Page 32 of Theoretically Straight

There’s a flash of something in Caleb’s expression—annoyance? No, maybe surprise?Dammit, why am I like this—but the corner of his lip twitches up into a half-smile. “Yeah? Sure, that could be fun.”

I feel a grin take over my face. “Nice, okay! I mean, I’ll have to check with my parents first. We all kind of use the theater room for our things, but it’s usually just me and my friends now, but at one point before Grace went off to college, we had to establish a theater schedule because we all–” I stop myself, shaking my head. “Unimportant. Sorry. I’ll just text you.”

Caleb is fidgeting with his almost empty cup, a small smile still on his face. “You’ll probably need my number for that.”

“Huh?”

“You said you’ll text me, but do you have my number? That might be helpful.”

I rub my hand down my face, more heat rising in my cheeks. Is it possible to die from embarrassment? “Wow. Yeah, probably. Here,” I open my messaging app and hand Caleb my phone.

I watch his fingers type in his number—his fingernails are…sparkling? Glitter nail polish? — and he sends himself a text from my phone before he hands it back. During the exchange, our fingers brush against each other for barely half a second, but the touch feels electric again. Just like it did at the church.

“Thanks,” I mutter. Our eyes meet for a few seconds, but I look back down at my phone. There are a couple of seconds of silence, and I wonder if I’m boring him—or worse, annoying him. I’m not ready for this to end yet, so I scramble for something to talk about. A memory flashes through my mind about something Elise had said the other night that I hadn’t really wanted to dwell on before, but maybe now was the time. “So, uhh…is Freddy your boyfriend?”

As soon as the words leave my lips, I regret them immediately. Caleb’s eyes widen, and his mouth drops open, but before I can panic, he erupts in laughter. It’s a contagious laughter that takes over his entire face, and I smile nervously, not sure if I should laugh with him, but man, do I want to. “Oh my God, that’s hilarious,” Caleb finally says, wiping a tear that’s formed in his eye. “Absolutely not. We’re just friends. I should probably tell you off for assuming the two gay kids are dating, but then again, I did the same with you and Elise, so turnabout's fair play.”

I don’t try to hide my relief this time. “Oh, okay. God. I’m so sorry, that was really shi–stupid–of me to assume you were–I mean, obviously just because two gay guys are friends doesn’t automatically make them boyfriends.” I can feel myself blushing with embarrassment again but it’s so much worse this time, so I just keep talking and I can’t stop. “I promise I’m not–I mean, like, I know Christians get a bad rap for being–I swear I don’t care that you’re gay, you know? Like, that’s your business, not mine, and I think it’s really–” I stammer—why can’t I stop talking? “Well, quite frankly, I think it’s shitty when Christians are homophobic. There. I–I’m going to shut up now.”

Caleb stares at me, his face still a little flushed from his laughing fit from earlier, but whatever expression he has now, I can’t decipher it, so I look back down at my phone.

Great. This is why I only have four friends. I should’ve quit while I was ahead.

“Dude, it’s fine,” Caleb says, still smiling, but his cheeks are definitely pinker than before. “I know you’re not a bible-thumper or one of those nutjobs standing on the road with a bullhorn. I never got that impression from you at all. Trust me, I wouldn’t be here now if I had.”

I swallow, trying to release the tension in my shoulders. “Yeah. I–I know some people who can be weird about it and I just–I just don’t want you to think I’m going to be weird about it.” I meet his eyes again. “Except for now, of course, but hopefully I’m getting it all out of my system.”

Caleb chuckles softly. “Yeah, but if this is as weird as it gets with you, I’m okay with that.”

My head feels like it’s buzzing, and my chest suddenly feels warm. Oh shit, it’s happening again. I watch Caleb carefully to see if he’s having the same reaction, but…he seems fine? Normal?

Should I ask him if he’s felt strange since our encounter in the basement? Is he also experiencing light-headedness when he’s around me? Has he felt the crackling energy when we touch? Does his body temperature rise when he thinks of me? I mean, how do I even ask about it without him thinking I’m insane? What if I’m alone in this? What if I am just crazy?

Honestly, he probably already thinks I’m crazy. I really don’t want to make it worse, especially not this quickly.

I need to do more research on my own before pulling him into this. Yeah, that’s what I need to do.

“You okay?”

Caleb’s hesitant voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Hm?”

He’s studying me, one eyebrow raised. “You’re…kind of staring at me.”

“God, I’m so sorry. I–” I scramble for an excuse, anything. “I just remembered something that I have to do tonight. I guess I must have spaced out.” I reach for my coffee and finish it off, turning my attention to anything, anyone but Caleb. I’m going to scare him off before I can get to the bottom of this. I just know it.

“Okay,” Caleb replies casually. He’s so cool and casual about everything, seeming so much more confident in himself than I am. Maybe that comes with being out at a public school in the suburbs of Georgia. I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of courage that takes. I may not understand it, but I kind of admire him for it. “So, yeah, I guess you can text me about Saturday. I’ll see if Wren and Freddy are free. Will your friends be there?”

“Oh, umm… Maybe. I’ll have to ask them. But I’m cool if it’s just us and your friends.”

Caleb shrugs. “Either way is fine. Want me to bring anything?”

I shake my head. “Nah, you don’t have to. My parents are used to hosting, so our fridge is stocked with drinks and the pantry is loaded with snacks. Unless there’s something specific you want to bring.”

Caleb smiles. “Cool.”

“Well, I better head home,” I hear myself saying awkwardly as I stand up from my seat. “Homework and all that.”

“Yeah, me too,” he replies, following my lead and standing to his feet as well. I think he’s the same height as Harrison. Slightly taller than Sienna. Taller than me, of course, because most people are taller than me, but at least he doesn’t tower over me like a lot of guys do.

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