00:00I should have left when he stepped back.
00:02Instead, I turned to my locker, with him still standing there, still too close,
00:08still making my skin feel tighter than it should.
00:12The lock stuck on the first try because my fingers would not work properly with him watching.
00:19That only made me angrier.
00:23Don't you have practice or a fan club meeting?
00:26The corner of his mouth lifted.
00:30Cancelled.
00:31I'm bothering you full-time now.
00:35I yanked my locker open, harder than necessary.
00:38A notebook slid out and hit the floor.
00:43He bent to pick it up at the same time I did, and his knuckles brushed mine.
00:48That tiny contact traveled all the way up my arm.
00:52I snatched my hand back.
00:55He straightened, more slowly, notebook still in his hand.
01:00You always run when I get close.
01:04Maybe that should tell you something.
01:08Caleb rested one forearm against the locker above my shoulder,
01:12and tilted his head, studying my face like he was trying to solve me.
01:18Yeah.
01:20It tells me you feel it, too.
01:22My throat went dry.
01:25I reached for the notebook, but he held it out of reach.
01:31Give it back.
01:32Instead of handing it over, he looked at the cover.
01:36My name was written across the front in thick black ink.
01:41His gaze flicked up to mine.
01:47Veronica.
01:48The way he said my name felt more intimate than it should have.
01:54Carr caught my wrist before I made it out of the student center.
01:58Carr had a talent for appearing exactly when I wanted to disappear.
02:02Her dark curls bounced as she looked over my shoulder toward the doors.
02:07Why is Caleb Lockhart watching you like he misplaced something expensive?
02:12I did not have to turn around to know she was right.
02:15We sat by the window with two coffees I could not really afford,
02:19and one conversation I did not want.
02:22He let me crash at his place.
02:25That's it.
02:25Carr stirred sugar into her cup and gave me the kind of look that belonged on older sisters and detectives.
02:32Men don't look like that over charity.
02:36I stared into my coffee.
02:38Outside, Caleb crossed the quad with two teammates.
02:42He did not wave.
02:43He did not smile.
02:44He only glanced toward the window once.
02:47And my stupid body noticed.
02:50Carr noticed me noticing.
02:51Oh, you're in trouble.
02:54I'm homeless.
02:55I'm already in trouble.
02:57That wiped the teasing from her face.
02:59Her hand covered mine for a second.
03:02Then let me help.
03:03I pulled my hand back before kindness could do something dangerous to me.
03:07I'm handling it.
03:08Carr leaned in across the table.
03:10No.
03:11You're surviving it.
03:13My phone buzzed on the table.
03:15One new message from an unknown number.
03:18Door code.
03:18Don't forget dinner, Red.
03:20Carr's eyes dropped to the screen and widened.
03:23You have his number?
03:25I looked back at the message.
03:27No.
03:30He had mine now.
03:31By the time Caleb came home, my sauce was already simmering.
03:35Keys hit the counter.
03:37A gym bag dropped by the door.
03:38His footsteps slowed when the smell reached him.
03:43I did not turn around right away.
03:46Something about wanting to see his face,
03:48when he realized someone had cooked for him felt too personal.
03:55If this is a trap, I'm falling for it.
03:58I looked over my shoulder.
04:00His hair was damp from a shower.
04:02He had changed into gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt that somehow made him look even more unfair.
04:09Wash your hands.
04:11He obeyed, without arguing.
04:13That should not have been attractive.
04:15It was.
04:17I set two plates on the counter.
04:20Before I remembered, I had never planned to sit with him.
04:24Caleb noticed.
04:25He touched the second fork with one finger.
04:29Stay.
04:30That wasn't for me.
04:32Liar.
04:34I almost told him to eat alone.
04:36Instead, I slid onto the stool farthest from his.
04:39He tasted the pasta and closed his eyes for a second.
04:43Marry me.
04:43I snored before I could stop myself.
04:46You can't even survive one meal without flirting.
04:50He opened his eyes and looked at me, over the rim of his glass.
04:55Who says I'm flirting?
04:57The apartment went quiet after that.
04:59Too quiet.
05:00Then, he reached across the counter and wiped a streak of sauce from the corner of my mouth with his
05:06thumb.
05:08I forgot how to breathe.
