Page 53 of Make Your Shot
“Okay, okay,” I tell both of them, turning on my turn signal. “I’m pulling up to his place now, so I’ll keep you posted.”
“Are we still going to get drinks for your birthday tonight?”
“Caleb has a game tonight, so if I don’t get out of here too late,” I tell Willow. Steven isn’t in townanymore, so Willow and I are going to go get drinks to celebrate without him. I meant to say something to Caleb the other night, but it slipped my mind.
“Okay, let me know. Love you!” Willow says as Steven says bye and we end the three way call. I thought maybe I’d feel better after talking to the two of them, but I don’t. I don’t want to seem clingy or desperate. I don’t need to hear from him every single day, but I can’t help feeling like I’m in a vulnerable place.
We shared an intimate moment, a moment that felt deeper than the purely physical he spoke of before. I can’t let myself read into it and make it seem like it’s more than it was. I have to mean what I said to him.
I have to convince myself that I won’t ever want anything more with him.
After parking in Caleb’s driveway, I slip out of my car and make my way to the front door. It’s already unlocked, so I let myself into the foyer. The soft sound of music drifts down the hallway from the kitchen.
I kick off my shoes, setting my bag on the bench by the front door before I head deeper into the house. As I walk up to the kitchen, I pause in the doorway, my heart crawling into my throat as I see Caleb standing over by the oven. He bends forward, the muscles in his back stretching as he leans down to look just beyond the glass as he tilts his head to the side.
I look at him for a moment, watching as he pulls open the door and the sweet aroma of chocolate chip cookies wafts through the air. My stomach unleashes a grumble in protest and I remember I forgot to eat a full breakfast.
A chuckle bubbles in my throat as I glance at the clock and then back to Caleb as he slowly stands upright.
“Cookies for breakfast?”
His shoulders relax and he slowly turns around to face me. The corners of his mouth twitch when his gaze meets mine, and he tucks his hands into the front pockets of his grey sweatpants. They hang a bit low on his hips, showing the black waistband of his boxer briefs that hide the lower half of theVshape that disappears beneath them.
He’s wearing his glasses this morning and my God, he’s a sight that would break your damn heart. Tousled hair, damp from an early morning swim, low hanging sweatpants, the perfectly chiseled torso, and those grey eyes that burn brighter than the sun.
“I didn’t want to mess up baking a cake and I didn’t have time to order one.”
I slowly tilt my head to the side, moving away from the doorway as I enter the kitchen.
“Tella told me you like chocolate chip cookies,” Caleb says, his voice low as he meets me halfway. His fingers trail along the side of my face as he brushes my hair away. “Happy birthday, pup.”
Heat creeps up my neck before spreading across my cheeks. I can’t stop the smile that takes over my face. “You didn't have to bake me anything.”
“I know I didn't,” he half whispers, his eyes searching mine as he tips my chin up. “But I wanted to. You should have told me it was your birthday.”
“It didn’t feel like an important thing to mention.”
Caleb’s face dips down to mine, his lips softly brushing against my mouth. He kisses me with a tenderness that doesn’t require any words to be spoken. His lips move against mine, gently coaxing them open as his tongue slips inside. He feels like silk and tastes like chocolate as his gentle kisses turn to pecks before pulling back. “It’s important to me.”
My heart is lodged in my throat. He releases my face, taking a step back before he turns around to head back to the oven.
“Do you have any plans or anything to celebrate?”
“I—uh.” I pause, shaking my head to chase away the dazed feeling he leaves inside my brain. My fingers hover over my lips, while I scan the back of his body. “My best friend Willow wants to go get drinks after your game, if I have time. It’s not a big deal though.”
The timer on the oven begins to beep. The cords in Caleb’s muscles tighten as he presses the off button and grabs two oven mitts. His fingers tease the opening and he slowly pushes them into the mitt, one by one.
How does he make everything look sexy?
Caleb pulls the cookie tray out, setting it on the stove top before he turns back to look at me. “You don’t have to wait until after my game.”
My eyebrows tug together. “What do you mean?”
“When Tella told me about your birthday, I talked to Andi and she’s going to keep Tella tonight.”
Emotion washes over me. It’s such a simple gesture, but it hits me hard inside my chest. He had no idea I had plans. He also took the word of a five year old, who could have gotten her days confused. But he wentahead and made other arrangements so I could have the evening off. “You didn’t have to do that,” I say, my voice barely audible.
“I don’t do things I don’t want to do, pup.”
