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“Oh God,” I laughed, “Just had to get that in there, huh?”

Caleb shrugged. “Just trying to live up to my reputation.” His expression turned serious. “But I mean it.”

“What? That I can’t fail with you at my side?”

“Well, yeah,” – I slapped his chest, and he grabbed my hand, his deep chuckle filling the room – “I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”

“And you’re terrible at making me feel better!”

Leaning in close, Caleb pinned me to the sofa. “I know exactly how to make you feel better.”

I deflated a little, and Caleb caught it. “What?”

I swallowed, and was quick to brush it off. “Nothing. I think we should go to bed. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”

“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what you were thinking.”

I diverted my gaze, and then cried out in surprise when Caleb placed his hands on my hips and lifted me so that I was straddling him. The man moved so fast, one minute he was leaning over me, and the next he’d flipped our position.

I stayed silent.

“I have the patience of saint, babe.” Caleb brushed my cheek.

“And you’re also a very good liar,” I teased. “Your patience is shorter than a matchstick.”

“Not when it comes to you,” he replied quickly. “And Braelynn.”

“It’s a little hard to be serious when you say things like that, Caleb.”

“Oh I’m being serious, as serious as a heart attack. So lay it on me, whatever’s bothering you. You know you can always be honest with me.”

“What makes you think something’s bothering me?”

“Because you can never hide from me, Kadence.” His words slayed me, left me raw. Naked. “You try, but I see you. I always see you.”

See? Always a charmer. Except this time, I believed him because it was an undeniable truth that I could never hide from him.

“You scare me,” I murmured, and motioned between us. “This scares me.”

Caleb’s gaze was pensive. Seeking. Perceptive. He was smart but it was moments like this that made me realize there was so much more beneath his surface. More that I wanted to discover. “You don’t have to be afraid of me.”

“I’m not afraid of you, it’s just…”

“It’s just what?”

“It feels…” I paused, “Real. And for the last few days it felt like I was constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Caleb’s brows bowed, making a crease between his eyes. “It is real.” He sounded convinced.

I on the other hand, was not.

“I’m never sure with you.”

Caleb’s frown deepened as if I’d wounded him somehow.

“I can never tell when you’re being real with me,” I continued. “Or if you’re playing pretend. And it’s driving me crazy because I know we’re putting on a show for everyone else, but when I’m with you, and Brae, I find myself wishing it was true.”

“I think I know where this is going.”