I pluck at my wet tank that sticks to my sports bra. “Kinda wet here.”
“Yeah, so is half of Long Beach, I'm sure. And think about it, Zoey. It's an aquarium. Lots of water there. You'll fit right in.”
I want to roll my eyes at him but refrain from it as I catch sight of Micaela watching us with interest. I'm curious about her. I feel this intense need to get to know her, to make her smile. I lean forward and give her a conspirator wink. “Two girls against one silly boy. What kind of trouble you think we can get into?” I tease. Her eyes widen, but I see amusement flickering in the depths of her brown gaze.
Caleb snorts. “Silly boy, eh? I can handle you two ladies just fine.”
I settle back in the seat and see his eyes flicker back to me in the mirror. I smirk. “You can't even handle one of me. Toss in Micaela here, and you're a goner.”
“I'm pretty sure there's been moments where I've handled you just fine,” he says casually as his eyes hold mine for a brief second before focusing back on traffic.
My body warms, and I know he's referring to the sex we'd had. Dang him. How had I gone from avoiding the guys like the plague to sitting in his back seat?
Caleb turns on the radio to a local station and music fills the car. Not loud, but loud enough to fill the silence of the vehicle. My attention shifts to Micaela, and I peer to the side so I can see her reflection in the side mirror. Her eyes are focused on the rain outside, but her lips are silently moving as she mouths the words of the song playing.
Suddenly I have an idea. A bit childish really, but that's exactly what Micaela needs. She can't be more than eleven. She should be dancing and singing and playing, not staring out her window like she has the weight of the world on her little shoulders.
“Change of plans. How long have you got Micaela here?” I ask Caleb as I lean forward to peer at him.
He turns his head and looks at me briefly, his expression searching mine as he wonders what I'm up to. He glances at the clock on the radio. “Uh, probably four hours at the most.”
I move closer to the passenger seat and peer around it to look at Micaela, who's looking at me curiously. “I have a really, really fun idea. But we have to go to Pasadena to get what I'd like to do with you. Are you game?”
Her eyes skitter to Caleb questioningly, and even I can see the hopefulness on her young face.
“Consider my arm twisted. We're off to Pasadena,” he agrees.
I settle back in the seat and try to hide my sudden unease. I'm not sure how this is going to play out. Hopefully my parents aren't home. And if they are, I can use Caleb and Micaela as a shield of sorts. “Turn up the radio, Cowboy,” I call up to him. If I'm stuck with him for the next four hours, I'm going to make it worthwhile. He's gotten under my skin, time to get under his.
His shoulders tense slightly at the nickname before his hand reaches out and he turns up the music.
The drive to my parents’ house goes by quickly, and before I know it, Caleb's pulling up in the driveway. He parks the car and glances at me questioningly. “Where exactly are we?” It's the first question he's bothered to ask. For the last forty-five minutes, he's dutifully driven to Pasadena without prying as to what I'm up to.
“My parents, but we won't be staying. I just have to run in and get something. You guys can come with,” I invite.
It's not raining in Pasadena, and we take our time walking to the door. We step inside, and as soon as I smell the mouthwatering scent of cooking meat, I know my mom's home. My heart sinks with the realization that I’ll be coming face to face with her. I can count on one hand how often I’ve seen my parents since I started college. My absence from their life is the only way I know how to hurt them. And damned if I don’t want to hurt them badly after what they did to me.
We're wiping our feet on the rug in the foyer when my mom walks up. When she spots me, her brown eyes widen with surprise. “Zoey. What a wonderful surprise,” she says with a hopeful smile. Her eyes beneath her brown bangs slowly begin to turn tentative. I know exactly what she's thinking. She's wondering what is important enough that I would risk seeing her face to face.
“Mom, this is Micaela, and my friend Caleb. Guys, my mom, Lisabeth,” I introduce as I shut down my emotions.
Caleb shakes her hand, and my mother smiles at him, then she gazes warmly at Micaela. “I'm just making dinner, it'll be ready in fifteen minutes. There's plenty if you'd like to stay,” she offers hopefully as she turns her attention back to me.
