Page 36 of A Dangerous Game
“I am. These are my favorite flowers. How did you know?”
He begins helping me unwrap them and the act is domesticated yet sweet. It’s humbling to have him help me do this but at the same time, I get worried. This shouldn’t feel so good. I have been on my own for so long. For so long, I haven’t had help and now here he is helping me.
It's crazy how doing something normal makes me think of James. Once upon a time, I thought we would be doing this together. Being normal.
“Roses are a powerful yet delicate flower. They can weather the storm but will wilt if you squeeze too hard. Plus, pink is a feminine yet strong color. Many people underestimate the color but it’s an influential one.” He placed his hand on mine and I stopped what I was doing and looked at him. “They are you.”
My heart drops and cracks open for him to worm his way in. Fuck. “Why did you really come over? Did you talk to Duke?”
Caleb nods and squeezes my hand before removing his. “Yes. I can tell that you need the help and I looked at the files before I came here. Those poor girls.”
I wince at the thought of how messed up they were emotionally and mentally. “They are happy now. Don’t let all of that alter how you see them. They are normal six year old girls who love to play and argue with me.” I giggle when I say that.
“Do you need my help to win? I can beat Charlotte and her lawyer. I can make it so that she can’t ever come back on you like this again.”
I nod and then walk over to my china cabinet to grab a vase. Once it’s filled with water, I begin sticking all of the flowers in them. It’s a large vase that once held a humongous bouquet from Duke. I won’t mention that one though. “Yeah, it would be nice. But, this should go without saying… We have attorney/client confidence, right?”
He nods and helps me adjust the remaining flowers so that they fit in the vase better. “I won’t tell anyone what we talk about. Sinclair, yes, I’m friends with Duke, too, but I wouldn’t tell him shit.”
“Aunt Sin! There’s boxes on the couch! Can we open them?” I hear Jayla call and then I can hear them shaking the boxes.
“We better get in there,” I say to Caleb and then nod my head towards the living room. “Jayla and Jenna, quit and come meet my friend, Caleb.”
The girls come running into the room and stop in front of him. He leans down and shakes both their hands while they introduce themselves to him. He kisses both of their hands and then looks over at me. “Your aunt is very nice and I can tell you girls are going to beautiful like she is.”
I blush from head to toe and then say: “Thank you.”
“I got you girls something. Want to come look at them?” Both of my nieces nod their heads enthusiastically and run over to the boxes.
“Girls! Don’t touch them! Remember what I said about waiting?” I call after them and run to stop them from grabbing at what I can assume is dolls. Expensive dolls.
Caleb looks at me and then towards the boxes. “They each have their names on them. Uh, can they, uh…”
“Yeah, they can read. Jenna and Jay, read the tags and then sit on the floor, please. Open them on the floor.”
I sit in front of them on the couch and watch as they read the tags and then shuffle the boxes around so they each have the right ones. Caleb sits next to me on the couch with his arm wrapped around the back of the couch. I can’t help it, but I nestle up to his side like I did at the studio.
The top of the boxes fly off and then red wrapping paper flies off too. I hear twin gasps and screams as they each pick up their dolls. “You got them dolls? Caleb, that’s too expensive. Please let me pay you back.”
He shushes me and then picks up the other boxes and sits them in front of my squealing nieces. “These too, little ladies.”
He got them outfits? God damn.
More squeals and I watch as they move the clothes back and forth between them to see which ones they like the best. Before I can remind them, they each grab the dolls and tuck them close. Jenna is the first to jump off the floor and climb into Caleb’s lap.
“Thank you, thank you! Thank you!” She kisses him on the cheek and he blushes.
“No problem, honey. I’m glad you like her. She’s pretty just like you.”
Jenna kisses him again and then he is met with the next twin who jumps on his lap to kiss him on his cheek. “I love her. I will love her forever and ever! Thank you, Caleb. Can you stay the night?”
My cheeks rise to the highest temperature and I am afraid to pass out. I want him to stay but I’m worried that I won’t want him to leave after. Like ever. “No, honey. You know you can’t ask people to spend the night without asking me first.” I scold even though there is no heat behind it.
“But dinner, Aunt Sin. He can stay for dinner,” Jenna argues with me and wraps her arms around his neck tightly.
The little brat is totally trying to make me crazy. “Caleb, would you like to stay for dinner?” And then stay forever because you are so sexy?
“Yes, I would love to spend the evening with beautiful women.” He looks at me and winks. I about melt into his side.
