Page 17 of Love By The Falls

He catches my eye, and his dark hair falls across his forehead. “What made you do it, then?”

I want to say, ‘You’, but that wouldn’t be a hundred percent true. Although it was becoming a stronger incentive. Instead, I explain, “I’m trying something new and seeing how it goes.”

He nods and I catch a small smirk before he turns to watch Teo and Nikki jump into the pool of water at the base of the falls.

“Cannon ball!” shouts Brady before jumping in.

I don’t see Arturo, but I imagine he’s setting up the picnic that was promised as part of the excursion.

“Do you travel a lot?” I ask.

Caleb shrugs. “Not really. I travel some for work, but I can’t remember the last time I traveled for fun.”

“Except now.”

He stares at the group below us. “Right.”

I know he’s lying, and his smile tells me he knows, too. I wish I could say I fault him for it, but I admire someone who chases what they want. And why shouldn’t he?

Caleb picks up a small rock next to him and throws it across the water. “What do you do for a living?”

“Me? Oh, I’m a teacher.”

“Ah. That explains it.”

I physically lean back, affronted. “Explains what?”

“Why you’re so responsible all the time? You like rules and you like to follow them.”

I open my mouth to defend myself but realize there’s nothing wrong with what he said. “I do. That’s what makes me a decent member of society.”

“It does. It also makes you edgy when someone breaks them.”

“I won’t disagree with that, either.”

“Have you ever not done what was asked of you?”

I think about it. Sure, I’ve lied to my parents, but I can’t think of anything more serious than that.

“No, I don’t think I have. What about you?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever done what’s expected of me. I find if someone wants me to do something, I prefer to choose something else.”

I snort. “Well, you either grew up with lots of money and no responsibility or you’re just plain stubborn.”

He blinks and leans back.

Shit. That was rude. I probably shouldn’t have said that. I wait for his ego to argue back, call me a prude or something, but he drops his head and laughs instead.

“Fuck. Probably both.”

I wait, and when I realize he’s genuinely laughing at my comment and perhaps himself, I allow a small smile. “It’s great that you can admit it. It makes you less of an asshole.”

“Well, then it’s worth getting called an asshole if I become less of one in your eyes.”

“Why do you care what I think of you?”

His smile falters, and his gaze drops to my lips. “Because I want to kiss you, Charlotte. And I think you might want to kiss me back.”

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