Page 26 of Well That Happened

I tug my jacket tighter around me. The night air pricks at my skin, but the heat from the party still buzzes under the surface.

Caleb finally breaks the silence.

“You okay?”

I nod. Then shake my head. “I don’t know. I just… didn’t expect that.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he says, voice low. “He crossed a line.”

“Yeah, but…” I trail off. “Was I asking for it?”

His steps falter. “No. Rilee—no. Don’t even think that.”

I stare at the sidewalk, teeth sunk into my bottom lip. My heart’s still racing, and I don’t know if it’s from Luke’s wandering hands or from the way Hunter looked at me. Like I was something that didn’t belong to him—butshouldn’tbelong to anyone else either.

And then Caleb, slipping in between us like it wasnatural.Like protecting me was second nature.

But so was Hunter.

And then there was Grayson—his gaze, cool and steady, like he saw everything and didn’t need to say a word.

I’m in over my head.

I’msoin over my head.

“You didn’t have to leave with me,” I say after a while.

“Yeah,” Caleb says softly. “I did.”

We walk in silence the rest of the way. My thoughts too loud. My body still wound tight. I’m tired, but not sleepy. Spent, but wired.

He holds the door open for me when we get home. Doesn’t push. Doesn’t ask what I’m thinking.

Justseesme.

“I’m gonna crash,” I murmur, even though I know I won’t fall asleep.

He nods. “Text me if you need anything.”

I turn to head down the hall, but something stops me.

I look back.

Caleb’s still watching me—smile soft, eyes unreadable.

And I feel it again—that pull. That quiet gravity he carries like it’s no big deal. Like catching me would never be a burden.

I almost say something.

I don’t.

I just slip into my room and close the door behind me.

And for a long time, I stand there in the dark, pulse still skimming just beneath my skin.

Because I’m not thinking about Luke.

Or the party.

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