Unhinge Me (24 page)

Alex couldn’t think of a single coherent word. Tears streamed down her face. Somehow, Caleb had made it all better again. She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered the only words that would come out. “I love you.”

A few weeks later, Caleb, Alex, Graham, and Rachael all sat at a table at Shenanigan’s, talking over a big lunch. It was busy in the little pub, especially for a Saturday afternoon. They were there to celebrate and to say goodbye. The celebrating was for Alex and Rachael, who had finally graduated that afternoon. It felt good for both of them to finally be done. Soon, Rachael would be off to the Peace Corps, and Alex, well, Alex wasn’t sure yet where she was headed. She was just glad this chapter was over and she and Caleb could be together without the fear of getting caught. Josie was finally back too, and had really outdone herself with the meal.

The goodbye was for Graham. He was leaving that evening. The apartment had gotten crowded now that both Alex and Bear were there, and Graham had things to attend to at home. Plus, as he told them, there wasn’t enough room in that place for both him and Bear. He showed them some of his scars to prove it.

Rachael was glad to see him go. The man both fascinated and infuriated her, and she was looking forward to the way life would be simpler without him around.

Alex was sad to see him go. She found herself very attached to the man whose presence had caused her to run when he’d first arrived. She would miss the laughs he brought and the way Caleb was with him.

Caleb, though, was going to miss him the most. Graham was one of Caleb’s best friends in the world, and having him and Alex both with him, although awkward at first, now felt complete. Plus, he felt closer to home with Graham there and it felt like he was losing that home all over again to see him leave.

But things had been changing since Alex came into his life. He no longer felt the need to run. Life seemed doable now, and even seemed worth it for the first time in a long time. Maybe one day he would go back home to visit and bring Alex with him. One day…

Joe and Josie walked over to the table to join the little group. Joe put his arm around his wife and told the group they had an announcement to make. They all stopped eating to give him their full attention.

“Well, there’s a reason my lass hasn’t been feeling well lately. We have some news,” he told them and then left the floor to Josie, who broke out into a huge smile.

“I’m pregnant!” she blurted happily.

“Whoa!” Caleb jumped up and ran around the table to his friends, hugging them both. Alex and Rachael jumped up too and ran to Josie to hug her and cover her in girlie giggles and congratulations. Graham gave Joe a big man hug. All of them were overjoyed at the couple’s news.

“I had no idea you were trying!” Alex exclaimed with a big smile.

“We actually never stopped trying,” Josie confessed. “We had actually given up, when all of sudden I started getting sick. It was a… happy surprise,” she smiled.

Alex was surprised at how much she loved this woman who, not that long ago, she didn’t even know if she would like. She knew already what great parents Joe and Josie would make.

Joe’s grin split his furry face as he boomed to the rest of the pub, “That’s right everybody, we’re gonna have a baby!”

Shouts and cheers erupted in the room as everyone jumped up to congratulate the happy couple. They looked at each other happily and then disappeared into the wave of people.

Happiness like Joe and Josie’s was infectious. Caleb reached over and kissed Alex. Even Graham and Rachael smiled at each other, but then just as quickly looked away.

The four spent the rest of the afternoon just sitting and talking and enjoying each other’s company. Even Rachael found it easier to appreciate Graham when she knew he was leaving. Alex was just happy that things were back to normal and she could just sit and relax with her friends. It was crazy to think that less than a year ago, all she had was Rachael and she had felt so alone. Now she was surrounded by people who she loved and who loved her back. Most of all, she had found Caleb. She never thought it was possible to love someone as much as she loved him. It was nice to see what could happen once someone had the strength to pull down her walls.

Caleb looked over and saw a smile on her face.

“Penny for your thoughts?” He smiled and gathered her into his arms. “What are you grinning about?”

Alex looked up into his clear, bright blue eyes. They had a sparkle in them she had not noticed before. Or maybe it wasn’t there before.

“Everything,” she said simply and kissed him.

Caleb deepened the kiss and held her tighter. One hand slid to the back of her head and the other slid down to hold her butt. The world around them slipped away as the kiss grew in strength. Alex grabbed his bottom lip in between her teeth and bit down slightly. Caleb made a low growl deep in his throat and the sound sent shivers down her spine.

“Ehem,” Graham cleared his throat.

The couple broke apart reluctantly, but Caleb held Alex close for a moment, needing her to shield what no one in the small pub needed to see. When she realized what he was doing, she giggled and blushed.

“I hate to break you two up, but I should be heading to the airport soon,” he regretfully told them, looking at Caleb.

When it was safe for Alex to move, they all gathered their things and said all their goodbyes. Rachael and Alex went to give Josie one more hug and make her promise to call them if she needed anything. They talked about a baby shower and agreed to get together as soon as possible for more baby talk.

Graham found Joe surrounded by a few other bearded men like him, all laughing and talking about his accomplishment of finally knocking Josie up. He pulled him aside and thanked him for all his hospitality while he was there. Joe gave him a bear hug and told him not to mention it.

