Five Dates Only

by R. L. Kenderson

  She kicked me under the table.

  “Melanie was always such a polite girl, and I always thought Neil could have treated her better.”

  This surprised me. “Really?”

  “Caleb, just because I’m a mother doesn’t mean I’m blind. Your brother let his ambition get to him, I think, which is sad because I think Melanie was good for him.”

  She might have been good for him, but he hadn’t been good for her.

  My mom leaned forward and lowered her voice even though we were the only people in the backyard. “Neil started going to therapy.”

  “You’re shitting me,” I said.

  When I’d suggested my brother talk to someone about his chronic cheating, I’d never thought he’d listen to me.

  “Caleb, no swearing.”

  “Sorry.”

  “But yes, your brother is seeing someone. He told me he needed to figure some stuff out after his breakup with Melanie.”

  I looked over at Sloan. She looked as stunned as I felt.

  “That’s great,” Sloan said.

  “Please don’t tell Melanie,” my mother said. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I won’t say anything,” Sloan promised.

  Yeah, right. She was going to tell Melanie the minute we left the house.

  “Anyway, you’re also the one who helped Caleb find his house, correct?” my mom asked.

  “Yep. That’s kind of how we started dating.”

  My mom smiled. “That’s quite the love story.”

  “Sure is,” I said.

  “When do you close?” my mom asked.

  “Next month.” I didn’t know the exact date. That was what Sloan was for.

  My mom shook her head in amazement. “I’m so happy. I didn’t think you’d ever settle down.”

  “Mom, Sloan and I just started dating. It’s not like we’re getting married.”

  Sloan started coughing next to me and put her own beer down.

  I massaged her on the back. I probably should have made sure she wasn’t taking a drink when I said the marriage line.

  “I know,” my mother said as if I’d called her dumb. “It’s the house, too. I was always afraid you’d move away.”

  I frowned. Why does everyone think that? First, Ted, and now, my mom.

  “I lived in Europe for one year, ten years ago. I wasn’t planning to go back.”

  She patted my leg. “I know, honey.”

  I hated it when she patronized me.

  I threw a hand up in defeat, and Sloan laughed beside me.

  “Oh, there’s your father,” my mom said as I heard the sounds of someone in the kitchen. “I’d better go and help get dinner started.” She stood.

  “I’ll help,” Sloan said, following my mother.

  I figured I might as well help, too. We could make it a family affair.

  My dad was unloading the groceries when we walked in. “Hey, Caleb. Hello, Sloan.”

  “Hey, Dad.”

  He smiled. “So, this is your new girlfriend?”

  Sloan smiled shyly.

  I put my arm around her. “Yep.”

  “I’m glad to know you’re actually dating someone because I just had the strangest conversation at Home Depot.”

  A sinking feeling landed in my stomach. I didn’t want to know, but I had to ask, “Oh?”

  “Yeah, I ran into Ted.”

  I swallowed over the lump forming in my throat. “Oh?”

  Ted and Mary lived on the opposite side of the Cities. My Dad and Ted should have never been in the same store.

  “Yeah. I almost didn’t recognize him at first, but then I realized it’s probably been about three to four years since I saw him. And I haven’t been to the store in ages.”

  I was getting more nervous by the minute, and Sloan squeezed my side. I wished my father would just spit out what they had talked about.

  “Yeah, I suppose it’s been a long time,” I said. Something I had been counting on since this whole charade started.

  “Anyway, he was under the impression that you two had been dating for a long time and that the two of you got married in Hawaii.” My father threw his head back and laughed. “I thought the whole thing was ridiculous. I had to tell him that you were bringing Sloan over for the first time tonight.”

  My mother, who had been pulling stuff from the cupboards and fridge, turned around, looking confused. “Hawaii?” She looked from Sloan to me. “You didn’t tell us that Sloan went to Hawaii with you.”

  Of course I didn’t. It would have been too much to explain. And, now, I didn’t know if I should deny it or tell them the truth.

  “I did go,” Sloan said before I could make a decision. “Ted and Mary were kind enough to let me come with.”

  After she said it, I knew it was a mistake because my mother was going to hone in on the other thing my dad had said.

  “So, why does Ted think you two got married?”

  And there it was. I knew my mother wouldn’t forget what she’d heard.

  My father waved his hand in the air before either Sloan or me could answer. “I told Ted it had to be a joke since the two of you haven’t been dating long. I told him that, just last month, Sloan had been here and that you two had exchanged phone numbers, so Sloan could start showing you houses.”

  The blood drained from my face because Ted wasn’t going to think I was playing a joke on him. He was going to think I’d lied. Which, in all fairness, I had. But Sloan and I really had gotten married. That part was the truth.

  I dropped my arm from Sloan’s shoulders. “I need to go.”

  “Caleb, you never answered the question,” my mom said, bringing out her I mean business voice. “Was it a joke, or are the two of you married?”

  Caught in one lie, I really didn’t feel like telling another. I stepped around to my mother and put my hands on her shoulders. “I don’t have time to talk about this right now. I need to find Ted. Don’t wait for me. I probably won’t be back.” I kissed her on the forehead and walked away. I snagged my keys from the counter and headed for the door.

