Daisy glanced up at me, caught off guard. Her eyes scanned my face, and tried to find meaning in what I’ve just said.
“Well I can’t send Emmy home with a stranger, either,” Daisy countered, though her voice was uncertain. “I don’t even know your name.”
“Caleb,” I said. “Caleb Preston.”
“Mr. Preston,” she said firmly, but her voice wasn’t as rigid as it was before it softened, filling with compassion. “The school has policies and procedures in place for things like this… strict policies and procedures that are in place for the safety our students…”
“What about their wellbeing?” I argued. “Right now, my niece is alone and afraid what about that? I know I’m not the best choice but I’m doing the best that I can. Right now, my niece has nobody… nobody but me. I’m not going to give up on her now. I can’t.”
Daisy studied my thoughtfully, her eyes moving up and down, but I couldn’t read the expression on her face. I couldn’t tell what she’s thinking.
Finally, she spoke up.
“That’s not true, you know,” she said, her voice was softer than it has been. “Emmy has me, too.”
4
DAISY
“Wait,” I said, blinking up at the giant skyscraper, taking in the mix of chrome beams and glass panels that comprise the high-rise. “This is where you live?” I asked, glancing over at Caleb.
The Camden towered above us, glowing a mysterious shade of blue against the twilight sky, and for some reason just standing on the cement sidewalk in front of the building made my heart race.
I promised Caleb Preston that we would figure this situation out. That we would find a way to make things work, for Emmy’s sake.
When I made that promise, I had no idea that I would wind up standing in front of The Camden. Unfortunately, after several unreturned calls to CPS, that’s exactly where I ended up. Caleb reasoned that we shouldn’t keep Emmy waiting at the school all night. I firmly reminded him that I couldn’t let her go until CPS had verified his story.
He had seemed almost too eager to propose a compromise. That I go home with them, as a ‘chaperone’ of sorts. I knew it was bending the rules, but I also knew that it made sense. Every minute we spent at the school, I could see the confusion and concern growing on Emmy’s face.
“Have you been here before?” Caleb asked over his shoulder, eyeing me curiously.
“No,” I admit. “I’ve just… heard stories.”
Ok, maybe not ‘stories.’ But I have heard from Raven that the building was basically full of billionaire bachelors, and things have been known to get a little wild behind closed doors.
“Well you shouldn’t judge anything until you’ve tried it for yourself,” Caleb said, and he gave me a quick wink before turning back towards the building.
My stomach did a somersault, and I forced myself to take a deep, measured breath.
While we were in my office, it was easy enough to ignore how good-looking Caleb Preston was. I was more concerned with the matter at hand. That he was possibly some sort of crazed kidnapper trying to nab my favorite student.
Hearing the compassion and conviction in his voice softened my resolve and now, as we made the walk together back to his apartment with Emmy in tow, it had gotten harder and harder to deny how attractive he was.
No, he was more than attractive, he was gorgeous.
Caleb towered at least a foot over me, and even in a suit I could see the definition of his muscles. He had olive skin, just dark enough to look exotic, and perfect glistening brown hair. His eyes were the prettiest shade of hazel, and altogether, he looked like someone that belonged in a catalogue spread or on the cover of a romance novel.
Under normal circumstances, Caleb was the kind of guy I would avoid at all costs. I certainly wouldn’t dream of accepting an invitation back to his apartment. The Camden, of all places!
“I think it’s pretty!” Emmy chimed from at my side, her hand squeezing mine. I was relieved to see that she was back to her usual spunky self. I know how scary this must have felt for her.
“Good evening, Mr. Preston,” the doorman sprung to life, bowing gracefully with a warm smile on his face, then stepped aside and opened one of the giant glass doors. The glass was clear, but the way it caught the tinted light from the building, it appeared solid blue.
“George, how’s it going?” I noticed Caleb’s tone was also warm. “You ever gonna just call me Caleb?”
George smiled and ducked his head, and I couldn’t but help but think that he had that kind, grandfatherly vibe about him.
