Page 60 of Fame & Chaos

My throat tightens unexpectedly. “Yeah. Thanks. Means a lot.”

He gives my shoulder another squeeze before dragging his hand back through his hair.

I stand and glance down at him. “It’ll work out. I promise. And don’t go too hard on Annie. I know she acted out, and I’m not excusing it, but she genuinely feels bad about what happened. Just remember you love her.”

A tired smile crosses his face. “Always looking out for her. Thanks, Caleb. If you hadn’t found her…”

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m her cousin. Looking out for her is part of the job.” I walk over to the kitchen bench and grab my car keys, ready to head home.

“Caleb.” I stop and glance back at him. “Love you, kid.”

My entire body locks up.

He hasn’t said that in a long fucking time, and suddenly my throat feels too tight to breathe properly. Colt was the father I always wished I had growing up, so hearing those words from him hits me harder than I expect. Hard enough that, for a split second, I stop thinking about Indi entirely.

“Love you too,” I reply quietly.

He smiles faintly before dropping his head back into his hands, and just like that, the moment passes.

I leave the kitchen quickly, blinking hard to stop the burn behind my eyes from spilling over. It takes a lot to make me emotional, but hearing Colt tell me he loves me? That’ll never stop affecting me, especially because he doesn’t say it often.

I’ve always looked up to him… respected him. He was good to me from the moment we met, the first real male role model I ever had in my life. He showed me the kind of man I wanted to become someday.

The kind worth respecting.

The kind worth loving.

I’ll never forget the way he treated me, and I owe him a debt I could never repay. Nothing I ever do will equal what he gave me growing up. So if that means watching over his daughters whenever they need me, then I’ll do it without question or hesitation. Not just because I owe him, but because I love those girls too… even when they drive me completely insane.

Like last night.

I could have had an incredible night with Angel if Annie hadn’t interrupted everything with her stupidity.

Then again… if she hadn’t, I never would have found Indi.

And now that I know where she works, there’s no way in hell I’m staying away from her.

But then again, what would that accomplish if she doesn’t want to see me?

Still… I can’t just let this go.

I’ll bide my time until I figure out a way to see her again.

And I will.

There’s no way in hell I can let the way things ended last night be the last time I ever see Indi Malone.

I can’t.

And I won’t.

Climbing into my car, I drive away from the manor. The massive gates slowly open, and the early morning drizzle coats the windshield like the weather itself is trying to piss me off. It’s like the sky somehow knows exactly how I’m feeling and decided to put on a dramatic performance to match my mood. Honestly, I couldn’t hate the rain more right now if I tried.

“Stupid fucking weather,” I mutter as I flick the wipers on.

I pull onto the main road and start the drive back toward London. My body’s on autopilot, but Indi completely consumes my brain.

By us.