I feel Caleb's eyes flicker to me, and I ignore him as I give my mother a cool look. “We're not staying. I just need to grab something from my room since we're on a time crunch,” I say, moving around her and motioning for Caleb and Micaela to follow me.
“Oh. Is there anything you need help with, Zoey?”
My lips tighten. I glance at her, and my eyes tell her it's a little too late to be asking if I want help with anything, even if it's as trivial as finding something in my room. “No thanks,” I say as pleasantly as I can since I have an audience.
“Thank you for the offer, Mrs. Monohan,” Caleb says warmly, the ever polite country boy.
Thankfully she backs off, and we take the stairs up to my old room. Both Caleb and Micaela look around curiously. Not much to see, so I don't really care. I walk to my closet and pull open the doors. I duck inside and start digging for the large tote that I know is in here. I hadn't been able to part with what's inside when we moved, so I'd shoved it in my closet and tried to forget about it. I drag it out since it's a little heavy.
“That's what we're here for?” Caleb asks. I look up to see that he's looking at the tote skeptically.
I pat the top affectionately. “Micaela's going to love what's in here.”
Micaela looks at it with great interest before looking at me with eager eyes. “What is it, Zoey?”
“When we get back to my place, I'll show you.” I get another idea as I take in her well-worn clothes. I've always been a pack rat. I'm betting I have a ton of old clothes that would fit her slim frame. I'd been a bit self-absorbed back in the day, so my old clothes were the good kind. Micaela could get away with them, and no one would be none-the-wiser. “Hey, Micaela. There's a bunch of clothes in those totes along the wall. Start digging, and take everything you want.”
She blinks with confusion. “Um...” Her young eyes shift to Caleb uncertainly. He's moved to sit on my bed and he shrugs at her. “Go for it, kiddo.”
Her eyes flicker back to me.
“Honey, I grew boobs and a butt. I can't fit into them anymore, so you either take them or they go to Goodwill.” Caleb covers his snicker with a cough, and I know he's just itchin' to say something naughty. I shoot him a reproachful look.
By the time we leave the house, Micaela has a tote full of clothes, and there's a new sparkle in her eyes that can't be missed. Much to my relief, my mom doesn't approach us as we walk out of the house. Caleb hauls the heavier tote and carefully eases it into the trunk of the car. Then we're on our way.
We've been on the road for maybe ten minutes when Micaela turns in the passenger seat to peer at me, her expression shy. “Thanks, Zoey. Your clothes are really pretty.”
I smile warmly at her. “You're welcome, sweetie. I'm glad someone's getting some use out of them. I was pretty disappointed when I grew out of them.”
“I bet. I've never,” she bites her lip and looks at me, “had clothes that are that nice. I wish...I could give you something in return.”
I lean forward and look her in the eye. “There's one thing you can do for me.”
She nods immediately. “Okay. What can I do?”
“Enjoy what's in the tote. You and me, we're going to have some fun. I could use some fun right about now, and I think you're just the person to share it with me.”
She actually beams at me before she glances at Caleb, who's driving. “What about Caleb? Does he get to do what we're doing?”
I grin widely. “Of course. I'll leave that part up to
you. Deal?”
“Deal!”
Caleb grimaces slightly. “What did you just rope me into?” he asks me dryly.
“It's all in good fun, Cowboy. You'll like being roped. I'll even tighten the knot.”
He turns his head and looks at me deliberately. “Didn't we just have this conversation at the beach? You've set boundaries that we're not to cross. Quit teasing me,” he says lightly since we have young ears listening.
I shrug. “You're reading more into my comments than what's necessary. Guess I know where your mind is at today,” I say innocently. Truthfully, I want a little payback for having to watch him grind with that blonde. It's completely not fair, I know that. We never had anything real, so if I'm jealous it's my own fault. Yet, I still can't help but remind him what we'd had, even if it was for just one night. I hope the other women have a hard time living up to my memory.
His eyes narrow on me. “Zoey.”
My hands fly up in the air. “Alright, fine.”
