Page 52 of Catch Me If You Can

“Alright,” I say, wiping my hands off. I grab his laptop from the counter and head toward the bedroom. “Bring a few of those and let’s go to the bed. Horror movie time.”

His face lights up and he follows, barefoot and glowing with boyish excitement as he’s already digging into one of the muffins.

I can’t lie—seeing him respond like that when I do something for him? It does something to me. Maybe no one's ever tried to care forhimlike this before.

We sprawl out across the bed. For tall guys, it’s thankfully huge. Leaving tomorrow is going to be brutal.

“I can’t believe you’re making me watch this. Youknowhorror movies mess me up,” Caleb laughs, licking his thumb clean.

“RememberThe Conjuringin your basement? You couldn’t sleep for a week.”

“Screw you,” he groans, settling against the headboard. The room stays dim—curtains still half-drawn from this morning.

I cast the movie from my phone to his laptop, but I can feel it already: the tension starting to build. That familiar pull between us that’s never really gone away. Just… evolved.

“I hate you right now,” he mutters, running his fingers through his hair. He gets comfortable beside me, his legs already tangling with mine. A warmth spreads across my chest as I realize, this is what I always wanted. Even back then. Him being close feels…right.

“You’re such a baby,” I tease. “How did you ever get girls?”

The truth hits before I can stop it:Of course he got girls.Look at him. Look at this moment. Just being close to him is electrifying. It’s addicting and it’s always been that way since the moment we met.

“Nathaniel?” he says softly.

I pause the movie and turn to him. “What’s up?”

He hesitates. “Why did we never hangout at your house? I mean…where wereyourparents?”

The question shocks me. I guess we’ve never talked about it. Not like I never wanted to, I just…

“I—” I falter.

He backtracks. “Sorry. I was just remembering all those times we hung out in my dad’s basement. I didn’t mean to make it weird.”

I take a breath. My heart pounds. I trust him enough to tell the truth…

“I lied to you.” I blurt.

His eyes search mine.

“There’s no easy way to say this, so… I’ll just come out with it.” I take in a big breath. “I used to tell you that my parents were always working but…it was just my mom. My dad left us a little before I met you. I—I didn’t want anyone to know. It was easier to say he was just ‘working’ than to say I didn’t have a dad at all.”

I exhale slowly.

“My mom worked nonstop. She did everything. And once I could, I started helping too. It’s why I work so hard to pay formyself and to help support her. I guess I…I didn’t want people to know how… how alone I really was.”

A thumb brushes my skin as he cups my cheek. I glance up to meet his eyes.

Caleb's eyes don’t look like they’re judging me, like I had feared all those years ago. Instead, he’s looking at me carefully. With compassion and understanding.

“You were never alone,” he says softly, his hand sliding behind my neck. “Not when I was around.”

I nod, eyes stinging. “I never felt alone when you were there. I really fucking missed you.”

His gaze drops to my lips.

“Fuck, I’m so sorry, Nathaniel. I’m sorry I missed so much time. I’m sorry I—”

His forehead presses to mine.

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