One Step Closer: A stepbrother, stand-alone novel.

by Kahlen Aymes

“Yes.” Macy had been at his apartment a few times and knew her way around. She went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator, leaving Caleb no choice but to follow her. “Hmmm, nothing in there for me. You’re out of bottled water.”

  “Thanks for the live action grocery list.” He didn’t feel like fighting with her, but neither did he stop what he was doing to focus on her. He grabbed one of the empty boxes sitting on the floor and opened the one of the four drawers he needed to empty, hoping his lack of attention would make her leave.

  “Look, I was hoping we could make up, and play nice.”

  Caleb picked up the tray full of silverware and loaded the whole thing into the bottom of the box, and opened the next drawer. “Why are you here, Macy? I’m leaving. I’ve made it clear this isn’t going any further. I’m not trying to hurt you, or be a dick, but as I said, nothing’s changed,” he said flatly.

  “I’m pregnant. That’s what’s changed, asshole.”

  Caleb stood up holding a stack of dishtowels he’d just removed from the open drawer. He dumped them unceremoniously into the box on top of the silverware without caring how they landed. His blue eyes met her brown ones unflinchingly as he straightened. She was tall, but he still towered over her, and his face registered his revulsion. “Bullshit.”

  She pulled the used pregnancy test out of her purse and held it out for him. “Really?”

  “It won’t work, Macy.” Caleb pulled out the next drawer, barely looking at the object in her hand. He had a brief moment’s dread, but he couldn’t allow her see to it. “You know I’ll insist on a doctor’s appointment, where I’m present, and there is a blood drawn pregnancy test. Now, if it’s positive, which, I don’t think it will be, I will insist on a DNA test as soon as it’s medically possible.”

  “It is true, Caleb,” Macy’s tone turned pleading.

  “Stop. Why are you doing this? I don’t believe you, but even in the remote chance of it being true, it won’t change a damn thing between us.”

  “Your child doesn’t change anything?” she asked incredulously. “Are you crazy?”

  Caleb refused to believe this was even a possibility. It would ruin everything he hoped to have with Wren, and he wouldn’t allow that. He leaned up against the counter across the kitchen from her and took another swallow of his beer. His casual and uncaring demeanor was not what she expected and he could see the anger building up and ready to blow inside her.

  “You’ll do the right thing by me, Caleb Luxon, or I swear, I’ll—”

  He wanted to come off as an uncaring asshole. If she was bluffing, this was the way to force it from her.

  “You’ll what? You can’t blackmail me by holding my integrity against me. I have plans for my life, and if this turns out to be true I’ll deal with it, but you and I are still done. Either way, we will not have a relationship, Macy.” He shrugged and lifted the beer to his lips. He kept his eyes trained on her as he drank. He could almost see her squirm, her mind searching to find the right thing to say to convince him, which gave away her lie. Her mouth pursed and her eyes narrowed. Her rage was almost palpable. “What, no crying act?”

  His words and how he was acting went completely against who he was, but he had years of watching a vindictive, manipulative woman in action, and his skill was honed to the point of artistry. When he compared and contrasted Macy and Wren, the truth was crystal clear.

  “When did you turn into such a prick, Caleb?” she spat.

  “When you tried to fuck with my life, I guess,” he said flatly, completely devoid of emotion. “My future is with Wren.”

  “Don’t be too sure of that!”

  Caleb was about to open a third drawer when he stopped and turned back to her. She was still seething, but her chin rose and jutted out.

  “What did you do?”

  Macy laughed bitterly, the sound filling the small space. Maybe it was because Caleb’s own temper flared that made it seem so obnoxious.

  “I said, what. Did. You. Do?” he yelled again, even more loudly. Macy didn’t expect it from him and she physically jumped. “Tell me!” he railed, getting in her face as she cowered in front of him.

  “I showed her the test and she believes me, even if you don’t! I wish you could have seen her fall apart,” she touted, smugly regaining some of her superiority.