Caleb ushered us in, and before I had a chance to stop and take in the sights and sounds of the building’s lobby, we were being shuffled into an elevator.
The heavy doors slid shut and Preston reached forward to swipe a key fob on a scanner. The fob chirps when it registered, and he was about to select his floor, but then he hesitated and turned to Emmy, smiling.
“Do you want to press the button?” he asked.
She glanced up at me for permission, and I gave her an encouraging nod. That’s all it took for her to leap forward, planting herself right at Caleb’s side. He crouched down to her level and points to the button marked ‘50.’
“This one,” he whispered.
Emmy stuck out a finger and poked the button. The elevator immediately churned to life, and she twirled around to beam up proudly at me. I returned her smile.
Maybe this won’t be so bad.
The elevator pulled us up the fifty floors quickly, and before I knew it, there was a little chime and the doors parted, opening to reveal the most incredible apartment I’ve ever seen.
The floors were rich planks of smooth ebony bamboo. The walls were glass, and the ceiling was dotted with tiny recessed spotlights that glitter like dim stars. There was a modern living room set, sleek leather couches, a furry white rug, a glass round coffee table, situated in the center of the room, and then there was a slight step up to the kitchen, which was easily the size of my entire two-bedroom apartment back in Brooklyn, and then some.
Emmy didn’t wait for permission that time. Dhe bounded out the elevator, her Ugg boots slapping the hardwood floors as she ran straight to the floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the city. The building’s blue glow was radiating through the glass, spilling into the apartment and giving everything a cool hue. Emmy pressed her nose against the glass, peering down at Central Park below.
I felt the firmness of Caleb’s chest brush against my back, and I was suddenly engulfed in the darkly intoxicating, woodsy aroma of his cologne. The kind of scent I could get drunk on. I thought bumping into me was a mistake, but when he didn’t move away, I realized it was intentional; that he deliberately let me feel his taut muscles through the thin cotton of my shirt. He let me feel the electricity of his heartbeat. And if I could feel his pulse, that meant he could feel the frantic hammering of mine; he could feel how my body was responding to his as I melted, involuntarily, against the warmth of his chest.
The heat of his breath tickled the skin on my neck as he leaned even closer, sending a prickle of excitement through my body. My nipples hardened under my shirt, and I could tell he noticed because I could hear him exhale into a soft smirk.
“See?” he whispered, his lips floated dangerously close to my skin, “I told you that you shouldn’t knock something until you’ve tried it.”
I was just trying to decipher what he meant by that, when Emmy suddenly twirled around to face us. Caleb responded instantly, and moved away from me and strode towards Emmy.
“Should we get some dinner, kiddo?” he asked, as he ushered us towards the kitchen.
I took a deep breath, and tried to regain my composure before I followed them into the kitchen. In an attempt to get my mind off of what just transpired, I opened the doors to the stainless-steel refrigerator and cast a scrutinizing glare at the completely bare shelves inside.
“I don’t cook much,” Caleb admitted meekly. “Maybe we shou
ld just order something to be delivered?”
“YES!” Emmy bellowed suddenly, and we both turn to see her standing in front of an open cupboard, triumphantly wielding a packet of Ramen noodles. “My favorite!” she beamed up at us eagerly.
She wasn’t lying. Emmy’s packed lunch at school usually consisted of a packet of Ramen or, as she lovingly referred to them, “three-minute noodles,” because that’s how long they took to cook up in the teacher lounge microwave. I couldn’t help but feel shocked when I saw the noodles. Caleb Preston must be worth billions, but the only food in his five-star kitchen was Ramen noodles?
“Are those your favorite?” Caleb asked, smiling down at her. “They’re mine, too!” Then he turned to me, “What do you say, Miss Wright?”
“I think you’re full of surprises,” I smiled. Then, seeing the lit up joy on Emmy’s face, I added, “I’m in!”
“Good,” Caleb reached into the cupboard and pulled out two more packets of Ramen.