The rest of the drive is filled with music as Micaela bobs her head to it.
Thirty minutes later, we are in my apartment, and I open the lid to the tote so Micaela can see what's inside. She looks at it blankly. “What is it?”
I grin widely. “This here, is a karaoke machine that Caleb's going to set up while we work on downloading all the songs that we like.”
Her eyes widen. “A karaoke machine? A real one?”
“Yes.”
“And we're going to play with it?” she asks slowly.
“Yep.”
“You're going to sing with me?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes light up and she bounces on her feet. “Zoey, you're the best!”
“Of course I am,” I say, affectionately ruffling her dark brown hair. “We'll have a little singing and dancing party, and then we'll order pizza. I get hungry after doing stuff like this.”
“Pizza sounds great!”
I glance to Caleb to make sure this is all okay with him, and he's watching Micaela with a soft smile. The other girl is studying the karaoke machine in the tote, and Caleb silently mouths, “thank you.” I nod to him, because I understand what he's thanking me for. For a while, Micaela gets to be a regular little girl with nothing on her mind but singing lyrics and having fun. And for a while, I get to be the little girl that is forever lost to me.
I quickly change into a fresh pair of jean shorts and a tank before I put Caleb to work. While he puts together the karaoke system, Micaela and I sit on the couch and download songs onto my iPod, which will attach to the iPod dock. There's two microphones and two tower speakers along with a seven inch LCD display screen on the main deck.
We're going to rock this place.
“This one,” Micaela murmurs as she points out the song she's picked for Caleb.
I practically choke. “Seriously?”
She looks at me and nods. “I love that song.”
“Um, okay.”
“That does not sound promising,” Caleb calls from where he's securing some wires to the main deck.
Micaela giggles, and I fight back a laugh. I know Caleb well enough by now to know that he'd happily sing anything to make this girl happy. He's going to put everything he's got into this song, regardless of whether he likes it or not. That's the type of guy he is. He never holds back.
“All set!” Caleb calls out.
I grin and nudge Micaela's shoulder. “Let's get this party started.”
Caleb moves away from the karaoke machine and sits dead center on the couch in front of us. He spreads his arms out across the back of the couch and grins at us. “Your audience is waiting.”
How I ended up here is beyond me. I go from being a miserable mess to singing karaoke in front of Caleb.
Strangest. Day. Ever.
Micaela and I attach the iPod, and I grab the two microphones. I speak into one to test it. “Yo! Who's ready to get their groove on? No butt stays planted in one spot for very long. Numb butts are not allowed in the stadium,” I tease.
Caleb cracks up, and Micaela giggles loudly into her own microphone.
I look at Micaela. “What's first?”
“You pick.”
I peer at the list and decide we'll start with Kelly Clarkson's “Stronger.” Micaela had gotten super excited over it, she claims to know it by heart. I think I pretty much know most of it as well. I hit play and the song begins. I glance at Micaela, and I see she's getting shy on me. Well, that is definitely not allowed. All my brooding thoughts from earlier are gone as I concentrate on making one little girl laugh. I don't have too bad of a voice, so I don't mind singing.
I start the song and sing along to the beat. I keep my eyes on her and wait to see if she'll join in. She's chewing her bottom lip nervously. The chorus begins, and I move away to bounce and dance as I sing out the chorus with wild abandon. Who cares if I'm making a fool out of myself in front of Caleb Preston of all people. I only care about Micaela.
I spy her eyes widening as I dance and belt out the lyrics. She slowly begins to grin and her soft soprano joins mine. I dance over to her and bump her playfully with my hip and sing. It's not long before we're both bouncing around and singing loudly. She has a good voice, so luckily Caleb's ear drums aren't cringing. I glance at him once, and he has the biggest grin on his face as he watches us.
I get my girly groove on, and Micaela and I sing song after song while Caleb watches us with absolute fascination. He claps after each song, and a couple times stands up and lets out a piercing whistle and yells, “Encore! Encore!”
Finally, Micaela and I are a bit winded and we need a break. I hold my microphone out to him with a grin. “You're turn.”