“Next time you are here, we will go fishing,” he promised his new friend and slapped him on the back so hard it made him jolt. Graham just shook his head.

“Definitely,” he smiled. “Or you can come visit me back in England and we can fish there,” he offered. “Once you are ready to travel, that is.” He nodded over at Josie and smiled.

“Agreed,” the big man smiled back.

The foursome walked out of the pub together and into the blinding light and heat of an evening sunset. The gravel underneath their feet crunched as they walked slowly to Caleb’s car. Rachael was going to take Alex home while Caleb drove Graham to the airport. She made a smart remark that was somehow a goodbye to Graham and quickly got in her car to wait for Alex.

Alex walked up to Graham and stood there for a second, not knowing how to start. In the short time he had been in her life, so much had happened.

“Last chance for you to realize you picked the wrong cousin,” he warned her with a lazy half grin on his face.

It broke the spell and Alex shot out a snort of laughter. She shook her head. She was going to miss him. Instead of trying to find the right words, she just reached up and hugged him. He squeezed her back and she whispered in his ear, “I love you, Graham.”

She meant it, and he knew how much it meant for her to be able to say it to him. He ran his hand down her jaw and smiled sweetly at her.

“Love you too, baby doll,” he said, trying not to choke up.

He looked over at Caleb.

“You better take good care of her,” he ordered, and Caleb beamed back at him. He watched Alex say goodbye to Caleb and get into the car. He thought about walking over to say a real goodbye to Rachael, but just shook his head instead. He got in the car and the two vehicles left the parking lot, driving off in different directions.

Caleb looked over at Graham as he drove, contemplating. Finally, he asked, “So, now that you’re leaving, are you going to tell me the real reason you were here?”

Graham looked over at him, shocked, but then smirked. “I should have known you would figure it out.”

“Well, it wasn’t very hard. You show up unannounced and asking all these questions. Then you keep taking mysterious phone calls and taking walks to the park alone. So what was it?” he asked again.

“I was spying for Pierce,” he admitted. “He was worried about you and so was I, so it just made sense for me to come.”

“Why would my brother need you to spy on me?” Caleb asked, feeling offended.

“I don’t actually know. I think he was just worried that you were wilting away here. And really, the whole family wanted to know what has been going on. Your brother is doing alright at running everything at home, but he’s not you,” he reminded him.

Caleb stared ahead at the road, saying nothing.

“Anyway,” Graham continued, “it’s obvious now that he has nothing to worry about.” He looked over at him. This whole trip had been so eye opening for him. Caleb was definitely a changed man. If he didn’t know any better, he might have been jealous of him. “You’re different now,” he told him. “I can see how much better she makes you. Even better than before…”

Caleb smiled. That’s exactly how he felt too. He appreciated that Graham finally understood.

“Just don’t forget about the rest of us forever,” Graham made him promise.

“I won’t,” he vowed. “But with Alex, I am finally learning how to live again, and I need time to do that first.”

That night, a freak storm hit that made everything feel wet and chilly, but all of that was shut outside. Inside, Caleb and Alex were warm and cozy. Caleb had surprised Alex a few weeks earlier with a big, white, fake fur rug that he’d put in front of the fireplace. It was meant as a joke, but it quickly became their favorite spot.

Empty champagne glasses and a plate full of half eaten chocolate covered strawberries sat on the hearth of the fireplace as Caleb and Alex laid on the rug after making love.

Caleb watched in captivation as the flames danced on Alex’s silky skin. He leaned on one elbow and lazily traced shapes on the small of her bare back.

“Mmmm,” Alex moaned happily. She rolled over to face him and snuggled into his chest. He continued his artwork on her arm. Alex closed her eyes and sighed.
Was it possible to be any happier?
she wondered. There was a part of her that was still afraid to lose Caleb, but it was different now that she almost had. She wasn’t going to waste any more time holding back. And now that she wasn’t his student, she could shout from the roof tops that she loved him.

She told him as often as she could, excited to be able to say it and wanting to remind him whenever possible.

Caleb ran his hand through her long, soft locks. He moved his other hand to do his doodling on her breast. He drew little circles around her nipple, smiling when it hardened in response.

Completely naked and totally comfortable with it now, Alex laughed. It sounded musical to Caleb.

“See what you do to me?” she said.

Caleb groaned.

“See what you do to
me
?” he responded back and looked down.

Alex grinned at him, got up, and slowly settled herself down on his lap. They both softly gasped. Caleb sat up to wrap his arms around her as she gently rode him. Her hair cascaded down in soft curls and wrapped around them both, glimmering with browns and reds in the firelight.

“I’m so glad you ran into me that first day,” she said, smiling.

Caleb just shook his head, smiled, and gave her a quick kiss. He thought about how far they had come and thought again about the poem he had given her for her birthday.

“Without shame the woman I like knows and avows the deliciousness of her sex
,” he recited, holding on tighter.

Alex smiled and closed her eyes as she moaned. She finished the poem.

“Without shame the man I like knows and avows his.”