Page 55 of Fame & Chaos

“Don’t,” she warns, taking a step back while staring into my eyes with those beautiful sky-blue irises that used to own every damn part of me.

I swallow hard and reluctantly let go of her arm, trying not to focus on the tingling sensation shooting from my lips straight down to my cock after kissing her. I have to rein myself in before this gets awkward… or dangerous.

“Why are you here, Caleb? How did you find me?”

Her question catches me off guard. “Find you? Indi, I didn’t even know you became a nurse. I’m not wandering around hospitals looking for you.”

“Sorry, I just thought…” Indi’s voice trails off as she glances away.

The tension between us is thick enough to choke on, and I know she feels it too.

“Annie drank too much and passed out. It’s her birthday, and we were at her party. She needed my help,” I explain.

“Needed your help getting wasted, Caleb? Really?” she snaps, bitterness coating every word. “I knew this rock star lifestyle would turn you into them.” She moves to walk away again, but I shake my head and catch her arm, this time a little firmer. She spins back around instantly, glaring at me like she wants to set me on fire.

“Listen,” I say, lowering my voice. “I know your parents had issues, and I know all of that made you scared to love someone. I get that they screwed you up emotionally and made you terrified of ending up like them. I also know you worry about me getting swallowed by the whole sex, drugs, and rock and roll lifestyle. But Indi, I am not that guy.”

“Then why is your cousin passed out in the hospital?” she fires back.

“Because she decided to get drunk. I just happened to be the one who found her.”

“So you didn’t give her the alcohol?”

I huff out a breath and shake my head. “Seriously? You think I’d feed my cousin alcohol? Especially considering who her father is? C’mon, Indi, cut me some slack.”

“Okay, sorry.” She sighs softly. “I haven’t seen Annie for years. I’ll go check on her.”

“Thanks, Indi. I appreciate it.”

I follow her toward Annie’s bay, trying very hard not to stare at her ass while she walks ahead of me. Unfortunately, my self-control apparently abandoned ship the second I saw her again.

Seeing Indi tonight has shaken me to my core. I had no idea I’d be seeing her here, and now that she’s standing in front of me again, all I can think about is how fucking beautiful she is. More beautiful than I remembered, somehow. Everything inside me feels alive again just from being near her.

I’ve missed her for six long years. Six years of constantly swinging between missing her so badly I could barely breathe and hating her for leaving without saying goodbye.

Her shoulder-length blonde hair sways softly with every step, and all I want to do is bury my hands in it while I kiss her senseless. But stronger than that urge is the need to drag her somewhere private and finally get answers.

Why did she leave?

Why didn’t she say goodbye?

Why did she disappear like I meant nothing to her?

Unfortunately, right now Annie has to come first, and the whole situation is pissing me off.

We step into Annie’s bay to find her sitting upright in bed, finally awake.

“Oh, good, you’re awake,” I mutter, shaking my head as I walk over to her. “What the hell were you thinking, Annie? Your dad’s going to kill me for this.”

“I think Dad’s more likely to kill me than you,” she mumbles, wincing as she lifts a hand to her pounding head.

“Indi, is she going to be okay?” I ask.

“She’ll be fine,” Indi replies while adjusting Annie’s drip. “But she’s going to have one hell of a hangover by the looks of it. I’m giving you fluids to help rehydrate you, so hopefully that’ll help, but it’s not going to fix everything, sweetie. I’m sorry.”

I can’t help smiling slightly at the softness in Indi’s voice. She always liked Annie, though Annie probably doesn’t even remember her now.

She pauses, her expression turning more serious. “I really should call your parents, but Caleb has assured me he’ll be speaking to Colt and Dee as soon as you get home. I’ve already spoken with hospital administration, and they’re willing to release you into Caleb’s care this time. If this ever happens again, Annie, I’m sure they won’t be nearly so lenient.”