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And now I was in a war with a woman I couldn’t live without. All I knew was I couldn’t lose her again. I wouldn’t survive it. I barely did the first time.
To catch her in my brother’s arms, regardless of the reason, turned my world upside down. Our relationship was frustrating, having no clue where the fuck I stood with her.
One minute I felt like we were making progress, going in the right direction, and the next I didn’t recognize the woman standing in front of me. For the last eight years, I thought about her every day. Whether it was for a few seconds or couple hours, I never stopped thinking about her.
I opened the cabinet in my bathroom and grabbed some pain reliever for Evie before making my way back into my bedroom. She was passed out on my pillow on my side of the bed. Her hair cascaded around her face, reminding me of all the times I watched her sleep while she was in my arms. I didn’t want to wake her, but if I didn’t then she’d wake up with a hell of a hangover.
“Darlin’, you need to take this.”
She half-opened her glossy eyes, nodding at me.
After she swallowed the pills, I laid her back down. She was already asleep when I began sliding off her jeans. I left her in her shirt and panties.
She rolled onto her stomach, groaning, “Caleb,” into my pillow.
I sat in the armchair by my bed, rubbing my temples in an effort to calm the migraine that was looming.
“Mmm … Caleb…” she moaned, making me wonder what she was dreaming about.
There was so much I wanted to say, so much I needed to tell her, but I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t want to scare her away. She was finally back in my life, and I was determined to keep her there. My brother showing up out of nowhere was unexpected. It seemed like it was one thing after another.
I still had hours of work ahead of me and decided to bring it into my bedroom so I could watch over Evie as she slept. Although, I left before she woke up the next morning. It was better that way. I didn’t sleep, and I was fucking exhausted, running myself ragged.
Evie was right. I was missing so much time with my kids. They were growing up so fast. Before I knew it, they’d be driving, in college, getting married, beginning their own lives. I had to try to be present for them and their futures.
I just hoped…
Evie would still be in mine.
Chapter Seventeen
—Caleb—
Then: One year later
My cell phone rang as I was driving toward the private hangar in Texas. Tomorrow was the Super Bowl, and I was flying out to Miami for Jax’s big night. All it took was one season for him to take his team to the most important game of the year.
Which didn’t surprise me. Jax was a natural born leader. Football was in his blood. He was made to be a quarterback and be the best in the league.
“Hello,” I answered his call.
“Hey, man. Did you leave yet?”
“No, I will in about thirty minutes.”
“Perfect. I need your help.”
This was how all our conversations began in reference to his sister.
“What did she do this time?”
“She missed her flight.”
“Of course she did.”
“I tried to get her another ticket for later tonight, but it’s Super Bowl weekend in Miami. All flights are sold out. I need you to do me a favor… Well, actually, I need a few favors.”
“I’m listening.”