  I needed to talk to Ted. Now.

  Thirty-Six

  Sloan

  Caleb’s parents looked confused as Caleb walked outside to his car. I knew they wanted an explanation, but it wasn’t mine to give.

  I set my beer down. “Thank you for everything, but I’d better go with him.” I took off running toward the door.

  “Sloan, wait,” his mother called out.

  “I have to go. I’m sorry,” I said as I ran out the door. “Wait for me,” I yelled to Caleb.

  I knew he was in a hurry, but he really couldn’t go over there without me.

  As soon as I shut the door, Caleb sped out of the driveway and down the street.

  I tried to talk to Caleb on the way over to Ted’s, but he was sort of stuck in a loop in his own mind.

  He kept saying over and over, “I should have told him sooner. I should have told him sooner.”

  I started to feel bad since I was the one who’d told him not to do it.

  Needless to say, it was a long drive.

  When we arrived, Caleb got out and went right to the door. Once again, I had to chase after him. I knew he was stressed and anxious, but if he let me, I would stand by his side and share responsibility for what had happened.

  Mary opened the door right as I reached him. She looked at the two of us and shook her head. The disappointment in her eyes was like a punch in the gut. And, until that moment, I didn’t realize how much I had come to like her.

  “Is Ted here?”

  “He’s in the study,” she said, but she didn’t move out of the way.

  “Can I speak to him?”

  “Why did you lie, Caleb?” Her eyes glanced my way, and I knew the question was for me, too.

  Caleb hung his head. “I didn’t want to lose the store.”

  “Lose the store?” Mary said.

  Caleb grimaced, and I could guess what
he was thinking. His comment made him sound like a selfish, greedy asshole.

  “It’s a long story, Mary. I-I need to talk to Ted.”

  I didn’t think it was possible for Mary to show more disappointment, but she looked down at our hands and saw the rings on our right ring fingers. It was written all over her face. She took a step back and swept her arm out.

  We entered, and I paused in front of Mary. “I’m sorry. It was never meant to get this far.”

  “I’m not sure what to think anymore,” she said.

  “I’m sure Caleb and I will come back and talk to you, too. But he really wants to speak with Ted first.” I nodded in the direction Caleb had gone. “I’d better go.”

  I set off to help Caleb explain how things had gotten here, but when I reached the study, the door was closed.

  I frowned. Why didn’t Caleb wait for me?

  I turned to go back to Mary when I heard the two men talking, and curiosity got the best of me.

  “Let me get this straight.” It was Ted. “You lied to me about having a girlfriend because you didn’t want me to sell the store to Rick.”

  “When you say it like that, it makes me sound like a selfish prick.”

  “Aren’t you?”

  Ouch. That had to hurt.

  “No.”

  Oh, Caleb, you’re not, but you need to take some responsibility for your actions.

  “I have worked for you since high school. It’s the only job I’ve ever known. But not only that, I also fricking love it. I’ve put in more than my share of time, and I’ve offered up more than my share of ideas. I deserve to buy the store,” Caleb said. “I thought working for you for that long would show you how committed I was, but then you started going on about nothing tying me down. If you had let me buy the store, the store would have tied me down.”

  “I see your point, but you still lied to me.”

  “You’re right, and I’m sorry.”

  “I appreciate your apology, but you understand that I can’t possibly sell you the store now, right?”

  I put my hand to my mouth and sucked in a breath.

  Caleb didn’t say anything, but I thought I’d heard a strangled moan come from the other side of the door.

  “You lied to me, Caleb,” Ted said. “You led me to believe this Sloan was your girlfriend. You let us think you were getting married. You let me pay for the both of you to go to Hawaii.”

  Tell him, Caleb. Tell him that we’re more than just two people who tried to trick him. Tell him we care about each other, I silently begged.

  “You lied to me, and you lied to my wife,” Ted continued. “Today, when I ran into your father, I was embarrassed. I looked like a fool. It’ll be a long time before I can forgive you.”

  “I understand.” Caleb’s voice was small.

  “I’m not going to fire you because we have a lot of history. Also, you’re right; you’ve done a lot for the store. But I’m not going to sell it to you. And I don’t want to see Sloan here or anywhere near the store.”

  Panic came crushing down on me as a million thoughts swirled around in my brain. Ted hated me. Ted blamed me. Did this mean I could never see Caleb again? And, most of all, was Caleb going to fight for me?

  “But—” Caleb said.

  “I don’t want to hear it. I realize that the both of you are to blame, but I didn’t even know the girl, and she was willing to deceive me.”

  Tell him, Caleb. Tell him how you blackmailed me.

  “I understand,” were the only things out of his mouth, and I thought my heart broke right then and there.

  It was time for me to walk away. I couldn’t listen to any more of their conversation.

  I slowly walked down the hall and out to the front door. My limbs felt like they weighed a million pounds.

  “Are you okay?”

  I jumped as I realized that Mary was sitting outside on the porch.

  The corner of her mouth tipped up if only for a second. “Sorry.”