  “You are one ruthless bitch!” Caleb was beside himself. He felt that if he didn’t punch something, his whole body would literally blow apart. He lunged toward Macy, but then turned away abruptly, fisting both of his hands in his hair. “Goddamn you!”

  When he turned back to her fifteen seconds later, he was in control, but his mind was racing to figure a way out of the situation.

  No wonder Wren had fled Colorado without talking to him. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what happened; Veronica set up a meeting with Wren, then Macy ambushed her with a fake pregnancy test. He hoped it was fake or his whole world was about to come crashing down. His heart ached for Wren thinking how she must have felt when Macy launched on her. Especially, after the night they’d just spent together.

  Caleb took a deep breath and smoothed back his hair with both hands. “Let’s go.” He motioned toward the door. His keys and wallet were resting on the counter and he went in to retrieve them before heading toward the door of the apartment. He opened it and waited for Macy to precede him through the doorway. “Come on!” he blasted, when she didn’t move.

  Macy hesitantly walked through the doorway, glancing over her shoulder at him. “Where are we going?”

  “Pacific Med ER. If you’re telling the truth, you have nothing to lose.”

  The door closed behind him and Caleb pressed the button for the elevator that would take them to the underground parking garage and his Infiniti QX30.

  Macy reluctantly followed. “Caleb…” she began.

  He shook his head and hatred overtook him as he looked at her. He would not let her ruin his life and hurt Wren unspeakably with a lie. “Uh uh. I want to know, so whether you’re pregnant or not, we’re going to get a real test.”

  “I’ll schedule an appointment with my OBGYN next week.”

  “No. We’re doing this, right now.”

  “You can’t force me to take a test, Caleb, and it won’t prove paternity.”

  The elevator opened and they walked the twenty-five steps to where the dark silver car was waiting.

  “You’re right, but if you aren’t pregnant, you won’t be able to put me, or Wren, through months of agony.

  “I won’t take a test.”

  “Get in the goddamn car, Macy,” Caleb commanded, pushing the button on his fob that unlocked the doors. “Now.”

  They locked eyes over the roof of the car but she made no move to open the passenger door and get in. Caleb’s door was open and waiting.

  “Why don’t you believe me? We had sex, and we didn’t use condoms the last few times.”

  “Yeah, because you said you were on the pill! I trusted you and you’re fucking me over, so guess what? Now I don’t trust you! Get in the fucking car!”

  Slowly, she opened her door and slid inside. Caleb had the car started and in reverse before her door even clicked closed. “The truth is, I know in my gut there is no baby, Macy. You’re far too narcissistic to be saddled with a kid. This is just a ploy to manipulate me, after I ended things.”

  Macy’s stoic silence as she sat in the passenger seat was telling.

  He pulled the car smoothly out of the garage and the apartment complex to merge onto Highway 101. “The worst part is that Wren is innocent. Nothing is her fault; she has done nothing to deserve this kind of vindictive bullshit game you’re playing. I’ll never forgive you for putting her through this.”

  “It’s not what you think, Caleb. Just listen.” Macy pleaded, turning toward him in her seat.

  “Nothing you can say will change how I feel. I love Wren.” Caleb glanced at Macy as he drove, and she was turned away to look out the window. He was angry enough to ho
pe the words sliced her to the bone. “Do you get that? I love Wren. Right or wrong, kid or no kid; after this, I’m done with you, and you will stay. The fuck away from her.”

  Finally, his harsh words and stone cold demeanor got to Macy. She started to cry uncontrollably. Still, Caleb was unmoved.

  “This is over.”

  WREN WAS PHYSICALLY exhausted and emotionally drained.

  She’d just finished a grueling eight-hour rehearsal in New York City and had taken the train from midtown Manhattan to Jersey City where she had a small, studio that she shared with another dancer named Molly, whom she barely knew. New Jersey rent was much less expensive than that in Manhattan, and the apartment had been more like a storage unit to keep her things in while she was touring. Now that she’d landed a role in a New York City production, something had to change.

  The commute on the train was over an hour, and she didn’t have a car because parking in New York cost almost as much as her rent.

