me anything if you don't want to, or if you're not ready to,” I reassured her as I wrapped the blanket around her. I picked the other one up and placed it over her lap.