“Noodles for three, coming right up!”
5
CALEB
“What do you think, Emmy?” I asked, watching as the little girl slurped up the last bit of noodle broth from her bowl. “Who makes better Ramen, me, or Miss Wright?”
Emmy dropped her bowl down onto the glass coffee table, and her eyes wandered between me and Daisy.
“You,” she decided finally, smacking her lips and pointing at me.
“Emmy!” Daisy exclaimed, clutching her heart dramatically. “I thought you loved my Ramen noodles!”
“They’re ok,” Emmy shrugged, “But Uncle Caleb’s are better.”
My heart swelled when I heard her say that, and the sudden burst of pride had nothing to do with the Ramen noodle victory. Rather, it had everything to do with the look of wonder in Emmy’s eyes as she glanced up at me. In the span of a few hours I had gone from being a scary stranger, to being the cool uncle with an exciting apartment and an endless supply of Ramen noodles. In Emmy’s eyes, that made me the coolest guy in New York City.
I was Uncle Caleb.
I sat back on the leather couch, taking in the scene, the three of us huddled around the glass coffee table in my living room, eating Ramen noodles while some Disney movie about a talking fish played on the big screen TV in the background.
I didn’t often entertain guests at my apartment, but when I did this was far from the typical scene. Maybe that was what made tonight feel even more endearing. The hearty smell of soupy noodles filled the air, instead of cheap perfume and booze; the sound of Emmy laughing gleefully at the movie, instead of the whiney squeals of women snapping selfies that they would later use as proof that they had fucked someone famous.
I was not sure what it was but something about tonight just felt… right. I could see it on Emmy’s face. The kind of contented belonging that I always craved myself as a child, but could never find. Even now, as I looked back on my entire childhood, I couldn’t remember one instance that had felt as intimate or personal as tonight.
“It’s past your bedtime, missy,” Daisy said suddenly, glancing at the digital clock display under the TV.
“Nooooo,” Emmy whined, not wanting the night to end.
“You’ve gotta get some sleep,” I said, taking Daisy’s side. “Besides, the sooner you do, the sooner we can all hang out again.”
Daisy shot me a glare, but I was already ushering Emmy down the hallway towards one of the apartment’s guest bedrooms.
“It’s not pink or princessy,” I said, “But if you do have to stay for a while, maybe you can help me decorate it!”
I pushed open the dark wooden door to the guest bedroom and flicked on the light. Like the rest of the apartment, it had been completely fitted with modern and sleek pieces, custom ordered by the interior designer I hired when I first moved in. The interior designer had worked with nearly all of The Camden’s tenants, decorating each apartment differently to suit the personality and lifestyle of its inhabitant.
For me, that custom decor ended up being dark woods and lots of glass; sleek, modern lines, and clean finishes. I’ve always loved the decor in my apartment, and I’ve always thought that it suited me perfectly, but now, seeing Emmy look around the room glumly, I realized that it might not be so well suited for children.
“Maybe Caleb can take you shopping after school tomorrow,” Daisy suggested quickly, her eyes flashing desperately back to me.
“Of course we can!” I agreed, smiling down at Emmy. “I’ve meaning to decorate this room anyway, and now you can help me out!”
Emmy smiled, but she didn’t look entirely enthusiastic. Probably about as enthusiastic as I felt about the prospect of replacing my sleek and modern decor with bright, plasticky kid’s furniture.
Oh well, I thought. It’s a small price to pay if it would make her feel a little bit more at home while she’s staying here, and the kid’s had a rough ride so far.
“Come on,” Daisy said, nodding at the bed. “It’s way too late for you to still be awake, missy.”
I sat on the bed, while Daisy took Emmy into the attached bathroom. I knew there were spare toothbrushes, but I made a note to grab Emmy some toiletries too.
A few minutes later, Emmy walked out with a huge grin on her face, her hair brushed out and she was drowning in one of my spare white t-shirts.
“Looking good, kiddo,” I laughed as I stood and she bounded over to the bed.