  The strap of the bag she carried on her shoulder, dug into her flesh and her legs and feet ached with every step she took between the station and the brownstone that housed her apartment. The art of ballet was to make it look effortless and elegant; so graceful you almost appeared to be floating, but in reality, it was difficult and hard on her joints.

  She’d wanted this role since before she’d graduated from Juilliard. Every ballerina wanted to play Giselle. The audition process had lasted two days and she only found out she was chosen earlier that morning, but her joy was overshadowed by thoughts of Macy and Caleb. She didn’t mind the long days, but she despised the train rides, walks and long hours trying to sleep where her excruciating thoughts hammered through her heart and mind.

  Each step she had to fight breaking out into tears, thinking that less than a week ago, she’d spent two amazing nights in Caleb’s arms and she believed they had a future together. Finally. Her eyes were focused on the sidewalk in front of her, though she wasn’t really aware of it because Caleb consumed her mind. She had listened to his messages over and over absorbing every nuance of love in his tone.

  After the day she’d flown to New York and he’d read the note she left on his bed, he hadn’t called again. Part of her was hoping he would, but she realized he had to be back in San Francisco and Macy would have surely told him about her supposed pregnancy.

  Pain exploded inside her and ricocheted through her chest, causing a tightening of her lungs and heart whenever she thought about it. She guessed Caleb was reeling and trying to figure things out, or felt abandoned by her request of time. She tried hard to come up with an excuse that would explain why he’d stopped calling. It didn’t really matter why, though; the result was the same. She missed him so much it hurt. She felt it in in every breath she took.

  She couldn’t help it when slow tears began to drip from her eyes, but she was thankful she was nearly home and she hadn’t lost control on the train. Her face crumpled, and she used the back of her hand to wipe at her tears, holding back a sob. She swallowed hard at the lump in her throat. Everything hurt.

  There was nothing she could do but wait the months needed to see if Macy was lying, and it would only be worse if she and Cale kept in touch; pretending and hoping it wasn’t true, then being blindsided. The possibility was already crippling, and that would be so much worse. Wren hoped she’d be strong enough to handle it if it happened.

  She rounded the last corner onto her street, and walked the last block and a half. She just wanted to get behind closed doors so she could let the pain pour out unabashed.

  Even though it was getting dark, Caleb saw Wren coming as he waited on the front steps of the building where she lived. She was wearing frayed cutoff jean shorts, a faded burgundy T-shirt and sneakers. Her head was down as she walked carrying a sort of large duffle bag over her shoulder. Her face was flushed and her hair was in a tight ballerina bun at the back of her head. She looked exhausted and sad, but that didn’t stop his eyes from devouring her.

  When she was only a few feet away her head lifted and she saw him; their eyes locked and Wren’s gate faltered.

  “Cale.” His name fell from her soft pink mouth. “What are you doing here? I told you I needed time.”

  He stood up and stepped onto the sidewalk in front of her, just as she reached her building. His heart broke at the dark circles under her eyes and the tear tracks that were still fresh on her cheeks.

  “Yeah, you did. You also said you’d never leave me.”

  Wren had the grace to pause. She had said that, but it was in the heat of passion and before she’d been clobbered by Macy’s surprise.

  “That’s not fair.” She shook her head incredulously as took a few steps back. “I’m not ready. Please, Cale.”

  “Oh, Wren,” he said, pulling her roughly into his arms and tight against his chest. One hand cupped the back of her head, and he pressed his lips to her temple. She was so slight in his arms as her bag fell to the pavement and her arms slid around his waist, her fingers clawing at his shirt and flesh. She started to shake and he knew she was crying desperately. “You know why I’m here.” Caleb’s own eyes filled with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

  They stood there, uncaring of people walking or anyone spying from windows, as they remained locked together in a fierce embrace. Wren wasn’t sure if he’d come to break the news about Macy in person, but even then, she was happy to see him. It felt good to have his arms around her, even if it couldn’t be forever.

