Chapter 14
Lauren
“Caleb built your shelves?” Nic’s head whips around to me, eyes wide before her whole face splits into a grin. “Are you serious?”
“Yes, he totally built my bookshelves.” I confirm with a nod, biting my lip to stop myself from bursting into a giggle.
“Is there an echo in here?” Kieran asks, confused. Without even looking at him, I reach for one of the pillows on his couch and chuck it his way to the other side of the room.
He called us over earlier today and asked us to help him film content. I was going to battle the chaos in my living room finally, so this was a welcome excuse to procrastinate. Also, I’m dying to learn how he films his half-naked dancing videos without cringing.
Richard, because I refuse to call a cute little creature Dick, immediately rushes after it thinking we’re playing catch and almost pummels Kieran to the ground as a result.
“I need to hear every detail.” Nic pulls her leg onto the couch to fully turn to me, hugging a pillow to her chest, her eyes glistening with curiosity.
“He came over yesterday with a big-ass toolbox and got right on it. He seemed almost enthusiastic. I didn’t realize building furniture was such a passion of his.
” Nic shakes her head amusedly. “You know how he barely talks? I’m telling you, he wouldn’t shut up while he put them together.
Though admittedly, it was mostly cursing and muttering insults to the designers and furniture-architects under his breath.
” I continue, ignoring Nic’s skeptically raised eyebrow.
“And what did you do in the meantime?”
“Probably swooning and drooling,” Kieran says offhandedly, fumbling to secure his camera on a tripod.
“I did some research for—” I stop myself before I reveal what we are going to be doing for the Christmas market and clear my throat. “Research for the Christmas season.”
“Sure,” Nic says with an eye roll, then squeals happily when Richard jumps onto the couch, and flops himself on his back to expose his belly in hopes for some belly rubs. Demanding. Just like his dad.
“Considering you two came over to help, you aren’t exactly helpful,” Kieran says pointedly.
The two of us turn to him and simultaneously freeze.
“When did you take off your shirt?” Nic tilts her head, confused.
“Damn,” that’s all I can muster. I mean, I’ve seen his videos on social media. I knew he was fucking ripped. And I also knew he was covered in tattoos, but something about seeing them live right in front of my eyes is just… “Damn,” I can’t help but whisper again.
“I mean…” I clear my throat. “We’re basically your target audience. Just imagine this is a live performance. Think ‘Friends’ only with less manufactured laughter.”
“Exactly,” Nic says with a nod. “Come on, shake that ass.”
“I feel dirty,” he says jokingly, and covers his chest with his arm, twisting his upper body away from us.
“Hey, you asked us here,” Nic reminds him in a playfully scolding tone.
“Kieran, I swear to God if you do a hip thrust of any kind, I’m going to hurl,” I joke and run my fingers through Richard’s fur.
“Good to know. Now anyway, Lauren—” he throws his phone my way. A dangerous endeavor considering I never got the hang of catching things, no matter how valuable. Luckily for him, it lands right next to me on his couch.
I’m not going to lie; it’s weird to think of him as ‘hot.’ Over the months we’ve lived here, he became the brother I never knew I wanted. Now we’re sitting here, about to watch him shoot one of his thirst trap videos for TikTok, and it feels incredibly wrong.
“Pick a song, will you? I need one that has good sound effects for a transition.”
“Okay, but hear me out,” I say absentmindedly, petting Richard as I scroll through the list. “Can I pitch you an idea?”
“I’d rather you didn’t.”
“Have you heard of Donut Daddy?” I glance up from his phone, pulling my lips between my teeth to keep from bursting into laughter. God, just the image of Kieran trying that is making me want to burst into laughter.
“Donut what?” Nic stares at me as if I grew a second head, and Kieran pinches the bridge of his nose, exhaling a shaky breath. I’m not sure if he’s stifling laughter or trying not to cry at my suggestion.
“Yeah, I’m not going to do that,” he clarifies, then visibly shudders. So, probably the latter.
Nic’s eyes jump between the two of us. “Can one of you two, like… clue me in? Who is Donut Daddy? Is that your nickname for Caleb?”
“Oh, hell no.” My voice shakes with laughter, and blood rushes into my cheeks. “Kieran, I think you should tell her.” He shoots me a glare that says, ‘Fuck no, you’re the one who started this.’ “It’s funnier if you explain it.”
“It’s a guy who bakes,” he says sheepishly, rubbing his hand over his neck. Fuck, this is hilarious.
“Why are you turning red?” I ask him with a smirk. “You post thirst traps on three different accounts. But explaining what Donut Daddy does is embarrassing to you?”
“Hey, I respect the hustle and the filmmaking. But even I cringe when I watch his videos.”
