Free Kaleb by Nicole Edwards

yesterday’s trash, especially not the likes of you.” With that,
Kaleb turned and would’ve walked away if the one person guaranteed to ensure
Regina Hollingsworth wasn’t allowed to get her claws into another Walker man didn’t
walk up.
    “Why’re
you here?” Lorrie asked, coming to stand on Zoey’s
other side, glancing from Regina then to Kaleb and down to Zoey. “Hey there, sweetie. I’m so glad you could come tonight.”
    Kaleb’s
mother leaned in and hugged Zoey before taking a step back and pinning Regina
with that don’t fuck with my family glare they’d all seen on her face
only a few times in their lives.
    “Congratulations,
Mrs. Walker.” Regina smiled, apparently aiming for sweet.
    Kaleb
glanced down at his mother, seeing the tight line of her lips as she obviously
fought back some pretty nasty comments.
    “I
admit I wasn’t privy to the guest list, but I’d bet my last dollar you’re not
on it.” Lorrie was fit to be tied, and Kaleb had to fight back a smile. Not
that he wanted his mother’s night to be ruined, but seeing her stand up to the
deceitful bitch made him proud.
    “Regina
was just leaving, Ma.” He assured her, looking back at Regina.
    “I
most certainly am not.” She argued, cocking her hip and putting her hands down
to her side. Her attempt to get all high and mighty, which she was known to do,
was thwarted when one of those spiked heels got lodged into the moist earth
beneath her feet sending her stumbling.
    Zoey,
bless her, didn’t have the decency not to laugh, which only made Lorrie and
Kaleb follow suit, which only pissed Regina off more. The laughter died the
moment Kaleb’s father approached, putting an arm around Kaleb’s mother and
shooting fire from his eyes. “I see my boys didn’t think about security
tonight.”
    Kaleb
watched in utter fascination as Curtis took it upon himself to seek out the
nearest person – his cousin Jaxson – to “assist the woman back to her vehicle”,
his gruff tone instructed. Jaxson looked more than happy to escort Regina from
the property. Once they were on their way, Regina sending death glares at the
four of them, the tension eased, and Zoey spoke first.
    “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Walker.”
    “Awww, thank you, honey.” Lorrie smiled, her brilliant blue eyes sparkling. “I’m glad you could join us.”
    Kaleb
was still holding Zoey’s hand, and he saw the instant his father noticed, as
well. The look in his dad’s eyes was more of a warning than anything, and Kaleb
nodded his head in silent agreement.
    His
parents had nothing to worry about, although he knew they would. They would
worry for both Zoey and Kaleb, but as far as he was concerned, they were
wasting their time. Whatever was going on between them, they were both grown up
enough to handle it.
    Thankfully
another group of people stopped by and distracted his parents and Kaleb took
the opportunity to sneak away, leading Zoey away from the throngs of people.
When they were out of ear reach, Zoey turned and looked up at him. “That bitch
definitely hasn’t aged well.”
    Kaleb
chuckled. Regina Hollingsworth was just as beautiful as always, at least in the
physical sense, but once they had all realized her agenda, there wasn’t a lick
of makeup that could help her now. Zoey was right, Regina hadn’t aged well.
    Zoey
turned and glared behind him, apparently looking to see if Regina was still
around, but then turned her attention back on him. When he met her eyes, he
expected to see something other than the warmth that radiated from the cobalt
blue orbs. “Well, nobody’s perfect.” She teased him. “Maybe now you’ll realize
whose door you should’ve been knocking on all along.”
    Kaleb
gripped Zoey’s hand, pulling her around to the side of the house where they had
a small measure of privacy before pressing her against the stone wall. “Are you
teasing me, woman?” He asked, wanting to get lost in the warmth of her gaze.
    “Maybe.” She