  I stepped closer to Mary as she stood. Now was the time to tell her my side and defend myself to someone. I opened my mouth to tell her how Caleb had forced me to become his girlfriend or send me to jail. But I couldn’t do it. Mary loved him. And I thought I did a little bit, too. That was why it hurt so much that he hadn’t told Ted the whole story.

  “I want you to know that Caleb and I got together for the wrong reasons, but we did come to care about each other. I’m so sorry we lied to you.”

  Sympathy filled Mary’s eyes. “The wedding? The marriage?”

  I knew what she was asking. Had we carried our lie that far? Had we faked it? Because we could have easily bought Caleb a ring. They hadn’t been there for the wedding.

  I shook my head. “The wedding was real. We were a little drunk.” Okay, a lot drunk. “But the marriage is real.” I looked toward the house. “Or it was real.”

  “Don’t give up on him, dear.”

  It was sweet that Mary still wanted us to be together.

  “I’ll try,” I said.

  But I thought that Caleb had already given up on me.

  Thirty-Seven

  Caleb

  By the time I left Ted’s office, I felt like one hundred percent shit.

  I had lied to one of the people I cared about most in the world. And I’d hurt him deeply.

  I walked outside to see Sloan and Mary on the porch.

  Mary smiled at me, unlike when she’d answered the door, but Sloan wouldn’t look at me.

  “I’m sorry, Mary. I know I said we’d talk, but do you mind if we do it another time? I need to get Sloan home.”

  “I’m very disappointed in you, Caleb Stanton. And I’m going to hold you to that conversation.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mary squeezed both our arms and went into the house. I thought she was already halfway to forgiving me, and we hadn’t even talked yet.

  Ted, on the other hand …

  Even though he hadn’t fired me, I knew it was probably time for me to start looking for a new job. I had completely blown my chances of buying the store now.

  “Let’s go,” I said to Sloan.

  As I followed behind her, a ton of emotions went through me. I was embarrassed that I had gotten caught. I didn’t know how to tell her that Ted didn’t want her coming around for a while. Even if he hadn’t said a while, I knew he didn’t mean permanently.

  But I was also mad at Sloan. It wasn’t fair, but I was. I was angry that she’d talked me out of coming clean. If I had told them before Hawaii, things wouldn’t have ended up the way they did. I wouldn’t look like a freeloader. And neither would Sloan. I couldn’t help but place some of the blame on her for putting me in this position.

  We drove to her house in silence. It was the most god-awful silence I’d ever endured. And this coming from a guy who had hitchhiked around Europe. Getting a ride from strangers could be weird.

  When we got to her house, she opened her door, and I made no move to shut off the car and follow her.

  She put a foot on the ground but then turned around and looked at me. “Why didn’t you tell Ted that you’d blackmailed me?”

  Huh? “What?”

  “I heard you. You let Ted think that I was your willing accomplice. Why didn’t you tell him?”

  “You were eavesdropping?”

  “Yeah. Because you shut me out. And don’t change the subject. Why didn’t you tell him?”

  I threw my hands up and rolled my eyes. I was trying not to get pissed, but it was hard. “I am hanging by a thread in this guy’s good graces, and you want me to tell him I blackmailed you, too?”

  “It’s the—”

  I cut her off, “Not to mention, I’d have to tell him what I blackmailed you for. You’re already on Ted’s shit list. How do you think he’d take it that you vandalized my brother’s car?”

  She closed her mouth.

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought. And I’m sorry, but I’ve known Ted and Mary for a lot longer
than you have. My relationship is way more important with them than yours is.”

  She recoiled like I’d slapped her. “I guess I know where I stand.”

  “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

  “Being a part of your life, my relationship with them should be just as important as yours.”

  “That’s not what I meant.”

  “Oh. So, were you going to tell me I’m banned from going to their house and the store?”

  “Yes. But you’re overreacting. It won’t—”

  “I’m not overreacting. You didn’t stick up for me.”

  I clenched my jaw and took in a deep breath. It didn’t work. “I didn’t stick up for you? I could have told Ted that I wanted to tell him and Mary the night we got the plane tickets, but you talked me out of it. I could have placed the blame all at your feet right there. I could have made it sound like you wanted a free trip out of the deal.”

  “But that’s not true.”

  “I know it’s not. That’s why I didn’t say it.” Is she purposely being obtuse? “But you did talk me out of it. If I had told him, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are now.”

  She leaned closer to me and narrowed her eyes. “If you had never blackmailed me, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in now.”

  “You’re right. I suppose we’re both to blame.”

  “I wish I had never agreed to this stupid deal. Jail would have been better than pretending to be your girlfriend.”

  I rubbed the spot over my heart. I knew she was saying it because she was upset and confused, but damn it if that didn’t hurt. This morning, we had talked about giving our relationship a chance, and now, she was saying she wished nothing had ever happened between us.

  And, because I didn’t want her to know I was hurt, I opened my big mouth and said, “Yeah. Same here. Except I would have missed out on all the great sex.”

  She shook her head in disgust. “Typical, Caleb. Always making jokes when things get serious.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Nothing. It doesn’t matter anyway.” She practically ejected herself from the car. “Tell Ted he doesn’t have to worry about seeing me.”