The Journey Home(15)
Author: Kelly Elliott

I walked to my window and looked out across the lake. It was one of the houses I’d looked before buying mine. It was tucked back into the trees, like this one, but smaller. Maddie’s house. I’d wanted this girl for two years and now she was practically under my nose and I couldn’t have her.

“I got drunk after we came home. Zoey started coming on to me,” I took a deep breath. “I closed my eyes and started day dreaming about Maddie. Before I knew it, Zoey was moaning and I was coming…without a condom.”

“No. No. Why in the hell where you drinking?” Jack yelled. “Dude, you had three beers at lunch and then you went home and drank? I told you I didn’t trust her, Cale. I told you not to screw her until you saw a damn test!”

I shook my head. “I don’t think Zoey would lie about this, Jack. She isn’t evil.”

Jack laughed. “I call bullshit. I saw the way she looked at you and Maddie when you shook her hand. I’m telling you, she knows your past. She got way too much satisfaction out of telling Maddie she was pregnant.”

I didn’t want to believe Zoey could do something like that. I wouldn’t believe it.

“Jack, what the hell am I going to do?”

There was silence for a couple of seconds before I heard Jack let out a breath. He mumbled a few curse words.

“The right and honorable thing, if she really is pregnant. You’re going to stand by Zoey.”

I nodded in silent agreement. I knew Jack was right. There was no way I could dump my pregnant, dying girlfriend for someone who might not even be interested in me.

“Jack, do me a favor. Keep your ears and eyes open, and let me know when Maddie moves into her house.”

I could hear Jack moving papers around. “The offer still stands if you want to use my friend, the private detective. Let me have him poke around a bit.”

Jack had offered a dozen times to search out Maddie for me. It just never felt right. Like, if it was meant to be, it would be. But things were different now. I knew I shouldn’t do it, but I had to know. I had to know everything about Maddison Powers.

“Okay. Do it. Get him to find out as much as he can.”

ONCE I WAS on the plane, I found my seat and sighed in relief as I sat down. I was flying home from Seattle after meeting with suppliers. My boss was nice enough to upgrade my ticket to first class, and I was going to give her the biggest hug and kiss when I got home.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and pulled it out. When I saw I had a text from Zoey, I rolled my eyes.

Zoey: When are you headed back home? I’d love to go out and have a drink.

Me: Today. And did you forget that you’re pregnant?

Zoey: Ugh. No, I didn’t forget it. I’m starting to have to buy those nasty clothes.

Me: Maternity? Is that what you mean?

Zoey: You’re snippy! If you don’t want to meet up that’s fine. It’s just that Cale’s been gone for three months. He left pretty much immediately after I told him I was pregnant. I hate his house and I’ve been staying at my place in the city.

Me: Why did you move in with him if you don’t like his place?

Zoey: One reason would be that I’m pregnant.

Me: I know, Zoey. I have to go. The plane is about to take off.

I hate her. I felt guilty for feeling that way. The last three months had been hell. Cale had pretty much left town the day after we “met” at JJ’s. Monica had somehow hooked back up with Jack and the two of them had come to the conclusion that Zoey had always known about Cale and me. Jack swore she planned the pregnancy because she’d sensed that Cale was about to dump her. The only part of this whole crazy thing that kept me somewhat sane was that I knew Cale didn’t truly want to be with Zoey.

I sighed. I didn’t really want to believe that Zoey, someone I called my friend, would be so evil. Bitchy, yes. But not evil.

Then there was the sex thing. All I could think about was Zoey talking about Mr. Hot Pants fucking her all over the place. That wasn’t the Cale I remembered. Even though it was a one-night stand, he’d been sweet, romantic, tender. His words echoed in my ear as I closed my eyes. I could almost feel his lips on my skin.

“Ugh, oh my God. Stop this, you idiot!” I said to myself, trying to think of anything other than Cale Blackwood.

I heard a laugh and felt my heart begin to beat harder in my chest. “Do you always talk to yourself while you’re alone on a plane, Maddie?”

My eyes snapped open. I couldn’t believe what I saw: Cale. Standing in the aisle.

Great, two years of wishing him to appear and nothing. Now he’s going to start showing up everywhere.

“What are you doing here?” I asked. My words came out ruder than I meant.

His smile faded slightly. “I’m flying back home from Alaska.”

The image of him screwing Zoey against a wall popped into my head.

“I’m sure Zoey will be happy to have you home. She’s been sex starved.”

Cale’s smile completely vanished as he turned and started to sit in the seat opposite of me. “Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be happy.”

I watched him take the seat across the aisle from me. “Are you kidding me? You’re sitting there?”

He looked all around him, then down at his ticket. “It appears I am. Do you have a problem that, Maddie?”

His smug smile made me even madder. Now I’m mad that I was mad for no real reason. I rolled my eyes and looked away.

We didn’t speak the rest of the trip. I tried to read a book, but I could feel his eyes on me. I hated the way it made my body feel.

When the plane landed and had finally taxied in, I leapt to exit the plane as fast possible. But I felt a tug at my wrist. I let out a gasp. It felt like a million bolts of lightning rushing through my arm where his hand touched me. I looked down at his hand on my arm.

“Why did you leave me that night, Maddie? Why did you walk away?”

My chest started heaving as I looked into his beautiful, emerald eyes. The crowded plane seemed to fade away. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes briefly before opening them to stare up at him.

“Because I was scared to death.”

He tilted his head and looked at me with a questioning look. “Scared of what?”

I gazed quickly at his lips before looking back into his eyes. “Of how quickly I fell in love with you.”

Cale’s eyes lit up with fire and I pulled my arm from his and began walking away. Again.

I was starting to get good at walking away.