The way he talks about work now, all animated and sure of himself—it's different. Good different. Like he's finally found his space in the world and isn't apologizing for taking up room in it.
"He actually green-lit this game concept I pitched. We've been working on it for a while."
"What's it about?" I ask, tilting my head to look up at him.
Caleb blushes. His ears go pink first, the flush spreading down his neck and disappearing beneath his collar, tempting me to trace its path.
"Wait." I shift in his arms. "Are you blushing? Is this game secretly some kind of digital porn?"
"No!" He catches my hand, his thumb absently stroking my wrist. "It's just . . . I kind of based the main character on you."
"What?"
"I couldn't talk to you," he says, voice rough. "Couldn't fix what I'd broken. So, I started building this world where you still existed. Where I hadn't fucked everything up. Sounds creepy as hell now that I'm saying it out loud."
"No." I grab his chin, forcing him to look at me. His pupils are blown wide, turning those blue eyes nearly black. "It sounds . . ."Perfect. Devastating. Everything I never knew I wanted."Tell me about her. About me."
"You're this badass witch who owns this haunted bookshop. But like, cozy haunted. Not horror movie haunted."
"Am I at least hot?" I manage to tease.
"Yeah," he says, voice dropping to that register that makes my thighs clench. "You're fucking gorgeous. Just like the real thing."
I shift against him, pressing closer until I'm practically in his lap. His hand tightens on my hip, and beneath my palm, his pulse ramps up.
"Tell me more?" I try to keep my voice steady, but it comes out breathy.
"It's this cozy magical town, kind of like here, but with more floating books and less Danny conspiracy theories. You—well, the character—owns this bookshop that's been in her family for generations. But it's haunted by all these ghosts with unfinished business."
"Ghosts?" I can't help smiling at his enthusiasm.
"Yeah, but not scary ones. More like lost souls. Each one has a story that needs solving." His fingers trace up my spine, making me shiver. "The whole place is alive with magic—books that fly off shelves, teacups that pour themselves, crystals that actually work."
"And let me guess, there's a black cat?"
As if on cue, Salem lifts his head and lets out a soft meow.
"Yup," Caleb confirms. "Who may or may not go after pizza delivery guys. I might've worked through a little personal trauma there."
I laugh. "So, you made a whole video game about me because you missed me?"
"Because I couldn't stop thinking about you," he corrects. "Because even when I was trying to get my life together in Boston, everything good I made somehow turned into you."
I should say something. Anything. But I've never been anyone's muse before. Never mattered this much.
"Caleb . . ."
"It's probably weird," he says quickly, fingers stilling like he's preparing for rejection. "Making a whole digital world because you blocked my number."
"It isn't." I catch his hand before it slips away, lacing our fingers tight. "I love it.You should be proud of yourself."
Something vulnerable flashes across his face. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I squeeze his fingers. "Though I have to ask, does digital me have better coordination? Or am I still falling down stairs in the virtual world too?"
His laugh vibrates through me. "Made you exactly as clumsy as real life. Authenticity in game design is crucial."
"Rude." But I'm smiling as I burrow closer. "What about you? Did you give yourself a cameo as the hot pizza guy Salem terrorizes?"
