“Um, yes?” Caleb laughed. “You totally built up the romantic tension for three books, of course I’d be upset if they didn’t get together! And probably all your other legion of fans, too.” He paused his game and grinned at me. “But I’m the only one who lives with you, so I can punish you if the book doesn’t end properly.”
I laughed. “Are you threatening me, Caleb?”
“Threatening you with no sex, maybe.”
Playing along, I crossed my arms. “So you won’t have sex with me if the main characters don’t end up as a happy couple.”
“Well, there can be drama, obviously,” he said. He pointed a finger at me. “But yeah. Make them date, or else.”
“Threatened by my own biggest fan,” I replied with a smug smile. “You’re amusing, Caleb.”
He chuckled and returned to his game. As I flipped the pen in my hand, his words resonated with me. In fact, he wasn’t too far off from the truth. I did intend for the main characters to end up as a couple but Caleb highlighted the problem.Drama.That was what my outline was missing. Conflict.
The gears in my mind churned and I zoned in on my notes, writing as quickly as possible. The words poured out of my pen.
“Whoa,” Caleb commented. “Did I inspire you after all?”
“Yes,” I mumbled under my breath, too busy to make eye contact.
Caleb looked pleased with himself as he continued gaming. After a few minutes he said, “I was just joking, you know. I’ll still have sex with you if the book doesn’t turn out like I expected.”
“I figured as much,” I said. “You’re a healthy young omega, after all.”
“Hey, what’s that mean? You saying I’m horny all the time?”
“That is what I was insinuating, yes.”
Caleb pouted. “Hey, you’re pretty horny yourself, mister I-haven’t-gotten-laid-in-decades.”
I lifted my head from the paper and raised a brow at him. “We can tease each other later. You gave me some good ideas for this book and I want to write them all down.”
“Oh!” Caleb blushed. “Sorry! Go back to writing, I’ll shut up now.”
I smiled at him. “Thank you.”
Outside, I heard the patter of rain against the windows. Caleb kept the blinds shut for my sake most of the time, even though the windows were deeply tinted for my safety, but through a slit I saw the sunny sky had turned overcast. That was fine by me; it added atmosphere as I settled deeper into my zone of focus.
But it was quickly shattered by rapid steps coming up to the front porch, and a pounding of fists on the door.
“Ah!” Caleb yelled. His character fell off the screen and died. “Aw, man! Who is that?”
“I’ll get it,” I said with a scowl.
Whoever interrupted me better have a good reason…
I braced myself against the harmless but still irritating pale grey light and opened the door.
“Theo?”
My youngest brother stood before me, eyes wide as he gripped the doorframe in what I could only assume was excitement.
“Where’s Caleb?” Theo demanded.
“In here!” Caleb replied from the couch.
“Get over here, dude!” Theo cried. “Benji’s having his baby!”
Caleb’s voice came out in a broken yelp. “What?”
