Work at the bar had become my only refuge, the repetitive tasks a welcome distraction from the chaos my life had become. Cleaning tables, taking orders, and stacking glasses gave me something to focus on—something that didn’t involve Vanessa’s manipulation, Logan’s lingering presence, or my own tangled emotions.
When Caleb walked in that night, I wasn’t surprised. He’d been quiet since our last fight, but his presence still sent my heart racing in a way I couldn’t fully understand. He slid onto a stool at the bar, his eyes fixed on me as I wiped down the counter.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
The rag in my hand stilled, my grip tightening as I processed his words. “For what?”
“For fighting with Logan. Again. For over controlling you,” he admitted, his tone soft and unguarded. “For saying things I shouldn’t have. I just...” He paused, running a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I don’t know how to do this, Emma.”
Neither do I, I thought. But I didn't trust myself to speak.
He watched me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before standing abruptly. “Come with me,” he said, his voice carrying a quiet urgency.
I blinked, startled. “Where?”
“Anywhere,” he said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Just get in the car. Let’s get out of here.”
The bar felt stifling, the idea of escape—no matter how fleeting—was too tempting to resist. I grabbed my jacket, muttering something to Marie about taking a break, and followed Caleb out into the cool night air.
The drive was quiet. We reached a secluded overlook I hadn’t been to since we first started seeing each other. The memory of that night flashed through my mind, bittersweet and distant.
We climbed onto the hood of his car, Caleb passed me a beer, and for a while, we just talked—about everything and nothing.
“You’re the only thing keeping me together, you know that?” Caleb said eventually. “Without you, I’d fall apart.”
His confession tugged at something deep inside me. For all of Caleb’s bravado, he was just as lost as I was, clinging to whatever he could to keep from sinking.
Before I could think it through, I leaned into him. His arms wrapped around me instinctively, holding me like I was the answer to every question he didn’t know how to ask.
And then I kissed him.