Page 36 of I Wanna Text You Up

He lets out a loud groan and snuggles into the couch more, but I don’t miss the way his eyes don’t stray from the TV screenonce.

He likes it, and he likesme.

I grin to myself and focus back in on the latest Bravermandrama.

* * *

Iwakeup to the growling voice of Hatebreed’sSeven Enemiesreverberating off thewalls.

A body shifts beneath me and Ifreeze.

Caleb.

Oh hell.We fell asleep together on the couch, somehow tangling ourselves up more than we were before. I’m practically draped across him. I remember moving at some point during the night, flipping around so my neck wasn’t propped on the arm of the couch. I remember Caleb’s voice whispering, “Shh, just sleep,” in my ear as he pulled my head into his lap and ran his fingers through my hair. It lulled me back to sleep in notime.

I glance to the clock hanging near the front door, checking to see what time it is.Two AM.Who in the hell is calling this late atnight?

“Hello?”

I don’t move and barely breathe, trying not to alert Caleb to my consciousness as he answers his phone in a sleepydrawl.

“Yeah.Yeah.”

He lets the person on the other end of the line speak, and I can faintly hear their voice. Whoever it is, it’s a woman, and she isn’t happy atall.

“I gotit.”

Another raisedvoice.

“I got it,Mom.I’ll bringthem.”

Mom?Why is his mother calling at thishour?

“I said I will bring them. Have I ever not before?” He’s practically growling the words out at this point. “Yeah.Yes.I will.Now?”

He lets out a long sigh and runs a hand over hishead.

“Yeah. I’ll leavenow.”

He ends the call and throws his phone onto the other end of thecouch.

“Son of a fucking bitch,” he mutters. “Dammit.Motherfucker.”

I can feel it as he scrubs his hands over his face, hear as he scrapes over his five o’clockshadow.

He’s irritated, and I can’t say I blame him. It’s early as shit and unless it’s an emergency, there’s no reason he needs to leave for his Sunday trip rightnow.

I want to sit up and tell him all this, but it’s not my place. It’s not mybusiness.

He carefully scoots out from under me and I lie there, listening as he moves about the apartment and gathers histhings.

He’s quick, only taking about five minutes to getready.

I do everything in my power not to jump when I sense him standing over me, when his fingers gingerly meet my cheek. He swiftly brushes a lock of hair back from my face and then just as fast, he’s gone, grabbing his bag and disappearing out the frontdoor.

My phone chimes not even three minuteslater.

Caleb:I’m off for my Sunday funday. I’ll see youlater.

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