Everything Happens At 2:04 AM

Chapter Forty: We Really Thought.

Dedicated to spushkarna22 for the cover above!! Thank youu <3

Chapter Forty: "We Really Thought."

CALEB HAD ARRIVED AT my home earlier than I had after I texted him before my meeting. The meeting had run longer than unexpected but I was a little surprised to find Caleb and my brother in the mancave my brother had decided to turn one of my guest rooms into while he had been living here over the past months.

Moving past the strong-almost overbearing- smell of cologne, my eyes lingered on the scattered video games, surrounding chairs and the table in the center of the room.

The only reason I didn't tell him to take everything out of his room was because of the huge backboard he had set up on one side of the room with the dartboard attached. A game we both enjoyed and were heavily competitive in. But if someway, somehow, one of the darts ended up in another wall without a backboard I was going to kick my brother back home.

He's lucky we haven't had an incident yet.

"Oh fuck." Caleb groaned and Daniel laughed, walking over to pull the darts out. "You didn't say you were good."

"I did, man!" Daniel clapped him on the shoulder, making me smile at their interaction. "You just didn't listen."

I cleared my throat, hiding my hand behind my back as I gained their attention. Caleb flashed me a heartwarming smile I was quick to return. "I should've warned you that Daniel's just as good as me."

"I'm better."

"Don't hold your breath on that."

"I've played against October," Caleb told him, and Daniel's eyes narrowed at 'October'. Oh God, he was going to use that nickname against me. I know it. "Her dart skills are uh, something else."

"If by something else you mean amazing, then yes they are something else," I flipped my braids over my shoulder and he shook his head, amused. "I have spectacular aim."

"You got a spectacular looking five head too," Daniel muttered. Out of the corner of my eye, Caleb's jaw dropped, and I was quick to hit my brother on the shoulder.

"Don't be talking fire breath. You can start a wildfire with how hot your breath is." Caleb snorted, making me grin at him.

"That was lame," Daniel muttered.

"Then why don't you have a proper comeback?" I raised an eyebrow, standing my ground. "You're slacking."

Daniel checked his watch and suddenly cursed under his breath, "I should get going." Oh, so now you're leaving? "I'll be back tomorrow."

"I'll walk you out," I suggested, making sure to slap him upside the head as he bypassed me. He proceeded to shove me, and I did the same back yelling a curse at him that had him laughing. We headed towards the front door, stopping our banter as he grabbed his bag which I had almost tripped over entering my home. "Are you staying over with your girl?"

"Yeah," He opened the door but not before shooting me a knowing look. I already knew what this was going to be about.

I pursed my lips and sighed. "What do you want to know?"

Daniel cleared his throat, getting down to business like I needed this. I didn't but it was nice to know he cared. "Does he eat?"

"Like a vacuum," I responded.

"Know how to dance?"

"Yup."

"Then he won't be as awkward at Nigerian parties especially with a personality like that," Daniel muttered, and I couldn't contain my laughter. I could imagine my judgmental aunties either cursing me if that were to happen or fawning over Caleb. It wasn't that hard to imagine Caleb amid my dysfunctional extended family.