Every Little Thing

Two Can Play At That Game...Right?

The way she looked at me had me in a trance. Like she could ask me anything and I’d tell her without hesitation. Combine that with her fingers shifting between gripping my hair and gently playing with it, and yeah—my willpower was shot.

“Halocene, huh?” she teased, her tone light and dangerous. “So you’re into women who barely wear anything on stage?”

Her lips curved into a sly smile. She had definitely gotten bolder in the four years we’d been apart. Not that I was complaining.

“It’s more about her… uh, vocal range,” I muttered, struggling to keep my brain from diving straight into the gutter. Not that my body was helping—judging by the growing issue in my swim trunks, I knew I needed to end this before she noticed.

“Uh-huh. I’m sure,” she said, shifting closer.

Abort. Abort, abort, abort.

My heart was pounding. I kept flicking my gaze between her eyes and her lips, desperate for distraction, desperate to not do something stupid.

“Do you have a girlfriend I should know about?” she asked softly. “Or a love interest?”

The second part was quieter. Hesitant. Like she didn’t actually want to know the answer.

“N-no,” I said, swallowing. “No girlfriend.”

“But you have a love interest?” she pressed, tilting her head.

*Option one: Tell her. Option two: Lie. Option three... *

I took option three.

Springing to my feet, I broke her hold on my hair and scooped her up over my shoulder before she could react. “Caleb! What are you doing?” she squealed, laughing and kicking her legs.

“No more questions!” I announced with mock authority before tossing her into the pool.

I jumped in after her and instantly regretted every decision I had ever made. The chlorine hit my cut like fire. Bursting to the surface, I gasped and grabbed the pool edge, eyes squeezed shut.

“Son of a bitch!” I hissed.

“Caleb, you ass!” she yelled, but there was laughter in her voice. “What happened? Are you okay?”

I stayed hunched against the edge, trying to breathe through the pain. “I’m good… just made poor life choices.”

She swam over and laid a hand gently on my face. Even with my eyes closed, I could feel her closeness like heat.

As her fingers brushed lightly around the cut, I reached for her arm—careful not to touch anywhere I shouldn’t—and slid my hand down until it rested at her waist.

Okay, maybe that was a lie. I wanted to feel her. I just needed an excuse.

She was so close—my arm was bent almost to a right angle.

“The stinging should stop in a minute,” she said. “Serves you right, throwing me in like that.” Her tone was playful, and she gave me a little shove.

I cracked one eye open and smiled at her. “Maybe you shouldn’t have trapped me in a game of twenty questions.”

My thumb was tracing small circles along her waist before I even realized it.

“But I think it’s only fair that you answer your own question,” I said, voice dropping a little. “Any boyfriends I should know about? Anyone I need to threaten with bodily harm if they screw up?”

That look was back again—the one I couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t exactly shy. It wasn’t bold either. It was… searching.

She shook her head, and my heart skipped.

“No. I’m not seeing anyone. I had a boyfriend last year, but… he was kind of an idiot. It didn’t feel right.”

Her fingers slid away from my face.

I tightened my grip just a little. “Nothing happened?”

She read the look in my eyes, because she rushed to add, “We didn’t do anything. Barely kissed. I mean, he kissed my cheek a few times, but that was it.”

I raised my good brow and chuckled, trying to play it off. “Didn’t even kiss you? Yeah, he sounds like an idiot.”

I didn’t mean for it to come out so... real.

My chest tightened. “Uh... it’s getting late. We should probably get to bed.”

“Yeah,” she said softly, glancing around. “Looks like Jace and Amy already went inside.”

I hadn’t noticed. I’d been too wrapped up in her.

“Trust me... they’re not sleeping yet,” I said with a chuckle, climbing out of the pool and offering her a hand.

After grabbing towels and putting out the fire, we made our way inside, stopping for a glass of water before heading upstairs. We paused in front of the room she was staying in.

“Well... see you in the morning,” I said, giving her a hug.

It was supposed to be quick.

But the second I had my arms around her, I didn’t want to let go.

“See you in the morning,” she whispered near my ear, and the way her breath hit my skin sent chills racing down my spine.

Reluctantly, I pulled back and smiled before heading to my room—mind reeling, heart pounding.

The way her fingers felt in my hair… the way she looked at me. I didn’t know if she was trying to get me to open up—or if there was something more to everything she was doing.

Either way, I was in trouble.