Chapter 19 #2
Caleb takes a sip of the spicy hot chocolate and makes a sound that can only be described as inappropriate for public consumption. His eyes close, and his head tilts back slightly.
"Oh my god," he groans. "This is... this is..."
My blood rushes south as my dick responds immediately, and my jeans are getting tighter. Fantastic. Public arousal in a bakery. Very dignified.
He opens his eyes and catches me staring at him, my cup forgotten. But instead of embarrassment, his lips curl into a knowing smirk. The bastard actually winks at me, then takes another deliberately slow sip, maintaining eye contact the entire time.
Jesus Christ. My jeans go from tight to painful. He knows exactly what he's doing.
Drew and Emily exchange a look before bursting into laughter.
"Someone's enjoying their hot chocolate a little too much," Drew teases.
"Shut up," Caleb says with no heat. "It's good, okay? The heat from the chilli balances the sweetness perfectly."
"Uh-huh," Emily says, wiggling her eyebrows. "I think James might need a moment after that reaction."
Heat crawls up my neck like I'm being boiled alive. Great, at this rate, I’ll have no blood left to run my brain. "I'm fine."
"Sure you are," she says with a wink. "Your face is naturally that color."
We step outside between shops, and I find myself walking beside Caleb as the rest of the group surges ahead toward our next destination.
"Having fun?"
He nods. "Yeah. I didn't expect to, but yes."
"Good." Hesitating, I say, "You deserve it. Especially after dealing with your family at the fundraiser."
His expression clouds slightly. "Yeah, well. I've got more family time coming up. They're expecting me home for Christmas in a few days."
"You don't sound thrilled."
He shrugs, looking away. "It'll be the usual. Mom parading me around to political supporters, Dad pretending I'm studying, not studying anything except straight law," he rolls his eyes to me. "Pun intended. My brothers will be making passive-aggressive comments about my 'lifestyle choices.'"
"Sounds festive.”
"What about you?" he asks. "Going home for the holidays?"
I shake my head. "I stay on campus. Always have."
"No family to visit?"
"Foster kid, remember? Aged out of the system. No home to go back to."
Caleb stops walking, turning to face me. "James, I'm sorry. I shouldn't complain about my family when you—"
"Hey, no." I cut him off. "Don't do that. Your family treats you like shit. That's valid, regardless of whether I have one or not."
He looks at me for a long moment, then sighs. "I wish I could stay here for Christmas."
"Why can't you?"
"Family obligation. My dad's announcement is right after the new year. They need their perfect family photo op." His voice is bitter.
"Well, when you get back, we'll have our own Christmas." My shoulder nudging his.
His smile returns, small but genuine. "I'd like that."
As we catch up to the group, a thing that's been nagging at me for weeks finally takes shape.
And then the realization hits me hard enough that I actually stumble. Caleb catches my arm, eyebrow raised.
Oh fuck. I'm falling for him. Properly falling.
Foster kid and political royalty. Brilliant. What could possibly go wrong?
"Careful," Caleb says, steadying me.
We keep walking, and somehow I manage to discuss hot chocolate flavors like my entire world didn't just tilt off its axis.
But why not fall for him? He needs someone who sees past the Huntington name. Someone who gets that he's more than his father's expectations.
I want that to be me.
Terrifying thought.
The final stop on our crawl is a small family-owned ice cream parlour that's created a "Hot Chocolate Float", hot chocolate with a scoop of homemade vanilla bean ice cream melting into it.
"This is a crime against nature," Caleb declares after his first taste. "And I'm absolutely getting another one."
The sugar high has hit critical mass. Mike is attempting to balance spoons on his face, Taj is calculating everyone's average scores with alarming precision, and Elijah has created an impromptu runway for hot chocolate fashion, brutally rating each cup's presentation.
I find myself at a table with Gavin and Drew while Emily helps Caleb debate the merits of ice cream temperature with the shop owner.
"So," Gavin says, leaning forward with a grin. "You and Grumpy. It's getting serious."
"What?"
"Come on," Drew says. "We have eyes."
"And ears," Gavin adds with a waggle of his eyebrows. "The walls in the frat house aren't exactly soundproof."
Heat rushes to my face. "I—we're—"
"Relax," Drew says. "We're happy for you. Both of you."
Gavin nods enthusiastically. "You guys are perfect together. Two grumpy-ass dudes who secretly have hearts of gold."
"I don't have a heart of gold,"
Drew snorts. "You spent three days rebuilding the security on Rainbow Haven Houses' entire website for free when they got hacked."
"That was just—"
"And you set up that anonymous scholarship fund," Gavin adds.
I glare at him. "It was anonymous… and how did you know about that anyway?"
He shrugs. "I notice things." His expression grows more serious. "I also see how Caleb's family treated him at that fundraiser. Like he was some kind of show pony they could trot out when convenient."
Drew's jaw tightens. "Yeah, Gavin told me about that Christopher guy. What kind of parents side with someone who—" He cuts himself off, shaking his head. "Fuck them. Seriously."
"Fuck 'em all," Gavin agrees vehemently. "The whole lot. Caleb's got us now."
Warmth floods through me at how easily they include Caleb, especially considering how he joined the frat in the first place.
"I think..." I hesitate, not used to talking about my feelings. "I think I'm falling pretty hard for him."
Gavin punches the air triumphantly. "I knew it! Called it from day one!"
"You did not," Drew argues. "You thought they were going to kill each other."
"That's how some people express sexual tension," Gavin says wisely. "Besides, once I saw James actually leave his computer to go to that party where Caleb might be, I knew."
Rolling my eyes, but smiling despite it. "So you guys are okay with this? With us?"
"More than okay," Drew says firmly. "Like I said, you're good for each other. And Caleb's good for the frat."
"Best throuple ever!" Gavin announces loudly, drawing curious looks from nearby tables.
"Throuple?" Drew repeats, looking extremely confused.
"Yeah, you know." Gavin waves a hand expansively. "James, Caleb, and his massive sweet tooth. It's a package deal."
Drew spits out his drink, hot chocolate is dribbling down his chin, and I laugh harder than I have in months. Across the shop, Caleb glances over, eyebrow raised like he knows something's up.
I smile back anyway.
Gavin's right. Package deal.
And apparently, I'm okay with that. More than okay, actually.
Right. Well then.