  He kissed her on the temple again and his embrace tightened around her waist so he could lift her completely off the ground and into a full on hug. Wren’s arms slid up and around his broad shoulders and she buried her face in the curve of his neck.

  “It’s going to be okay, Bird,” he said softly, his lips moving against her skin. Something went right in Caleb’s world, surrounded by her scent and holding her close. “Do you hear me?” Emotion made Caleb’s voice crack on the last word.

  Wren didn’t want to let go of him, but she nodded, reluctant for the embrace to end. The past few days without him had felt like years. He smelled amazing and familiar.

  Nothing in the world made her feel safer or as good as having Caleb’s arms around her. She couldn’t stop crying, uncertain if she was happy to see him, or if everything she’d been bottling up was just gushing out of her. “It hurts so much.”

  “I know. But I’m here, now.” He finally set her down and bent to pick up her bag, but then slid his larger hand into hers, threading their fingers together. His thumb slid over the top of her hand again and again, as if he couldn’t get enough of touching her. “Can we talk inside?” His deep blue eyes were sparkling with reflected light from the street lamps, his nose, forehead and prominent jaw casting shadows on one side of his face as he glanced around. “I don’t like you walking the streets alone at night.” It was a residential neighborhood, but it was still in the middle of the city. There were trees and cars parked on the side of the street where she lived, and his mind was analyzing all of the places someone could hide.

  “Everybody walks in New York,” Wren murmured as she slid the key into the lock with one hand and turned the doorknob with the other, pushing open the door to go inside.

  “That doesn’t make it smart.”

  “My roommate might be home.”

  “If she is, we’ll go somewhere else, but this can’t wait.”

  “Okay. Come up.” Wren started up the short flight of concrete steps to the door of the large house that had been converted into six apartments, inwardly cringing; ashamed of her humble apartment. She had the key on a ribbon string that was looped around her neck. It was long enough that it allowed her to open the door without taking it off.

  “That’s smart not to carry the keys in your bag, but I still don’t like you walking alone at night.”

  Caleb followed close on her heels making sure the door was secure behind them, and then followed her up the stairs to the second level. His eyes registered everything about the b
uilding, including the shadowed stairwell and the location of the mailboxes.

  “Rehearsals go late sometimes, and I can’t help it. I have mace.” She bit her lip to hide a small smile. Caleb’s protectiveness had always been a source of joy and made her love for him surge every time. That hadn’t changed in all the years she’d known him. It still made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

  “We have to get you a place in the city.”

  “The rent is outrageous in Manhattan. I’m hardly ever in New York, anyway. Traveling company, remember?”

  Wren repeated the process with her key when they got to her apartment door. The studio was small and neat; old and sparsely furnished with an eclectic hodgepodge of things. One small lamp that had been left on illuminated the room with a soft glow.

  “Molly?” Wren called inside as they walked through the door; then removed the ribbon key chain from her neck and dropped it on a small antique table in the entryway. “It doesn’t look like she’s here. I barely know her, honestly. Sorry about—” She paused and waved around the room. “All this.”

  “I came to see you, not your apartment.”

  Caleb sensed she was ashamed of her income situation, even though the inheritance would change that as soon as escrow cleared. This was a far cry from the mansion in Denver, or even his unkempt bachelor pad in San Francisco. It was literally just one room with a small kitchenette in one corner, two twin beds along one wall with a window in between them with mismatched bedding, a table with four chairs that looked like they were leftover from the early seventies, and a door that led to the barely there bathroom. There was one other door and Caleb could only assume it was a closet.

  She shrugged and went to the small refrigerator and pulled out two bottles of water, and walked the few steps needed to hand one to Caleb.

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Wren. Dancing is what you love.”

  “Macy didn’t believe me when I said dancers don’t have much money.”

  He had reluctantly let go of Wren’s hand on the walk upstairs but he was anxious to kiss her, and had the urge to pull her into his arms and go for it, but he knew they had to talk first. He took her hand and tugged her gently with him to the sofa, and they both sat down. Caleb took a quick swallow of his water and then put the bottle on the coffee table.