I watched as Caleb's upper body crouched low over the billiard table, green eyes so focused on his target, biceps flexing as he took his shot. I could hear a chorus of sighs from the group of girls in his vicinity. He didn't seem to notice. "Hey, Lockhart." His gaze moved up, an irritated look in his eyes at the sudden disturbance, but when he recognized me his eyes lit up. "Hey, Kar." I laughed-snorted because I knew we were both remembering what happened this morning when Caleb called me that. He was rubbing it in Cameron's face and enjoying it, and we both knew I was going to play along. Maybe he wanted a little payback for the pain Cameron had caused both of us, because even if Caleb didn't say anything at that time, I could see in his face that he was worried about Cameron too. In those weeks when Cameron left, Caleb and I had somehow formed a friendship. He was Cameron's best friend—the only friend Cameron allowed to be in his life. I could see why. Caleb was loyal to a fault and cared deeply for Cameron. "Talk to you real quick?" I asked, gesturing outside the rec room to the hallway. "Sure." He gave the cue stick to his friend and excused himself. I would have told him right there what I needed but I could see we weren't going to have privacy judging by the intensely curious stares. How could he possibly live like this? It was like a reality show and the cameras were the monkey eyeballs constantly on him, watching him breathing. What if he needed to fart? He walked like it was just another normal day, which it probably was. He was comfortable with attention and adoration. People just noticed him everywhere he went. I knew a couple people like him. Growing up with a gorgeous childhood best friend—hello, Damon—earned me scathing, confused looks like I was getting now. In their eyes, I was a plain Jane. A bun without a filling. It was like there was an unspoken rule about beautiful people only hanging out with other beautiful people. "I need a favor," I started as soon as we were outside. His monkeys sent me glares that could melt steel. I pushed up my eyeglasses with my middle finger. "I hope that's not for me." He tapped a finger on the bridge of his nose, green eyes laughing. Maybe he was more observant than I gave him credit for. "Does it involve hiding a dead body or an exorcism?" Cameron had mentioned in passing that Caleb loved horror movies, but he didn't like watching them alone. Sometimes when Cameron lost a bet, Caleb made him watch them with him. "If you do this mission for me, I'll make Cam watch a scary movie with you." A dimple popped out on his cheek. "I'm ready for the mission, captain." "I was just wondering—" I worried my lip "—if you can give Cam a ride after practice." I wasn't running away. I was just postponing things. And maybe torturing Bigfoot a little. "I knew it." He grinned. "You're back to giving him rides." The naughty gleam I caught in his eyes made me want to squish his face. "Well, his bike is still in the shop," I hedged. Actually the part Dylan ordered came in earlier than expected, and it was the right one this time. Caleb waggled his eyebrows then peered at me curiously. He had a boyish look on his face that reminded me of a little kid trying to charm his way into getting candy. "Where'd you need to be that you can't give him a ride?" "I'll be in a secret dungeon, planning the destruction of the human race," I quipped. I was expecting him to laugh, forget about his question, but he leaned against the wall instead, crossing his arms across his chest. "Are you running away?" he asked. All the laughter had gone out of his eyes. He fell silent for a moment, tilting his head to the side as he studied my face. It was rare to see a serious Caleb. Whenever I saw him, he was almost always laughing, grinning or teasing. This time, he wasn't. It was disconcerting. His eyes had turned into an intimidating green, and I could feel the effect of their intensity. "Cam is an expert on looking like he doesn't give a damn. He doesn't easily let anything bother him, but you do," he said quietly. "You bother him very much. He lets you. Don't you think that says a lot?" Something felt stuck in my throat at his words. "I think—" "Hey, Caleb. You coming to the house party tonight, right?" I stepped away and gave them privacy so he could fan service his groupies. It gave me time to gather my bearings. According to Cameron, he didn't do friends. Caleb was his only best friend. Hearing those words from a person who was important to Cameron...rocked something inside me. My phone vibrated. It was Tala telling me to stay put and that she'd meet me in the rec room. By the time Caleb finished his fan meet, the serious moment between us had passed. I decided to lighten the mood. "Does your dick ever take a break?" I asked semi-seriously, gesturing at the girls who just left. He looked like he was contemplating answering me for a moment, but then in the end decided to just give me a lopsided grin. "If it takes a break, is it like an hour a day?" I persisted. He threw his head back and laughed. "That's literally impossible. I'd be like a dick with a brain." "Or a dick with a—" "Kara." I startled, spun around. My eyes met a chiseled jawline first, a masculine mouth made for dirty talking, a long, straight nose, and then eyes so blue and piercing that my breath caught in my throat. Shit. Cameron is fucking beautiful. He looked calm, but then his eyes betrayed him. They were filled with a wild temper. He stepped forward. My heart tumbled in my ribcage at how close he was. It reminded me of what we were doing in the dark lecture hall just a while ago. The words personal space might not mean much to him, but my heart would really appreciate if he stepped back a little. He didn't look like he was open to doing anyone or anything any favors. He looked like a warrior who'd pillage and plunder anything he fancied and slash whatever was in his way. He didn't say a word. He didn't have to. Slowly, his gaze moved to Caleb. Caleb raised his hands, palms up, grinning. "Leaving," he said. He mouthed I'm sorry to me, winked and left. Then Cameron's eyes met mine again. This close I had to strain my neck to look up at him. His jaw hardened, cheekbones stood out in stark relief. Now he looked angry. What did it say about me when that excited me? Gently but firmly, his fingers wrapped around my wrist. His hold screamed that there was no escape. "Come," he growled and walked briskly down the hallway. "Come? What's next? Want me to bark?" He ignored me. "If you think I'm going to give you later," I threw at his Lucifer hair, "get ready for a rude awakening. You're not getting what you want."