Chapter 8: Offers
"Congrats on winning you're race" I smiled at him. He smiled back adjusting the back bag strap on his shoulder. "Thanks, um do you need help unpacking? I can give you a ride over there" Caleb offered. "And I know the Garwin's so it'll be less awkward" he nudged my shoulder. I nodded, "that would be very helpful." I told him. "But my car" I told him gesturing to the old car. He smiled, "yeah but we have school tomorrow and if I pick you up in the morning to give a ride to school." Caleb offered, "oh you've been planning this have you?" I questioned him and he smiled that innocent boyish grin.
"Maybe a little" he chuckled. "And is it going to be just us unpacking my room?" I questioned him, "well Tyler might have gotten the courage to ask Cassie out for tonight and Kate just might be keeping Pogue busy tonight. But all coincidences." He assured me making me chuckle. "Well in that case I wouldn't want to do damage to you're gentleman reputation." I chuckled. "Oh well thank you good lady" he chuckled gesturing to his mustang. "Oh nice car, must be a real girl catcher" he chuckled. "Well let's test that theory" he chuckled putting his free hand on the small of my back and leading me over to the car. He opened the door for me and I slipped inside admiring the fine leather interior.
Caleb threw his bag into the back seat before he got in turning the car on easily and pulling out of the parking lot. "So where is this estate?" I questioned him, "not far from my house. The founders built their houses close together so we keep them like that." He explained and I nodded. Not really knowing what to talk about. "So Derek and Jenna?" He questioned, "with my grandparents. They took them to Boston." I told him. "I'm sorry to hear that." He apologized, "so am I" I told him as Caleb turned off the main road of Ipswich and down a side street. We passed a bend and my eyes widened at seeing the large black spiked fence with a matching large house.
"Holy crap" I muttered. Caleb chuckled pushing buttons before the gate opened. "What's the code?" I questioned him. "4175" he told me. "Why that?" I questioned him and he shrugged. I leaned back in my seat. I should have known that they'd be in a big house. He parked the car and got out, I got out before he even had the chance of opening my door for me. He led me to the door and rang the bell. A woman opened the door, long blonde hair and blue eyes she smiled at me.
"Oh Caleb! What are you doing here?" She questioned him, "helping Piper unpack" he smiled at her. "Oh well she's not here yet Caleb but you can wait inside" she smiled at him. "Actually I brought Piper along with me" he smiled moving so I was now visible. I might have sidestepped when we reached the porch to hide behind him. He chuckled at my petrified expression putting his hand on the small of my back pushing me forwards. "Hi" I waved awkwardly. "Hi Piper right? Oh wow you really are beautiful! I thought my husband might be exaggerating!" She smiled pulling me forwards into a tight hug.
Awkward
I slowly patted her back before she released me. "Well come in, come in!" She smiled gesturing for us to come in. "I picked a room for you on the second floor." Mrs. Garwin just kept talking as we went up the stairs. All the floors were made out hard wood including the large stair case. Pictures and painting decorated the walls as we went into the hallway. "Looks out the front yard too. A beautiful view." She smiled happily opening the hard wood door. My eyes widened at seeing it. It was at least the size of the entire second floor of my old house.
The bed was a large canopy with light blue fabric. The bed was huge, and it was on a platform, a two step platform. A large dresser made out of fine wood and it looked hand carved. It was gorgeous, A large mirror was on top of it as well. I opened the first door I saw and it was a filled closet. Boxes were inside that marked closet on the side. I found the next door led to my personal bathroom. It was huge and had a couple boxes marking bathroom. Stepping back into the main room I noticed the rest of the boxes. "Do you like it?" Mrs. Garwin questioned clenching her hands.
I nodded. "It's awesome, thank you" I told her. She smiled at me giving me another hug. I tensed up against and awkwardly patted her back. She pulled back, "okay well uh I'll leave you two to unpack would you like something to eat or drink?" She questioned and I shook my head going to the boxes. "Okay well this was a quick decoration so if there's anything that you want to change feel free. We're having a guy come in tomorrow to install a TV for you so we can go furniture shopping for you this weekend if you like?" She offered. I looked up at her. "You really don't have to do all of that Mrs. Garwin. I'm fine with just a bed, pillow and blanket really" I told her. She smiled, "Oh don't worry about it honey it's a pleasure! Besides I like decorating and just call me Rebecca please" she smiled. I smiled back at her. "All right then, uh thanks" I told her. She smiled, "any time" and walked out of the room closing the door softly behind her. "Well glad to know the asshole jean runs on the dads side" I muttered making Caleb chuckle as he opened a box.
