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Tears fill my eyes and she pulls me into a hug. I may not act my age, like she said, but sometimes you just need a hug from your mom. Not that she’s ever really been a mom to me, more like a friend, or roommate. I think, before my dad died, she was jealous of our relationship. Sometimes I felt as if we were competing against each other, which was just stupid.
I think for a minute about what she said. Could Cal ever love me? Nate? Yes; he would marry me in a heartbeat, but Cal is the eldest twin, so he is in line for the company, same as me. But that doesn’t excuse him for acting like a giant prick since he returned.
“He hates me, Mom. He’s hated me for so long, and he’s been so cruel. How can I marry someone like that?” I take a sip of my drink and try to compose myself. One thing I learned over the years is, my mother doesn’t like tears.
“Just tie him up, and whip him,” she says with a shrug, and I spit my wine all over the counter. She breaks into giggles and I follow, shocked at her suggestion, but I can admit the thought does make me curious.
Maybe I should take him to the club. Show him who the boss really is.
“Besides, it doesn't matter. What’s done is done, and I refuse to live in squalor, so you will just have to buckle up buttercup.” She finishes her glass, then pushes her chair back to stand. She’s a little wobbly, and I should probably help her upstairs, but after that comment, she can figure it out herself.
I should have known our mother-daughter heart-to-heart wouldn’t last, and the thought of her living in squalor is hilarious. She married a billionaire after my dad passed away. Ki’s dad is filthy rich from running his own company. Yes, I hold a fifty percent share of C & P, and that makes me richer than him, but it’s not like she sees any of the profits. Another thing, I think, that pissed her off after the reading of the will. My dad left me everything.
A commotion outside has me turning to look out the side window. A man is running across my lawn. The outdoor lights flick on and I realize that it’s Rooke from school and he looks distraught. Cal is yelling for him to stop, but he keeps running. I hope he’s okay.
Rooke has always been nice to me in our shared classes, and doesn’t deserve Cal’s wrath. I wait until he’s peeled out of the driveway, then stomp outside to confront my soon-to-be husband. I think it’s time he had a lesson in treating people with kindness.
Chapter Twenty-One
CAL: I NEED YOU.
Icheck my phone after my workout, and the five missed calls and texts from Cal have me worried. I don’t think this is just a booty call. I get in my truck and drive the ten minutes to his place. The gate is open. Right there is a sign something is wrong. They never leave the gate open.
When I reach the front door, Nate greets me instead of their butler. “Hey, Nate, what’s going on?” He shakes his head and lets me in before walking off. He seems upset. I turn to go after him, but Cal’s voice stops me.
“He needs a minute. I didn’t think you were going to come,” he slurs. I turn to him and his appearance has me sucking in a breath.
“What the hell happened, Cal?” I ask him, and he shuffles closer to me. His lip wobbles and I worry someone has died.
“Everything is ruined. My life is over,” he grunts before falling into my arms. I hold him, looking around for his dad. It is too dangerous being out in the open like this.
“Hey, let’s go to your room, okay? We can chat there.” He nods and I help him up the stairs. Nate’s door is wide open and as we pass, I spot him sitting on the floor in front of his big window, drinking a bottle of whiskey. I leave him to his thoughts and worry about the boy at my side. The one I love.
When we enter his room, he shuffles over to his bed and faceplants. His shoulders are shaking and I can hear his sniffles. I sit on the edge of the bed and touch his shoulder.
“Baby…” He rolls over and wraps his arms around my waist and starts to sob into my lap. I run my fingers through his sweaty brown hair. “Cal, please, tell me what’s going on,” I coo and he shakes his head. My dick twitches and I curse it. This is not the time, but the way Cal is rubbing his face in my crotch is not helping.
“I can’t tell you. You’ll leave me. I can’t lose you,” he mumbles and I laugh.
“How much have you had to drink? You’re not going to lose me.” He sits up and wipes his face with the shoulder of his shirt. He’s actually dressed nicely, as if he had a date or event earlier. He scoots closer to me and rests his head on my shoulder.
"We can't see each other anymore. My life is over,” he whispers. My heart starts to race, and I’m beginning to feel like I might cry.
“What are you talking about? That can't be true. Don't talk like that, Cal!” I snap and he looks at me with broken hazel eyes filled with hopelessness.
I lean down and kiss his lips, salty from his tears. I place my hand on his cheek. “I love you, Cal. I have loved you from the moment we met. I felt an instant connection to you, and just knew my life would be forever changed. Whatever this is, we can work through it. I will always be here. I’ll never leave you, Cal.” I give him a smile and his lip wobbles.
“I'm getting married, Rooke.”
I lean away from him and climb to my feet. “What? Why? How?” My mind is racing and I start to pace. Out of everything he could have said, that was something I never considered.
“Apparently, I’m supposed to marry Patience James and control the company with her. If I don’t, we will lose everything to a woman named Sharen Gatem. The house, the cars, the company, our inheritances. Everything.
“My mom and Patience’s dad set this up as a fail-safe, if they were to ever die. A way to keep the company safe and out of certain people’s grasp.” He takes a breath and grips his hair with his fists, tugging.
“I don’t know; I’m so fucking confused, and if I go off Patience’s reaction, she didn’t know either. My dad tried to tell me some things on the ride home, but I was too angry to listen. I know I need to talk to him, or read whatever letter Patience's dad left, but I’m not ready.” His voice changes to anger and I step closer to him.
“Okay, that’s a lot to take in, but that doesn’t mean things have to change between us. We will just talk to Patience. Tell her about us, and she will see that we love each other. She won’t break us up. This is a shock to her too…”
