“I’ve got it under control.”
“You’d better.Because if you don’t, I’ll be having a very different conversation with you.”
I roll my eyes.“I should get going.Early day tomorrow.”
“Wait.”Natalie struggles to her feet.“Sarah sent over lasagna.Take some home.You look like you’re living on takeout.”
“I’m fine, Nat—” I give her a wounded look, but lasagna is tempting.“My brother doesn’t even want me here for dinner.It’s fine.I’ll just buy something from the grocery store on the way back.”
“Should I hand you a tissue, Caleb?”Ethan asks scathingly.“To wipe your eyes with?”
“Ethan!”Natalie frowns at him before turning her gaze back to me.“That wasn’t a request, Caleb.”She’s already heading to the kitchen, but she continues speaking to me, raising her voice slightly to bridge the distance.“Ethan doesn’t mean that.Just stay for dinner.You’re always welcome here.”
I smile at her.“Thanks, Natalie.You know, I think I will.But only because you asked me.”As I follow her to the kitchen, I make sure to look over my shoulder at my brother and waggle my brows at him.
Victory is mine, and it’s going to taste good.
* * *
I should’ve knownthat she was not going to let go of my harmless prank.
It’s a few days later, and I’m in the kitchenette making my usual hot chocolate when the first sip nearly makes me gag.The drink is bitter as hell, like someone mixed cocoa powder with liquid disappointment.
“What the hell?”I mutter, checking the ingredients.Everything looks normal—same cocoa powder, same sugar, same everything.I dump the cup and start over, measuring more carefully this time.
The second attempt is equally terrible.If anything, it’s worse.
“Having problems?”
I turn to find Eve leaning against the doorframe, looking absolutely innocent with her hands clasped behind her back.She’s wearing a black blazer today that hugs her curves in all the right ways, paired with those fitted pants that should be illegal.
“My hot chocolate tastes like ass,” I say bluntly.
“Oh, no!”Her voice is dripping with fake concern.“That’s terrible.Maybe you’re just having an off day.”
Something in her tone makes my eyes narrow.The way she’s standing, the slight tilt of her head, the barely suppressed smile.It all screams guilt.
“Eve.Did you do something to my hot chocolate?”
“Me?”She presses a hand to her chest, eyes wide with mock innocence.“I would never.I don’t even know how you make it.”
“Bullshit.”I step closer, and she doesn’t back down.Instead, she tilts her chin up defiantly.“What did you do?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”But there’s a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth that gives her away completely.
I take another step, effectively boxing her in between the counter and my body.She has to tilt her head back to look at me, and I see the challenge burning in her dark eyes.“You’re lying,” I say quietly, my voice low enough that only she can hear.“And you’re enjoying it.”
“Prove it.”The words are barely a whisper, but they hit me like a physical blow.She’s close enough that I can smell her perfume.I see her pupils dilate slightly.
“You think you’re so clever,” I murmur, bracing one hand against the counter beside her hip.“But I’m going to figure out what you did.”
“Good luck with that.”She doesn’t seem intimidated in the slightest.If anything, she looks like she’s enjoying herself.Her tongue darts out to wet her lips, and I have to fight to keep my eyes on her face.
She slips past me, her body brushing against mine for just a second, and I have to grip the counter to keep from following her.As she reaches the doorway, I hear her murmur under her breath, “Payback feels like a bitch, doesn’t it?”I watch her walk away, hips swaying in that way that makes my blood pressure spike.
I spend the next ten minutes investigating the hot chocolate situation like I’m solving a murder case.The cocoa powder looks normal.The sugar seems fine.But when I dip my finger into the cocoa powder and taste it directly, I nearly spit it out.
“Salt,” I mutter, staring at the container.“She mixed salt into my cocoa powder.”
