“Yeah, it’s pretty good,” I admitted.

“See? I knew it,” he grinned, cupping the back of my neck. “I knew you’d like it.” Then he laid back, resting his head on his arm again and refocusing on the movie.

I curled my hands into fists. I wanted to be like him—carefree, unbothered by small touches. Just… be. But, it was different for me. It felt different, at least.

I swallowed as I watched his foot tapping my thigh. I swallowed deeply. A deep stir in my stomach building as I watched his foot resting against me.

I’d be lying to myself if I said I wasn’t…curious about something. I wondered if Caleb wondered the same thing.

What would happen if I confronted him about it? Would he laugh at me? Judge me and kick me out of his house? I couldn’t take the chance…

And yet…

I slowly opened my hand, inching it closer—

Then his foot shifted on its own, landing directly in my lap.

My eyes shot up. He was already watching me, a slight smile on his face.

“Should I grab us a blanket?” he asked quietly.

A blanket? For what? No. Yes. What the fuck?

I parted my lips to respond, but a loud buzzing broke the tension.

Caleb rolled his eyes and fished his phone out of his back pocket.

His eyebrows furrowed as he checked the screen. Lifting the phone to his ear, he pulled his feet from my lap and sat up.

“Hey. What’s up? Right now?” He glanced at me, then back at the phone. “I’m watching a movie with Nathaniel.”

I bit my cheek. Whoever it was knew who I was.

“No. Seriously?” Caleb laughed. He leaned back against the couch, running a hand through his hair. It looked so soft. I clenched my fists to keep from reaching out to touch it. “You guys are crazy. Okay. See you soon, then.” He hung up.

My eyes widened. See you soon?

“Okay, don’t hate me,” he said, sighing.

“I’m already starting to,” I muttered, a hint of humor in my voice. I could never actually hate him.

“Tony, the rest of the band, and a couple of cheerleaders are on their way here to celebrate my birthday.”

Okay, I was wrong. Now I was starting to hate him.

“Oh, seriously,” I groaned, trying not to sound too disappointed. “Should I go or…”

“NO. That’s the last thing I’d want for my birthday. Please, please don’t leave.”

I narrowed my eyes. There went my out. I sighed deeply. “Well, when the birthday boy asks me so nicely...”

His shoulders dropped in relief. “Okay, good,” he said, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “And just be chill, okay? You sometimes get all quiet around them. I don’t want you getting in your head and want to leave.”

“Why does it matter?”

“Because I like having you around.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re fun to be around—why else?” Caleb said, pinching my side.

“Ow! I think you just like pissing me off, honestly,” I said, pinching him back.