I adjusted my blouse for the third time, fingers trembling slightly as I heard Caleb’s footsteps echoing down the hallway. The office was empty.. had been for over an hour. Everyone else had gone home, but I was still here, pretending like it was just about finishing up work.
Maybe it was polite to wait. Maybe that’s all this was. Or maybe…
I waved the thought off, biting my lip as I straightened a few files on my desk, like that would somehow settle my nerves. I wasn’t staying here for him. I wasn’t that person.
His voice cut through the silence, making me flinch. "Er... I’m sorry for keeping you waiting."
I froze, feeling the tension between us like a tangible thing, stretching out across the space between us. He sounded casual, almost like nothing had happened, but I could hear it. That slight crack in his voice. He was trying too hard.
I turned to face him, trying to keep my face neutral, but my heart was beating so fast I was sure he could hear it.
"No worries," I said, keeping my voice as steady as possible.
But the awkwardness hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. We still hadn’t talked about it.
About that night.. And here we were, standing in the same space, pretending it didn’t happen.
"So," I said, clearing my throat, "what is it you wanted to talk about?"
Caleb shifted his weight, his hands in his pockets, eyes darting to the floor before meeting mine.
"I’m sorry."
That was all he said. Two words that hung in the air, making everything more uncomfortable. Sorry. For what?
What was I supposed to say? Thank him for apologizing?
"Sorry for what?" I heard myself say, before I could stop the words from slipping out.
Damn it, Sam. Just shut up.
Caleb’s eyes shot up, and I could see the realization hit him like a brick. He thought I was talking about that night, about what had happened between us. Fuck.
He rubbed the back of his neck, looking like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. I could practically feel the awkwardness radiating off him, and I hated it. Hated how awkward we both were.
"I meant… I’m sorry for what happened earlier," Caleb finally said, his voice quieter now. "In the office."
In the office? I blinked, confused for a second, then it clicked. He was talking about Monica. About her possessiveness, her flirting, her staking her claim right in front of me.
I hadn’t expected him to bring it up. And the apology? That threw me off completely.
"Why are you apologizing for that?" The words slipped out before I could stop them, but it was too late. They were already hanging in the air between us.
Caleb looked at me for a moment, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. Shit. He realized what I was thinking.
His expression softened, like he was deciding how to handle this. "Look, Sam… we should probably talk. But not here. This isn’t the right place." He paused, running a hand through his hair. "Let’s go to a bar or something. Somewhere more... neutral."
I blinked at him, immediately shaking my head. "I’m not going to a bar with you."
He tilted his head slightly, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "Why? Because of what happened that night?"
My stomach tightened but I forced myself to keep calm. "That’s not it."
"Then what is it?" he asked, stepping closer, his voice dropping just a little. "Why won’t you go?"
I swallowed hard, trying to think of something to say, anything that didn’t involve bringing up the disaster of that night. "I just… I don’t think it’s a good idea."
He was still smirking, watching me with those eyes that seemed to see right through me.
"You don’t trust yourself?"
I clenched my fists at my sides, the heat rising to my face. "I’m just not going to a bar with you," I repeated firmly, though my voice wasn’t nearly as strong as I’d hoped.
He sighed, stepping back, and the tension between us shifted.
"Fine. But we need to talk. And it’s important."
"Then talk," I said, crossing my arms over my chest, feeling exposed. "We’re alone here."
He hesitated, like he wasn’t sure how to start, and that made me even more nervous. What the hell was so important that he couldn’t just spit it out?
Caleb’s eyes darted around the office before settling back on me. "I need you to understand something," he said, his voice lower now, more serious. "About everything that’s been happening."
I frowned, my stomach churning. Everything? What did he mean, everything?
He took a deep breath, stepping closer again, and this time I didn’t move away. "There’s more going on than you know, Sam.. More than… us."
Us? The word hit me hard, like I wasn’t expecting it.
And honestly, I wasn’t.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he looked at me like he was trying to decide if he should even say it. Like he was weighing the consequences.
I stared at him, my heart racing, my mind trying to piece together what the heck was going on and what it was he wanted to say. This wasn’t just about Monica. It wasn’t just about what happened between us.
There was something else. Something bigger.
And I didn’t know if I was ready to hear it.