"You really don't have to be here either Caleb, why don't you go to Nicky's and celebrate or something?" I questioned him, "because I'd rather be here with you. And I'll be a good buffer in case Reid shows up." He informed me. "Will that happen often?" I questioned him and he shook his head. "Reid avoids coming home as much as he can." He told me and I nodded, "so do you play any sports?" He questioned and I shook my head. "Do you want to do any sports? You can always join the swim team" He suggested, I laughed, "one I'm not interested in any sports. Two, I only know how to doggy paddle so if there's a race for that then I'll join!" I laughed, his jaw dropped. "No way? You can't swim?" He questioned, "I can do the doggy paddle!" I justified, "that's the same thing as not being able to swim!" He defended and I rolled my eyes putting up pictures or arranging my dresser.
"I can swim just fine thank you!" I told him, "Oh that's not going to fly, I'm going to teach you how to swim whether you like it or not." He told me, "No way! Not in the school's pool everyone will laugh at me!" I complained, he smiled at me making knees go weak.
When did that start happening?
"The Garwins have a pool and if you don't want to use there's I have a pool at my house too!" He informed me. I gave him a dirty look. "No" I told him. "I can get Tyler, or Pogue to come along! I'm sure Cassie wouldn't mind swimming" he teased knowing if Cassie was informed of this she'd drag me into going. "That's playing dirty mister!" I accused smacking his arm. He laughed "then are you coming?" He questioned and I gave him a look. "And exactly when are we going to do this swimming?" I questioned him, "well tomorrow afternoon or this weekend if you like. We don't have a meet or anything." He supplied, "yeah but do you really want to go swimming when you have swim class and swim practice tomorrow?" I questioned him, "I'm a swimmer, I love being in the water I think I can swing swimming after practice with you." He chuckled, "depends is your speedo invited to?" I teased nudging him with my elbow as he put some clothes on my dresser for me. "Only if you want it too" He chuckled winking at me playfully.
I chuckled going back to my task at hand. Self sacrificing. Not a bad trait to have. "You might as well just skinny dip if you're going to wear your speedo" I muttered. "Oh really?" Caleb snickered, I froze. He wasn't supposed to hear that. "What?" I questioned trying to sound innocent. "I knew you wanted to go skinny dipping with me" he snickered. "I do not! It was just a joke! That's all" I told him quickly defending myself. "If it was just a joke then why are you blushing?" He questioned, I looked up to see he was watching me in the mirror and I indeed had a full facial blush happening.
"Because…I just do!" I tried to sound convincing and he just chuckled shaking his head. "I'm up for it when you are" Caleb whispered in my ear, a shiver started at the top of my spine and just shot straight down to my tail bone. I gulped as he moved away to start working on my closet. I shook my head trying to clear it and went into the bathroom to unpack.
Mrs. Garwin had already taken the liberty to fill the bathroom with towels and other things I might need. It only took another half hour to empty and organize the bathroom. I had a free standing tub as well as a full shower that was in the shape of an octagon that could have easily fit ten people. It was huge! "Hey Piper do you want a pizza?" Caleb questioned, "Mrs. Garwin got a call and they had to leave town." He explained, "Uh…sure. Cheese and black olives please. Oh stuffed crust if they have it!" I told him. He nodded pulling his phone out making the call.
So it was just us in the house?
A large crack of thunder ran over the house and I gripped the counter. I hated storms. Looking out the window it was pouring down rain. I sighed and went out into the main room and rubbed my arms. Caleb was playing with something in the corner. Looking closer it was a large fireplace. How the hell did I miss that? Walking over it was a large brick fireplace that already had wood inside it. Caleb was building a fire. "A fire? Can't we just turn the heat up?" I questioned him. "No point, the power…" he started to say only to pause as the power went out. "Is about to go out." He finished his sentence as a loud knock on the door sounded. "And that's the pizza, I'll be right back." He said and quickly left the room using his phone as a flash light. Watching his muscled back disappear. I let out a low whistle and shook my head. Damn he was good looking.