Better With You - Maddie Poppe and Caleb Hutchinson Series (Book 2)

Chapter 9

Maddie's POV

I have officially decided to keep as much distance as possible from Caleb. He chose Bella. He is trying to make his family work and I need to support that.

A knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I open it and see Caleb, "Hi."

"Hey," I say, moving over and letting him in.

"What's wrong? I can tell you've been crying," he says.

I can't tell him why. I just shake my head and wave it off before giving him a fake smile, "I'm okay. I don't really wanna talk about it."

"I'm here for you," he says after a moment.

"Thanks," I smile.

"I just wanted to tell you that.. that I'm trying to make my family work," he states.

I nod, "I don't blame you."

After all, I have been telling him to do what he thinks is best.

"Yeah, I told Bella already," he says, awkwardly.

"Yeah?" I look away from him. I'm not about to let him see me start crying.

Maybe this is what's best.

"I'm going to be moving my stuff back in this week. But, I don't know how long we will be there. Jace is trying to get us out so he can sell the house."

A Week Later

Cade's POV (I know, oof...)

Since Caleb has decided to stay with his wife, I thought I would give a visit to our "friend". I sent Jace a text and told him I was coming over to talk to him, but he didn't read it. I go over to his apartment, anyway.

The elevator isn't working. I sigh as I walk over and open the door to the steps. When I see the door with his floor level label on it, I open it and start down that hall. I cut the corner but step back a little when I see Bella talking to Jace. However, I can't hear what they're saying. I then see Bella smile and hug him. What?

When she walks the opposite direction, Jace goes back inside his apartment, so I walk towards his door. I knock and he cracks the door open a little and looks at me, "Yes?"

"What the hell was that?" I ask.

He smirks and opens the door. I walk in and see a blanket, and its sprawled out on the couch. I feel anger boiling inside of me when I see lipstick on the pillow.

"I know what I want. I want Bella," Jace says, "I will have her eventually."

I shake my head after a moment, "you two are still going behind his back." He raises his eyebrows with a small smile as I continue, "how could you do that?"

"Bella is better with me than with Caleb. Maddie is the one for Caleb," he states, "Caleb should be with Maddie."

"That's not up to you," I glare.

Later that day, Bella is supposedly at work. I decide to go over and talk to Caleb while he's alone. It doesn't take him long to open the door.

"This is important," I say, when he answers.

He looks confused as I let myself in, "Okay?"

"Caleb, I know you think you're doing what's right. But in my opinion, you really shouldn't stay with Bella."

"What is this about?" He asks.

"It's about Bella.." I start, "and Jace."

"What about them? I know that one time... can we please just not talk about it? Can we at least try to put it in the past?"

I shake my head slowly, "Dude, it wasn't just the one time."

He furrows his eyebrows, "What are you talking about?"

I breathe out and stare at him for a moment before speaking again, "Bella and Jace are still going behind your back."

"What?"

"Caleb, Bella and Jace are still sleeping together."