“I can't beat the performance you girl's just put on,” he says, but he's rising to his feet and accepting the microphone.
Micaela plops down on the couch, looking tired but happy. “Zoey can be your back-up dancer. You're not on your own then,” she suggests.
This has me inwardly groaning. I'd been looking forward to sitting back and watching Caleb sing his song. Not to mention I'm still trying to catch my breath. I've done a lot of dancing in the past hour or so.
Caleb’s blue eyes snag mine, and he slowly grins. “That is a wonderful idea, Micaela.”
“Go check out your song,” I jibe as I stay standing up front since I am now part of this performance.
He walks over the pedestal and peers at the screen. His eyebrows shoot up. “This is what I'm singing?”
“Yep. Compliments of Miss Micaela, over there,” I say with satisfaction.
His lips twitch. “Well, we wouldn't want to disappoint, and I haven't heard this song in a while. Good choice, Micaela,” he says as he flashes her an easy smile, causing her to look pleased.
The song begins, and Caleb glances at me briefly before he starts to sing the lyrics to David Guetta's “Sexy Chick.” He's got a good voice, and his eyes lift from the screen before him to give me a pointed look, because I'm supposed to be dancing. The beat is fun, so I dance for Micaela and deliberately throw in some fun little dance moves that have her laughing out loud. As Caleb sings the chorus, lowering his voice down to a low drawl, I bounce around and even dance near him, teasing him. I keep it clean, and since he doesn't know the words and is trying to keep an eye on the screen, he only looks up every so often. At one point, I stand directly in front of him and dance playfully for Micaela but deliberately jiggle my ass for Caleb's benefit. His voice falters, and my grin widens.
When he finishes the song, Micaela jumps up and claps loudly. “More! More!” she yells.
“Sorry kiddo, but we've got time for pizza, and then it'll be time to leave,” he says lightly.
Her face falls, and I can see that she's disappointed the fun is ending. I walk over to her and pull her into my side, hugging her to me. “You can come back anytime you want. I'll keep the karaoke machine assembled so that we can just plug it in the next time you visit,” I assure.
“Really?”
she asks, her brown eyes searching mine.
I meet her gaze. “Micaela, you have no idea how much I needed this today. How much I needed you.” I let my guard down and let her see the emotional depth of pain in my gaze. Something we both have in common.
Her eyes fill with tears, and she hugs me tightly, burying her face in my chest. “Thanks, Zoey. I think I needed you today, too.” My arms wrap around her tightly and my gaze connects with Caleb's over her head. His eyes are sober as they hold mine. He has no idea how much this afternoon has cost me, and yet how much it has given me as well.
I release Micaela and ruffle her hair. “No tears. We've got pizza to eat.”
~*~
As soon as Caleb leaves with Micaela, I miss her presence. I'm left alone in my empty apartment, and there's a part of me that is sad that it's over, that I'm thrown back to my reality. Then there's the other side of me that is still wired over how much I’d enjoyed my time with Micaela. I'd had real fun today that didn't include alcohol or sex. And not once did I think about how I used to sing karaoke with Micah. I simply enjoyed the moment and enjoyed Micaela. Well, Caleb too.
The only thing that really sobers up my good mood is the shadows I'd seen in Micaela's eyes. I'm worried about her. What has caused her such sadness? Can it be fixed? I start fearing that she might end up like me, allowing her fear to override every decision she'll make in the future. I'm scared that she'll grow up jaded like myself. Will she push everyone away like I have? Has she already?
I realize I need to talk to Caleb.
How does he know her? Does he know her story? He must, right?
I worry incessantly until I feel that enough time has passed that Caleb might be back home. I slip on my flip-flops and make my way up to the fourth floor. As I walk to his apartment door, I have a moments worry that maybe he has a date tonight. He might have gone out after dropping Micaela off at home. Before I can change my mind, I knock on the door and wait.
A minute passes before the door opens. Caleb stands there, a look of surprise flickering over his face when he sees me. “Zoey?”
Poison Me Sweetly (Long Beach Series Book 1) Page 16