wanting. “Even if this doesn’t last, I’ll keep hold of this forever.”
He grins, his teeth glinting in the glow of the street lights. “It’ll last.”
“I hope so.”
His hands grip my shoulders as he takes a step back. “You’ll see. It will.”
I mentally repeat my spoken words. I hope so.
“Until tomorrow.” He kisses my pouting lips once more and walks backwards out of my driveway, not turning around until I go back inside.
“He seems nice,” Mum says and my heart is even happier. “Almost too nice.”
I frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Have you ever heard the term ‘beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing’?”
In roll my eyes heavenward and blow out a breath. “Caleb isn’t a wolf, Mum. He’s a nice guy.”
“Whatever, just don’t get pregnant.”
Sigh. “I won’t, Mum.”
“That’s what I said,” she grumbles and my heart is definitely no longer happy.
“Well I’m sorry that me being born was such an inconvenience to you.” I don’t say it angrily; my voice is weak and defeated. I think what hurts the most is the fact that she didn’t correct me. I walk solemnly and slowly to my bedroom, hoping the entire time that she will.
I have to work today but I don’t mind work. I like being busy and my boss Charlie is pretty cool. He’s an older guy, at least sixty, and he’s fun to talk to.
We laugh a lot while we make and serve drinks for paying customers. The café is only small but we’re normally quite busy. Today I’m so rushed off my feet that I don’t even notice Caleb has walked in until his hands are at my hips and I’m squealing in shock.
“Don’t do that,” I cry but can’t contain my smile.
“Best smile ever. I want you to smile at me like that every time you greet me.” He dips his head and presses his lips against mine briefly.
I flush at his words and flush even more when my boss clears his throat. “Go sit,” I demand and push Caleb towards an empty table. “What do you want to drink?”
“Warm milk with honey.”
I quirk a brow. “Warm milk with honey?”
His eyes go slightly wider, almost defensively. “What’s wrong with warm milk and honey?”
“Well, it’s…”
“A girl’s drink,” my boss chips in with a chuckle. I’m going to pretend for a moment that that isn’t totally sexist.
Caleb scowls playfully at me. “It’s my family’s Friday tradition. Every Friday we try to sit down together and watch a movie with a warm milk and honey.”
“So why are you here and not with them?”
He grins, showing his perfect white teeth. “Because I’ve got a new family now and she needs to learn the tradition.”
Throb. Throb. Throb. Goes my heart.
“So, take ten minutes off and drink my girly drink with me,” he jests and pats the chair beside him. “Pleeeeeeeeease?”
“Go on,” my boss chuckles and shoves me towards my chair. “You’ve hardly had a break yet. Sit.”
“Yay!” Caleb cheers and pulls me onto his lap.
“Yay?” Charlie asks, his face showing his surprise.
“A lot of people say yay,” I defend my boyfriend.
Ha! I have a boyfriend.
“Only you and him,” Charlie chuckles and gives Caleb a pointed look. “Get out while you still can.”
Caleb nips at my neck as I watch Charlie walk towards the counter. “Reckon I should get out while I still can?”
I shake my head. “No. I think you should stay.”
“Well, I guess that’s good because…” he lets his voice trail off before squeezing me tight and announcing, “I just enrolled.”
“You enrolled?” Bloody hell. He just enrolled.
“Yep and…” He lets his voice trail off once more. “I just looked at a place. I move in next week.”
Double crap. The good kind.
“Oh my god,” I laugh. “That’s…” And then the tears come.
“Hey,” he soothes and pulls me tight to him, his hand stroking my hair. “What’s the matter?”
“I thought you were going to leave me,” I sniff and bury my face in his neck. I know this level of emotion is irrational but I can’t seem to control myself. I wish I could explain or focus on why I feel this way but I can’t. Caleb means so much to me already and I’ve been resolute on the fact that he’d be leaving soon. I thought we were going to be the next summer romance that ends before it really begins, so this is literally just the best news ever. “I genuinely thought you just wanted to have sex with me.”
He pulls me back and wipes at my ridiculous tears with his