Chapter 6: Heartbeats and Choices

The bodyguards, teary-eyed, cheered me on:

"I knew you could do it, Aubrey!"

"Don’t believe anything he says. He talks big, but he’s all soft inside."

"Look at him—ears red, voice cracking. He’s just shy and doesn’t want to bother you. And you—you’ve only ever had eyes for Derek."

Caleb glared at them, icy: "Enough."

But for once, the bodyguards ignored him. I turned his face to me, holding the back of his head, and kissed him again. He’d saved me twice—I couldn’t just walk away. I wouldn’t let him down.

When our lips met, Caleb trembled. Still, he clung to the last bit of pride:

"Aubrey, can’t you see? I don’t want your pity. I don’t want to be your charity case."

My eyes stung with tears:

"I’m not doing this out of pity. I want to."

I pressed his hand to my chest, my heart pounding wild. His eyes widened, like he’d touched something forbidden.

He tried to pull away, but I held on:

"Feel my heartbeat. I’m not forcing this. I want you to know it’s real."

Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his restraint crumbling:

"Don’t lie to me. I know you’ve only ever loved Derek."

"I overheard you on the phone with the bodyguard. You said Derek needed you more tonight."

I opened my mouth to explain, but Caleb’s phone rang—Derek’s name lighting up the screen.

Caleb answered, his voice tense:

"Derek, what’s up?"

Derek’s voice was raw, desperate:

"Bro, I awakened tonight. It’s killing me. Aubrey never showed. I thought I could tough it out, but I was wrong."

Caleb looked at me, about to say something, but I kissed him again, cutting off his words. My need to be there for him—finally, truly—overrode everything else. His hand trembled in mine. For the first time, I realized I wasn’t the only one who’d been hurting all these years.

But Caleb regained control, gently pushing me away before he could admit I was there.

On the phone, Derek complained:

"She’s probably just stuck in traffic. She’ll come running. She can’t wait to help me. But things that come easy never feel right. I don’t want to be stuck with her just because of one night. Why do we have to be so loyal?"

Caleb’s eyes burned, a mix of anger and something else:

"You don’t want her? Then why tease her all these years?"

Derek’s answer was blunt:

"I was a kid. I didn’t know any better."

Caleb’s voice was sharp: "If you won’t cherish her, don’t blame me for doing it."

Derek’s voice echoed through the phone, but Caleb’s eyes were on me—hungry, haunted, and for the first time, truly alive. This night was about to change everything.