"Nope." He pops the 'p' like he always does when deflecting. "Want to order Chinese and watch something that won't make me check under my bed later?"
"Only if you admit you secretly love rom-coms."
"They're a guilty pleasure and you know it." He's already grabbing my phone, pulling up the delivery app. "The usual?"
I nod, watching as he orders without asking—honey walnut shrimp for me, kung pao chicken for him, and extra fortune cookies, because he knows I collect the fortunes.
Some friendships simply work, even when they don't make sense on paper. Caleb has always been good at cracking me up, even during those awful algebra tutoring sessions where he'd spend more time making up songs about equations than solving them. Not that he was bad at math. He just had trouble focusing unless he made it into a game. He was surprisingly smart when he tried.
"So," Caleb scrolls through my phone with a smirk, "PairUp, huh? Whatever happened to 'the universe will provide'?"
"The universe needs better taste in men." I try to grab my phone but he holds it out of reach. "And how did you even—"
"I know everything, Shortcake." His eyes scan the screen. "Nice profile. Very . . . witchy influencer meets beach goddess."
"Were you creeping on my profile?"
"The algorithm blessed me with your presence! Though that bio . . ." He clears his throat, adopting a mystical voice. "'Seeking someone who believes in magic—'"
"Shut up!" I finally snatch it back. "Amelia made it for me. Not that I've used it yet." I toy with the corner of my phone, suddenly serious. "Though maybe she has a point. I'm tired of waiting around,you know? I want someone who wants the same things I do. A real relationship. A future."
His easy smile falters for a second. "Want help with your profile? I could—"
"You?" I sit up to stare at him. "Mr. Why-Have-Relationships-When-You-Can-Have-Hookups is offering dating advice? You don't even know how to have a second date!"
"I know how! I just choose not to." He shrugs, but there's tension in his shoulders that wasn't there before. "Besides, these apps are bullshit. It's all guys pretending to be deeper than they are, when in reality they—"
"What? Not look for anything serious?" I arch an eyebrow. "Like someone else I know?"
"That's different." He stretches out, taking up more couch space, but I catch how his jaw clenches. "I don't want you getting hurt."
"They say you have to kiss a few frogs to find your prince."
His mouth quirks, eyes locked on mine. "Guess I'd better start hopping, then."
"I'm serious, Caleb. Some of us want more than a warm body to fill the silence."
"What's the rush?" His voice comes out rough, almost defensive. "You're too good for random app guys who think Mercury retrograde is a car problem."
"You thought that the first time I said it." I snort. "Maybe I should get more cats."
"Nah." He nudges my leg with his foot. "Salem's judgy enough for ten cats, and soon he will have some duck friends. Besides, you're like . . . a catch, or whatever. Some guy's gonna love all your . . ." He gestures loosely toward my crystal collection. "Witchy woo-woo stuff."
"Wow. So eloquent. You should writegreeting cards."
"I could help with some kissing practice. My technique's gotten way better since high school." Caleb waggles his eyebrows.
"Oh god." I fake gag, heat prickling at the back of my neck. "Freshman year spin the bottle was enough Caleb Miller kisses for one lifetime. I still have nightmares about how you tasted of Doritos and tried to use your tongue like a windshield wiper."
"Hey! I've had zero complaints since then."
"They're probably just being polite."
"I am wounded." But he's grinning. "And my tongue skills are legendary now. Plus, my dick is—"
I slap my hand over his mouth. "You better not finish that sentence."
He licks my palm.
