Perfectly Imperfect 1

39- The Thomas's

CAL:

I drag Kayla with me down the corridors and the staircases. I just need to get out of this stupid place. I need to gather my thoughts and digest my father’s stupid story.

“Cal! Cal! Caleb!” my dad shouts, jogging after me.

“Leave me alone,” I growl. I would have sprinted...but somehow I didn’t think Kayla would be up to it.

“Please son...you have to believe me,” dad whispers, sounding genuine. Then again, he sounded genuine every time he promised to be home for my birthday too.

We finally reach the front door and I hold it open for Kayla. She walks out timidly as my dad grabs onto my shoulder and I shrug him off. “Stop it! Let me go,” I mutter.

“Caleb, we should speak about this,” dad urges.

“Do you not realise that my name isn’t Caleb?! I don’t know which w*ore of yours has a son named Caleb, but he sure as hell isn’t me! I’m Callum, your legal son. Callum Aiden Cafferty,” I spit.

I slam the door in his face and climb into the limo, huffing. Kayla slides in beside me and takes my hand firmly. She doesn’t say a thing, instead, she rests her head against my shoulder, trying to indicate that she’s here for me no doubt.

“Thanks for being with me, baby,” I whisper genuinely. She’s the only reason I didn’t do anything stupid. God knows how I was tempted to give my dad a well deserved upper hook.

“You don’t have to thank me, Cal. I love you,” she murmurs sweetly.

“I love you more,” I challenge. “Anyway, I’ll drop you back home. I don’t think your parents would appreciate you being brought home late so often.”

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand...you need me Cal, and I’m here for you,” she assures me, her voice getting a little thick.

“Go to sleep, princess, I’ll wake you up when we’re at your house,” I whisper, kissing the top of her head.

***

I wrap my arm around her waist, supporting her weight. She’s still mostly asleep. I ring the doorbell and wait patiently for the door to open.

Kayla’s mum is at the door, and she’s pissed off. “Young lady! Do you know how worried your father and I have been?! You didn’t come home last night! And now, you come stumbling back here looking like one of those girls on TV!” she huffs.

Kayla shakes her head, about to protest but I beat her to it. “Mrs Thomas, I can explain. Kayla was at my party last night...and some stuff happened, she panicked and passed out. But I did send her home this morning. She was asleep till the evening and then she came with me to meet my father,” I mumble.

“Cal, you...seem like a nice boy, but I think whatever this is between you and Kayla has to end now,” she murmurs seriously.

“No mum! You can’t do that! Please!” Kayla begs.

“Please Mrs Thomas. I’m going through hell at the moment, and the only thing that is keeping me sane is your daughter...in fact...I love her. Very dearly,” I confess.

Mrs Thomas assesses me for a few quiet moments before holding the door open wider. “Come in,” she instructs.

I nod my head and head in with Kayla by my side.

In ten minutes, Kayla and I are on one two-seater couch with hot chocolate in our hands. The rest of the Thomas family stares at us, all looking curious.