“What about baking is cringe?” Poor Nic is completely lost.
I reach for her hand and give it a gentle pat. “Sweet summer child, if only you knew. Have you ever thought of baking as obscene?” She shakes her head. “Do you want to?”
“Oh, hell no.” She shakes her head even harder, her hair swooshing through the air.
“Then do not look him up. He bakes, and I have to hand it to him; he has skills. Whatever he bakes looks really fucking good.” I take a sharp breath. “However, the stuff he does to that dough…”
“He doesn’t… penetrate it,” Kieran feels compelled to add and grimaces. "It's not porn."
“Then how bad can it be?” Nic asks.
Kieran shakes his head. “You don’t want to know. If you ever want to be able to see dough without being reminded of hip thrusts and slaps, don’t check him out. Trust me.” He crunches his nose.
“Sexy baking aside, Kieran, we’re going to be with you in a second.” She points between the two of us. “This is an extremely important bestie talk. And as per the bestie friend codex, a priority to thirst trap videos.”
“The codex?” Kieran raises his eyebrow and crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Okay, I’ll bite.”
He pulls his shirt on, then scoops up Richard and flops on his couch between the two of us.
“Okay then, do tell.” He shifts his eyes from Nic to me. “Is this the part where I get out the martinis?”
“Yes,” I say. But Nic throws her arm over him to keep him in his seat.
“No, not yet. Go on, Lauren. What’s going on between you and Caleb?”
“Oh, that’s what you were talking about.” He lifts little Richard up and kisses his head. “Okay, I get it now.” He turns to me. “Go on, tell us more, Lauren.”
“I think we’re in the awkward phase where I think he might be interested in me, and I’m pretty sure he figured out that I have a crush on him.” I explain, my cheeks warming, and I keep my eyes firmly on little Richard. Vannie. I’ll have to find a better nickname for him.
Little Rich? Maybe I should call him Little Rich. Or Bert, like the Mary Poppins character human Dick van Dyke played. Yes, Bertie is a fitting name for a golden retriever puppy.
“But Amanda read my tarot cards and, apparently, the cards said that I need to be patient. So-” I take a deep breath and exhale it slowly. “I am going to be patient.”
“No offense, Lauren, but are you physically capable of that?”
I glare at Kieran, then purse my lips into a pout. “I guess I’ll have to be.”
“What else did they say?”
“That the universe has a plan for me, but that I also have to shape my future with my decisions.” I grimace.
“And something about my world turning upside down, showing me the truth, and something about dimming my light. I’m honestly not sure if I should try to make sense of it or take what the universe dishes my way and let it surprise me.
” I shrug. I’ll have to research the three cards later.
Maybe that will give me another revelation of what they were supposed to tell me.
“By the way, Kieran, did you ever figure out who that girl from Caleb’s is?” They might have kept their whispers among boys, but when Kieran asked us if we knew her, we wouldn’t answer him until he told us why.
“Oh, you’re not even together yet and you’re already getting jealous?” he asks in a singsong voice and pokes my cheek playfully.
“That’s not it,” I correct him and reach for my forgotten coffee mug on his coffee table, taking a quick sip of the lukewarm liquid.
It’s good. You can tell that he has one hell of an expensive coffee machine.
But it’s still not the same as Caleb’s. It’s missing that little tang of general hatred for the world.
“I’ve never seen her before. I guess that means for once, I’m not the one being stalked,” Nic chimes in.
“Nothing yet.” Kieran puts Bertie on the ground, where he immediately sniffs the carpet for forgotten treats.
“Is there anything you’ve got so far?” Nic asks, but he shakes his head again.
“Nope. Hell, I didn’t even catch her name.”
“That would make stalking quite difficult,” I say with a slow nod.
“I’m sure if she were here to cause trouble, she’d have already done it,” Nic adds with a shrug.
“God, I hope she doesn’t. With your sister and your ex, we’ve had enough of that for at least the rest of the year. But then again, when does the universe ever give us a break?” I ask her with a pointed gaze, and she lets out a deep sigh.
“Let’s hope for the best. And in the meantime—” Kieran claps and jumps up from the couch.
“I have work to do.” He suddenly has a scream mask in his hand and pulls it over his face.
“And you two promised to help. Alright, Lauren, you go over there, and please hold the light. Turn it off when I give you the sign. Nic-” He hands her a small bottle.
“When she does, you’ll splatter some of this stuff on me.
Alright?” He picks up a very real plastic knife and weighs it in his hand.
Nic and I shoot each other a look.
“Sure,” we say in unison and take our positions.
It’s surprisingly refreshing to, for once, be behind the camera.