“Hang on…I didn’t turn…well,I have, but that’s…why were you even…” He continues to stutter and shift on his seat, his face screwing up in frustration as he tries to pin his words together. I just tilt my head with a questioning look like I haven’t a clue what he means.
“Keep your nose out of my business, Garcia.” The aggression in his tone is downright lethal, and it’d almost be attractive if he wasn’t my friend. But I made the mistake of sleeping with a member of the group once and I’ll never do it again. Stupid stage-five clingers.
“All right, easy, man. Go cool off.” Caleb gently brushes him off while chuckling. Lucas just downs the rest of his drink and heads for the exit.
I side-eye Caleb at his response, but he barely spares me a glance.Weird.
“What’d I miss?” Riley queries as she makes it back to the table.
“Lucas got his titties in a twist,” I reply.
“Which was your doing,” Caleb responds.
“If he can’t handle the heat, he should stay out of the kitchen.” I flash Caleb a look, playful but full of intent that gets me nowhere. He just shakes his head, returning to his conversation with the guys.
“It’s fine, I’ll see him at home.” Riley waves us off.
The rest of the night continues relatively drama-free. Stella stopped by our table to deliver a round of drinks from Lucas, who never made it back to the table.
After another hour, I was ready to boot it. I need a shower, my pajamas, and the low hum of Vibey-Viv to finally be done with this day.
“Right, well, I’m heading out. See you at home?” I ask Casey.
“Oh, I’m going to crash with Jessie tonight.” Her words are laced with guilt, so I level her with a knowing look.
“Don’t be silly, at least that means I’ll actually get some sleep. You two suck at keeping it down.” It was true and also revolting to listen to. But a little part of me is happy for Casey. She finally knew what it was like to get laid properly. Jessie just smiles at me, proud as punch at the inadvertent compliment.
“I’m out too.” Caleb busies himself with his coat, saying goodbye to the guys while I do the same. Not waiting around, I head straight for the door. Of course, Caleb doesn’t waste any time catching up.
“Share an Uber?”
“Why?” I narrow my eyes at him and he just throws his head back and breathes a frustrated sigh.
“I was being nice.”
“Interesting, you cold-shouldered me for pretty much the entire night, but now you’re nice?”
“I didn’t cold-shoulder you. Why, you miss me?” He smirks. Ugh, he’s back.
“I take it back, you can cold-shoulder me all you like.” I turn and start to head for the corner of the block—fewer people and easier to get the Uber. Caleb follows slowly behind me, apparently done with poking me, and when I turn to look back at him discreetly, he wears a look I don’t see him wear often. Something that kind of looks like defeat. “All right, fine, we can share an Uber.” I huff, reluctantly. I don’t know why I give in, he kind of just looks like a lost puppy, and for some reason, I don’t like it.
“Nah, I think I’m going to walk instead.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I live a few blocks over, it’s a short walk.” I look in the direction he pointed, then back at him. Both of us have stoppednear the corner of the street, a few steps between us, no words spoken. The sounds of the busy city streets and buzzing late-night venues are all I can hear, but the intensity of Caleb’s eyes seems to grip the entirety of my attention, I couldn’t look away if I tried.
“Night, Rosebud,” he finally says, quietly but with a gentle smile, turning down the block and heading in the direction he had indicated before.
It isn’t until my phone beeps to tell me that my Uber is here that I realize I never said anything back. Just stared after him like some gawking weirdo.Jesus.I need a good eight hours, I’m clearly losing my mind if I’m thinking things like walking with Caleb, or insisting he ride with me. Maybe even heading toward insanity, because I, for some reason, feel a small pinch of loneliness. There’s a drop of longing in there too.
CHAPTER 3
may the best man win
Caleb
“Smith, in here,” Noah calls as I walk past his office door. I spin on a heel and saunter in.
