The Heart Of You ♚ Jim Moriarty

Six

"You can't leave." Alaina said shaking her head. Caleb rubbed circles over her back and looked around.

"I don't see John or Mary, I'm gonna try to slip out." He said finishing his drink in one gulp. He put the glass down on a nearby table and moved to kiss Alaina goodbye. She leaned her head to avoid him.

"I said no," Alaina was proud of herself for holding her ground. She wasn't going to let Caleb sneak out again. "You always do this, just stay."

"I have an early day tomorrow, I need to go to bed."

Alaina scoffed, his excuse was worn out and she was tired of it.

"You're a big boy, you can tough it out." A waiter walked by with a tray of white wine and Alaina unconsciously reached for a glass. Caleb crossed his arms over his chest and huffed.

"How many more parties do we have to go to until they actually get married?"

Alaina was apart of the bridal party and even she wasn't sure what this night was for. John and Mary already had their engagement party, and Mary's bachelorette party wasn't for another month. It was a fair question but she could taste the salt hidden behind his words.

"Can you at least pretend to have a good time?"

"Babe," Caleb took her free hand and brought her attention to his soft blue eyes. "I'm exhausted. I'm not going to be any fun if I stay and I'd hate to ruin your night."

Alaina curled her toes in her lace heels and pressed her heavy eyes. He was trying to fool her into the answer he wanted to hear, a trick she was familiar with. If he could make her think this was her idea then she wouldn't really be giving in. Alaina sighed, she wasn't in a mood to play this game especially since this was one Caleb loved to win.

"Fine," she was disappointed for giving up, like she lost the game against herself this time.

Caleb flashed a straight smile and leaned forward. She didn't pull back and instead welcomed his lips on hers. He pressed into her, his tongue sliding along her bottom lip. She didn't let him in, there were too many people around. She loved him but felt too exposed with a kiss as intimate as that. She took a step back and sipped her wine with a blotchy redness over her chest.

"God, you're too cute." He kissed her forehead. "Don't be out too late."

Caleb fled into the crowd and was gone in a blink. After a few minutes of silent sulking, she began walking around the ballroom with her thumb teasing her pearl necklace. She wished Kenna had come with her instead. She would be flirting with a waiter by now but at least Alaina wouldn't be alone.

If Kenna had taken Caleb's place it would be the first time in a month the pair had got together. It would be an understatement to say Alaina was hesitant to go anywhere since the events that took place at the nightclub. She went to work and met Caleb for lunch, but for the most part she stayed home.

Alaina didn't tell anyone about that night, what good would it do? Caleb would only worry and Kenna would have half of Scotland Yard looking for the man who attacked her. She never bothered to tell anyone because she knew he wouldn't be found. Jim had taken care of him. She didn't know how, or what he had done after walking her home, but she knew it would be no use to look for the man with rotting teeth.

Alaina bit back a smile and her belly sat with sugar. Jim was her secret too, one she hid in a pocket of her mind. There were days she didn't think of him, like his entire existence was a dream. Then there were days her secret refused to be forgotten and thoughts of him ran wild in her head. She laughed at herself for having a crush on a man she would never see again.