Page 3 of Catch Me If You Can

I nodded, and he pumped his fist in the air. “YES! Your mom makes the best ones. Give momma Philips a huge kiss for me.” His eyes practically rolled back as he inhaled the scent.

I smiled and slipped off my coat, gloves, and hat, hanging everything up in the walk-in closet. No way was I going to tell him I’d been the one baking them all along.

“Yeah, well. It’s your birthday,” I shrugged.

“Right, itismy birthday.” He slung his arm over my shoulder and led me deeper into the house. His place was massive. It was like walking through a museum. With his dad never home, we never had to worry about being too loud or getting in anyone’s way. It was peaceful at Caleb’s. I loved it here. And more importantly—hewas here.

“Which is exactly why we’re going to eat these and a bunch more snacks while watching…” He skipped down the basement steps, racing over to the projection DVD player. “Drum roll, please,” he said, poking his head up from behind the machine.

I mimicked a drum-roll on the bar top at the back of the room. His dad had set up a home theater with three long rows of couches, a huge projection screen, and a liquor bar. Rows of framed photos of famous actors and actresses lined the walls, and a popcorn machine sat in the corner.

A goddamn popcorn machine.

I laughed, shaking my head as Caleb got himself organized. Looking around, I noticed he had already laid out chips, pop, and other snacks on the bar. It was strange—it washisbirthday, but it felt like he’d set it all up forme. My stomach flipped.

I turned to him, my eyebrows lifting. “You didn’t.”

Caleb nodded eagerly. “Oh, I so did.”

I reached out and grabbed the movie case from him.Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny.Holding it felt like cradling a national treasure.

“I’ve never seen it before,” I admitted, handing it back.

“Oh, I know. Which is exactly why I’m going to show you the way, my young Padawan. Sit back, relax, and allow Jack Black and Kyle Gass to take you on the greatest adventure you’ll ever go on.”

He popped in the movie, and the main menu appeared on the giant screen.

Caleb always knew everything cool first. Especially when it came to movies, songs, and artists. He was like a walking, talking IMDB. It was pretty cool.Hewas pretty cool.

Grabbing a muffin, he flopped onto the back couch, stretching his leg across most of the seat.

My mouth went dry as I stared at the three empty couches. Should I sit with him or…?

“What are you doing? Come sit down and stop being weird,” he said, stomping his foot on the leather seat next to him. He peeled the muffin wrapper so he could take a bigger bite.

I scratched the back of my neck, watching how carefree he was. Why did I feel so awkward around him while he remained totally unfazed?

“Shouldn’t we, uh, do something? I mean, it’s your birthday. Feels like we shoulddosomething.” I shifted my glasses up the bridge of my nose.

His eyebrow arched. “What do you want to do? Sing me happy birthday or something?” He leaned his back into the couch arm, his hand behind his head. “Go on, now I need to hear it.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

He wasn’t.

“You think it’s hilarious,” he laughed.

I did.

“All I want is to sit here and watch one of my favorite movies with my best friend. That’s it.” He shrugged.

A rush of warmth filled my chest.His best friend.I don’t think I’d ever been anyone’s best friend before. It’s nice hearing it out loud. Especially coming from him.

“Now come here. ‘Kickapoo’ is my favorite, and you’re going to miss it if you keep yapping,” he said, scooting over.

I didn’t miss how his legs stayed spread, even as he insisted I sit beside him.

Caleb did whatever he wanted, without worrying about consequences or what it mightmean.

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