Authors: Michelle Escamilla
“Oh, shit, sorry. Courtney and I are going to go out and Jason and you are heading out for the
respectable bachelor/bachelorette parties. Courtney told me the other night when I called her and I
completely spaced it. Are you okay with that?” I asked biting my lip.
“I thought so.” I winked at him. “I also got a newbathing suit and some shorts and tops. Needless to say,
I found some good deals out there today.” I said as I began to put the items back in the bags to take
upstairs.
“I am going to take a snooze down here, are you doing anything else today?” He began to holler at me
as I headed into the kitchen to put the flowers in some water and the wine in the fridge to cool.
“I was thinking of taking a couple minutes in bed. I’m going to set my alarm. I figure we can leave here
about 5:30?” I suggested.
I headed upstairs to lay down. My head still wasn’t fully better and the fact that I hadn’t eaten anything
all day was not the best idea. I turned on the TV and laid down for a minute and then my stomach
wouldn’t let me lay there for any longer.
I jumped up and headed downstairs for a light snack. I saw Liam sleeping in the chair; he really must
have been tired. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed some carrots and poured a tiny side ranch. I filled
a cup of water and headed back to the room.
I felt exhausted but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep. I think that my mind was just too busy to let me sleep
and it was going to be a long evening. After watching a few shows on TV I realized that it was
approaching five.
“I just woke up actually. Just checking my emails and I found that I was dying of thirst so I came in for
some water. Should we be a little early and maybe I can help Avery with the grilling?” He said as he put
his phone back in his pocket.
We really didn’t have much to say on the way to my mom’s house. We just played the radio and
occasionally made comments about how overplayed that a certain song is or how this group was going
on tour and we should think about try getting tickets.
“Speaking of tickets, while you were out today; I got us a reserved table at Haze and bottle service. I let
them know that it was in celebration of a wedding, so they threw in an extra bottle for us.” Liam said as
he grabbed my hand.
“I am just so glad that we had a chance to get all of us together and do a dinner. Ryleigh, Caleb is in the
back helping Avery with some of the steaks. His parents are on their way, they just called.” My mom
sounded like she was going 90mph. “Liam, dear, you can head out with boys. There is beer in the fridge,
so grab one on your way out. I am going to put Ryleigh to work in here.” She pretty much pushed Liam
towards the fridge and out the door.
“Why wouldn’t they get along?” She stopped what shewas doing to look at me.
“Oh, I don’t know.” Liar. “Just because I told him about Caleb being an old friend and I don’t want him to
get this wrong idea about any sort of Caleb and I in the past.”
“Thank you Ryleigh.” Avery said as he brushed his hand through his salt and pepper hair. He looked like
he was ready for a haircut. He had always worn his hair a bit shorter than it was. “I will put this in the
fridge and we can have it with dinner.” He examined the bottle. “This actually will go very well with
steaks, good choice.”
“He is trying to be a bit nicer. To everyone.” My mom chimed in. “That night when you and I were
talking; after I got off with you, I told him that he was an ass. He said he was going to try and be a bit
nicer to everyone, so give him a chance.”
“Wow! I think I can.” I winked. It was then when my heart about stopped. I could see Liam lean into
Caleb and begin to tell him something a bit closer. I could tell that Caleb was clinching his jaw. I stopped
what I was doing, grabbed three beers out of the fridge and made my way outside.
“Well I wanted to come and say hey and then head back to the kitchen to help my mom. It was so good
to see you again Caleb. Glad you could make it! My mom said that your parents should be here any
minute.” I said and began to head back into the house.
“Thanks Ry, great to see you too.” Caleb said.
“Ryleigh!” I turned around and saw Caleb’s mom, Joanna, walking into the kitchen. “You look all grown
up!” She was always the sweetest woman to me; it started when my mom and I had a rough patch my
sophomore year of high school and she became like a second mom to me.
“Pleasure to meet you Liam.” Joanna stuck her hand and they both shook hands. Joanna had a look on
her face as if she had known something. I right then knew, Caleb had told her everything. I was actually
mortified and could feel the heat rushing to my cheeks.
Everyone gathered at my mom’s formal dining table, grabbing at food and pouring glasses of wine. We
all made small talk around the table. Joanna found ways to ask Liam small questions and then compare
her son to him. Thankfully they were just random where did you go to school? College? Did you serve in
the military?
Caleb sat across from me and I could tell that he was constantly staring up at me. I tried to keep my
head in my food. It was only when I went to take a drink of wine I caught his eyes. He looked as if he was
going to burst at the seams. Something had pissed him off earlier with Liam and he had not been the
same since.
“Lynda, we were talking last night and we have decided that we are going to try for a family here in the
very near future.” Liam said as he came over and stood next to me as I sat down in the lawn chair. He
placed his hand on my shoulder. “Sorry honey, I have just been too excited to keep it a secret.”
I got up and started to walk away towards the opening of the lawn. Liam began to follow me and then I
heard him stop. He began to say something else to Caleb. I turned just in time to catch Caleb throw a
right hook right into Liam’s jaw!
“Sorry, Lynda. Avery. I’ve gotta go.” Caleb said shaking his fist. I think everyone was in too much awe to
respond. He leaned in and kissed Joanna on the cheek and patted his dad on the shoulder. He turned
and walked back into the house.
“No! Of course not! Why?” I asked in shock.
“Cause he must have seen something, heard something but it seems to me that he knows. He told me
when we were out in the back right before you came out…” We were interrupted by my mom coming in
the house to get some ice.
“Look, Ryleigh, I would watch out for him. He’s nothing good, he is not right for you. I know that I can’t
tell you who to be with, but Ry, if you can’t tell that he is just fake then you are right you do deserve
him.” Caleb said as he headed out the door. He jumped in his truck and headed out.
“He loves you, Ryleigh. He has always loved you, since the day you first met him. Yes, I know everything.
He was never one of those kids that told their parents only part of the story. Caleb, he has never hid
anything from me and even if he did, after that punch, we would all be dumb not to see that he is trying
to protect you. You are a very smart girl, so I can’t tell you the choices that you need to make in life.”
She leaned in and gave me a hug.