Page 177 of Fame & Chaos

Kept it vague, only saying I needed to talk.

He replied, saying he was free all day and had only just gotten up, so he’d put the kettle on.

The drive over is a blur. Dad’s called twice already, but there’s no way I can explain this shit over the phone. Besides, talking while driving is stupid, and right now my head’s already too fucked up to focus properly.

Pulling into the driveway, I park around the back and sit there for a moment, staring at the house. I love this place. It holds some of my best memories. It’s where everything changed for me, where life went from nothing to something.

Dad bought this place for Mum and me after the truth came out, and they’ve lived here together ever since. It’s not some gigantic manor like Colt and Dee’s place, but it’s still beautiful, warm, and feels like home.

Climbing out of the car, I head up the back stairs and step inside. The smell of bacon hits me, making my stomach growl despite the nausea twisting through me. Mum’s obviously cooking because she knows I’m coming over.

Walking into the kitchen, I find Mum and Dad deep in conversation at the island bench. They’re so caught up talking that neither of them notices me until I clear my throat.

Both snap their heads toward me.

“Shit, Caleb,” Mum says, clutching her chest dramatically. “Trying to give your mother a heart attack?”

“Caleb, I called you twice,” Dad says immediately, already moving toward me with concern written all over his face. “Why didn’t you answer?”

“I was driving.”

Dad stops in front of me and suddenly pulls me into a tight hug. The unexpected affection catches me off guard, but then the weight of the last twenty-four hours crashes over me all over again. My knees weaken, and before I know it, I’m sagging against him while my breathing turns ragged.

“Easy,” he murmurs, guiding me toward the couch in the adjoining open-plan room.

“Caleb,” Dad says carefully once we sit down. “You were in a relationship with Indi? Since when? And why the hell is it all over the news that you broke up? Your text sent me down a rabbit hole this morning.”

I lean forward, elbows braced on my knees, my head falling into my hands while I struggle to catch my breath. “I fucked up so badly, Dad,” I whisper. “And now she’s disappeared again. I don’t know what to do. I can’t lose her twice. I just… can’t.” The tears start again, and it pisses me off. I’m supposed to be a man, yet one woman has me falling apart at the seams like a fucking child.

“Hey.” Dad rubs my back firmly. “It’s okay. Just tell me what happened. When did you start seeing her again?”

“Not long ago,” I admit thickly. “But it was perfect. She’s perfect, and I ruined everything.”

“Caleb.” Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Slow down. Tell me exactly what happened.”

I shake my head hard. “We weren’t officially together. She wanted to stay friends, but things between us were… complicated. We nearly slept together one night, but she got called into work before anything happened. I went home confused as hell and got drunk.”

Dad stays quiet, letting me talk while he keeps rubbing my back like he used to when I was younger. “So what happened after you got drunk?” he asks gently.

Turning my head slightly, I look at him through my hands. His expression is sympathetic and patient, as if he’s waiting me out.

“I called another girl over,” I admit hoarsely. “She came to my house and we… you know. Then she left the next morning. I felt sick about it afterward, but Indi and I weren’t together yet, so I tried convincing myself it didn’t matter. Then Indi made things official with us, and I thought maybe it would never come up.” I laugh bitterly. “Turns out that was wishful fucking thinking.”

Dad exhales slowly. “The girl told her?”

“Yeah. Sasha kept showing up everywhere, calling nonstop, acting completely insane. Then she cornered Indi and told her that we slept together. Now Indi’s gone again, and I don’t know where the hell she is.” I slump back into the couch miserably. “I lost her all over again, Dad.”

Dad nods thoughtfully before leaning back. “Look, we all fuck up. God knows I did. But sometimes the biggest mistakes end up leading to the best things in life.”

I scoff quietly. “Feels hard to believe that right now.”

“You didn’t technically cheat on her, Caleb.”

“Doesn’t matter,” I snap. “Sasha made it sound like I did, and Indi won’t listen to me. You know what she’s like. When things get hard, she runs.”

Dad sighs. “Yeah, I know Indi.”

Suddenly, my eyes widen. “The hospital.”