Emmy climbed up onto the bed and scrambled to get under the covers quickly. Once she got herself situated, Daisy and I both took a seat at the foot of the bed. I let Daisy take over, flattening the sheets and smoothing out the pillows.
“Miss Wright,” Emmy said reluctantly, “When am I going to see Mommy again?”
“I don’t know,” Daisy said gently, and I could tell she was conflicted about the answer. Torn between telling the awful truth, or telling a lie.
“But you don’t need to worry about that,” I added quickly, and Emmy’s eyes shifted to me. Even in the dim bedroom light, I could see the start of tears puddling under her eyes, and I wished there was something I could do. Something I could say to comfort her.
“Everything is going to be ok,” I said. “I promise.”
I felt Daisy’s eyes staring up at me, and I had a pretty good idea why. She was probably going to tell me that it was not a good idea to make promises that I couldn’t keep. But I didn’t need anyone to tell me that. That was a lesson I already learned the hard way. I would never make a promise I did not intend on keeping. And when I promised Emmy that everything was going to be ok, I meant it.
We said our goodnights, then Daisy flicked off the bedroom light and gently closed the door. We padded softly down the hallway, back to the living room.
Daisy collapsed onto the couch and stifled a yawn, then glanced down at her cell phone on the coffee table as she shook the braid loose from her hair, letting the golden curls spill freely over her shoulder.
“Still no word from CPS?” I asked.
“Nothing,” she shook her head.
“Looks like we’ll be having a sleepover,” I teased.
“Nice try,” she said coolly, her eyes flashing up at me.
“What’s the supposed to mean?” I frowned. I walked across the room to the wet bar and I pulled open the glass door to the wine fridge, flooding the floor with blue light. I bent down, selecting a fresh bottle of Pinot Grigio, and then I grabbed two glasses and a corkscrew and walked back towards the couch.
“Come on,” Daisy said, keeping her eyes tilted up at me, “I’m not an idiot. You’ve been flirting with me all night.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, plopping onto the couch beside her. I started working at the foil wrapper on the wine bottle’s neck as she watched from her spot on the couch.
“Really?” she eyed me doubtfully. “Pressing up against me when we walked in the door? Brushing your knee against mine during the movie? All those little glances and smiles?”
She was
n’t wrong. Instead of making excuses, I offered a coy smile.
“And now this?” she gestured to the wine bottle in my hands.
“I figured we could enjoy a glass of wine while we wait for that phone call,” I shrugged innocently. “They don’t seem to be in any hurry.”
“Mr. Preston,” she snapped, “This little routine might work on other girls, but if you think you can charm your way into my pants with your flashy apartment and expensive wine…”
“Are you saying I’m not charming?” I glanced up at her, and her eyes flashed.
I stabbed the screw into the cork and started twisting, as I saw the resolve on her face soften.
“I’m saying that your charms won’t work on me,” she said firmly.
“Really?” I asked. I pried the cork out of the bottle and it made a gentle pop. Then I reached for one of the glasses and carefully poured the wine, watching it splash as it filled the glass.
I offered the glass to her, but when she reached for it, I pulled it away.
“Let’s not pretend that we don’t already know what I do to you,” I whispered, holding the glass out of her reach as she leaned towards me.
“What are you talking about?” she gulped, her eyes finding mine.
“I felt the way your body reacted to mine,” I said softly. “I felt the way I made your heart race and your blood rush…”
“You surprised me,” she insisted, but the slight tremor in her voice told me that even she doesn’t believe what she was saying. “That’s all.”
“You didn’t pull away,” I reminded her.
“I was just…”
“What?”
She shook her head, and when she reached forward for the wine glass I didn’t stop her from taking it. I watched her take a long, anguished sip before pouring myself a glass.
“Nothing is happening between us,” she said firmly.
“Fine,” I said. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you didn’t feel anything when your body touched mine.”
Baby Makes Three: A Brother's Best Friend's Secret Baby Romance Page 18
