Page 32 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"Sheesh."

"Yes. It was bad. She did it because I told her I had met someone."

"What?"

"She fainted when I told her I met someone else."

Drake paused and then said, "You're joking."

"I wish I was."

"You told her you were in love?"

"Yes."

"Uh, what?" Drake made a laughing scoffing sound because he thought Caleb joking. It was the last statement he expected to hear from his brother. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

"With this woman who's staying at my house?"

"Yes," Caleb said. "It's early, but I think love her."

"I thought you don't love women."

"This one's different," he said, since it was the truth.

"Is Bailey in the hospital?"

"She was. She spent the night there."

"How's it going to go with Bailey and the new girl? It's crazy she's coming to town so soon."

Caleb cringed. He wanted his brother to know and love Lila as much as he did. "I want her here. I don't know how it'll go with Bailey, honestly. Lila asked if I wanted her to come, and I told her I did. I don't really care how it goes with Bailey. I want to try to let her down as easy as possible, but I need to say something soon. She was hugging all over me last night."

"Who was?"

"Bailey. At the hospital. It's a long story. Her sister couldn’t stay. I won't bore you with all that. Thank you, Drake. I'll make sure your house is better than before she stayed there."

"I know you will. It's no problem. This is just all so weird for you. I want to make sure you're good."

"I'm good. Thank you, brother."

"Good luck with everything. I hope Bailey's okay."

"I think she is," Caleb said, seeing that he had messages on his phone from her.

He got off the phone after thanking his brother again. He made himself a cup of orange juice. Bailey had done a lot of shopping, buying all of his favorite comfort foods. He drank the orange juice feeling thankful that it was in there. It made him fell slightly worse about everything with Bailey. He felt bad for her, but it had to be done. He knew what love felt like now, and he would do anything to protect it. The trick would be to deliver the news as kindly as possible to Bailey.

He called Bailey back since she had called him three times while he was sleeping.

"Hey," he said when she picked up the phone.

"Hey, I tried to call you earlier. You had me worried. I came by, and the third deadbolt was locked." (It was the lock that no one had a key to besides Caleb.)

"I locked it so I could relax and get some rest. Did you come by here?"

"Yes. Mom tried to drop me off there after we left the hospital earlier. I'm not driving yet. I was going to help you get some work done."

---