Chapter 262. Similar Circumstances

Caleb’s POV

I nod, looking over at Damien, my jaw tight. “I want to talk to you too,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. There’s too much on my mind, and having this conversation with him is long overdue. But I can’t forget about Caroline, standing there, her brow furrowed, clearly still on edge. “Caroline,” I say, turning to her.

“You can relax. Go back inside. We’re not going to be fighting anytime soon.” I flash her a quick, half-hearted smile, hoping to reassure her, though I’m not entirely convinced myself.

Caroline’s gaze doesn’t soften, and she crosses her arms over her chest, her stance defiant. “You think I’m worried about the fighting?” she asks, her voice sharp, cutting through the air between us. “No, Caleb. I’m not worried about that. What I’m worried about is what the two of you are hiding from me.”

The words hang in the air, heavier than I expected. It feels like she’s seeing through us, digging into something we’ve been trying to ke