Hooked on You: An Annapolis Harbor Series Prequel, Lea Coll [love letters to the dead .txt] 📗

in a few breaths so I could get off the phone. “Thanks for apologizing but you’re off the hook. I hope everything works out with Zach and his mom.”

“Thanks, but—”

“I’m sorry, but I had some bad news about Caleb today and I can’t talk about this right now.” I hung up before he could respond. He’d apologized, but it was over. I wouldn’t go back on what I’d said that night.

I needed to focus on my family and whether it was my fault my parents were institutionalizing Caleb. If so, I didn’t think I could bear it. My parents wanted me to live my life, but what about Caleb’s life?

Chapter Twenty-Eight

GABE

I knew I’d fucked up, but this was so much worse than I’d thought. I’d said something stupid—something completely untrue with the purpose of hurting Taylor as much as I thought she’d hurt me. I thought she’d told the social worker about Zach, causing a domino effect of accusations and an investigation into me. The kind of attention I hated. And it brought back that sinking feeling I had when I was younger when I was accused of something—whether I did it or not—I was guilty.

I lashed out where it hurt the most—Caleb. Even as I said the words I knew they weren’t true. She helped me when we first met even when I was an ass to her. She worked at the bar, she helped out Omar with his theft issues at the store, she’d been organizing the block party to help business on my street, and most importantly, she helped Zach. She cared for him like he was mine.

There was nothing wrong with her caring for Zach. He wasn’t a replacement for Caleb. Taylor was so caring and loving, she’d help anyone who needed it, which was something admirable and rare—something I’d never encountered in my life. For a brief time, Taylor had been mine, until I fucked everything up with my anger and accusations. Was it too late? Would she listen to me? Would she let me explain?

I had to get her back. Make her see that what happened to Caleb wasn’t her fault. But how? I needed to talk to someone but the only person I had was Isaac. He wasn’t the best at talking about feelings but what choice did I have?

Heading to the bar, I hoped the new bartender would be okay by himself for a little while so I could talk to Isaac. My first impulse was to get on a plane to Maryland, but I wanted to do this right. Taylor was not in a good headspace. She was taking responsibility for everything, and worse, her voice sounded defeated. She’d mentioned she’d had bad news today about Caleb and I wanted to know what she was dealing with so I could help.

As soon as I got to the bar, I headed for Isaac. “Can we talk? Is Patrick okay to handle the bar for a few minutes by himself?”

Isaac raised his brow then turned to talk to Patrick. When Patrick nodded, shooting a curious glance at me, Isaac gestured for me to precede him to the office. “What’s up?” he asked as soon as we were alone.

“I fucked up big time with Taylor.”

Isaac folded his arms over his barrel chest. “I knew that the day she walked out. I told her to give you time. You’re bound to fuck up. You’ve never been in a real relationship. Not with someone like her.”

He was right. I needed time to get my head on straight.

“Is everything okay with her family?” Isaac asked, his face was carefully blank but I could hear the concern in his voice.

“Caleb’s at home now recovering. He’ll be okay but Taylor blames herself for him getting out of the house.”

Isaac swore under his breath. “Why would she think that? She wasn’t there.” Then his eyes narrowed on me, accusation in his eyes.

I hesitated because what I told Taylor was ridiculous and I knew Isaac would be pissed. “Because I told her she was selfish for coming here and not taking care of her brother. I accused her of replacing Caleb with Zach.”

Isaac’s arms dropped from his chest and down to his sides, his fingers curling into fists. “That’s the biggest crock of shit I’ve ever heard. What does it matter if she wants to care for Caleb and Zach? You can care for more than one person. It doesn’t mean you’re replacing one with the other.”

“I know.” How did I not see it earlier? Why did I allow my anger and old fears take over and hurt the only person who’d ever been there for me?

His body tensed. “How are you going to fix this?”

Not, are you going to fix this or do you even want to. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” I paused, unsure if he’d support my plan. “I want to go to Maryland. I want to be there for her like she’s always been there for me.”

He relaxed slightly. “Are you prepared for the fact she might not want to take you back?”

“I am but I want to be there for her.” I knew that with every fiber of my being. “Will you be okay for a few days without me? I don’t know how long I’ll be gone. I know it’s shit timing with me asking for more responsibility and then leaving like this but I’ve never—”

“You’ve never taken a vacation. Hell, you rarely take a day off.” He assessed me for a second before adding, “I like her for you.”

“I just hope she’ll take me back. Thanks.” I opened the office door to leave, my mind already on finding airline tickets to Maryland. I’d rent a car if I had to. Whatever it took to get to her. It was my fault she blamed herself for Caleb’s accident. She hadn’t said much about her family, but I hoped it wasn’t her parents pressuring her. If so, I’d have