The Inappropriate Hot Chocolate Moan
JAMES
The room is quiet for once; most of the guys are either sleeping off finals or already heading home for break. Perfect. Slumped in a chair, wearing my favorite black hoodie and the ridiculous Christmas tee Gavin gave me as a joke last year.Grinch Energy, 100% Renewableis printed across the chest in green glitter that's started to crack and peel.
Should've donated it months ago. Didn't.
I’m scrolling through the San Clemente community page, looking for more holiday charity options for the frat to support, when an idea hits. Between posts about street closures and lost dogs is a bright red and green graphic:Santa Clemente's 3rd Annual Hot Chocolate Competition! Vote for your favourite and crown this year's champion!
Clicking through to the details, a plan is already taking shape. Caleb's sweet tooth has become legendary. I've watched him demolish an entire package of Oreos during a study session without seeming to notice. And after the disaster with his family at the fundraiser, he deserves something fun.
"Hey, Em?" Calling across the common room, where Emily is draped across Drew's lap, highlighting passages in her textbook.Finals are mostly over, but Emily's already prepping for next semester.
She looks up. "What's up, James? You finally ready to let me help with your wardrobe? Because those hoodies have seen better days."
"My hoodies are fine. No, I found this hot chocolate competition happening in town this weekend. Think there'd be enough interest to organize a group? Like a pub crawl but for hot chocolate?"
Emily's eyes light up, and Drew groans. "Why'd you say that? Now I won't see her for 24 hours while she plans."
"Hot chocolate crawl!" She's already reaching for her phone. "That's genius! We can get a bus, make scorecards?—"
"I was thinking maybe a few people could—"Oh shite, what have I started?
"No, no, this needs to be official." Her fingers are flying over her phone screen. "The freshmen need a post-finals celebration that doesn't involve drinking booze. Plus, at least ten guys who could use some holiday spirit are staying here over break."
Drew catches my eye with a resigned smile as Emily fires off text messages, already deep in planning mode.
"It's perfect timing, not too close to Christmas, so most people haven't left yet. I'll set up a signup sheet..." She's already lost in her planning world.
Leaving her to it, heading back to my room where Caleb is sprawled on my bed with his laptop, doing what he calls "pre-studying" for one of next semester's classes.
"Hey," I say, closing the door behind me with a soft click. "Any interest in a hot chocolate crawl this weekend?"
He looks up, his hair is mussed up in a way that makes him look soft and sexy. "A what now?"
"Hot chocolate crawl. The town is doing this competition, and Emily's organizing a bus. I thought maybe you'd want togo? It would be good camoufl—" The word dies in my throat. "Actually, that's... we don't need camouflage anymore, do we?"
His eyebrow goes up, and a slow smile moves across his face. "James Hunter, are you asking me on a date that involves sampling multiple types of chocolate-based beverages?"
My mouth goes dry. "Yeah. I mean, if you want. We're... we're dating now, right?"
"We are." He says it simply, like it's obvious, and the knot in my throat loosens. "Though I'd prefer to keep things relatively private. Not secret, just..."
"Not broadcast to the entire Greek system?" Relief floods through me. "Yeah, same."
"How many types of hot chocolate are we talking about here?"
"At least ten participating shops."
"Well." He sets his laptop aside with deliberate care. "I suppose I could make myself available. Someone has to be a guinea pig, and I guess it can be us."
Grinning, I know I've got him. Caleb might pretend to be calm and detached, but he has never met a dessert he didn't love.
By Saturday,Emily has transformed a casual suggestion into an event worthy of a Hallmark holiday movie. When I step outside the frat house, I find not a bus, but a decorated party bus with "PCU Hot Chocolate Champions" emblazoned on the side in temporary decals.
"What did you do?" I ask as she hands me a clipboard.
"Made it magical," she says with a wink. She's wearing a red sweater with actual blinking Christmas lights sewn into it, anda headband with reindeer antlers. "Now, everyone gets a rating sheet. We're judging on five categories."
