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“I’m still learning,” I mutter and try not to take it too personally when everyone reaches for a cupcake now they know Mei helped me.
“Baking is just chemistry,” Donovan explains, like this concept has eluded me in my own attempts, and then takes a bite. After licking the frosting from his lips—which isn’t sexy in any way, dang it—he praises, “These are good.”
“Don’t act so surprised,” I grumble, stealing one of the cupcakes. It may be Connor’s present—well, one of them—but I deserve to enjoy some of the fruits of my labor.
“Yeah, I’m an excellent baker,” Mei states with an exaggerated flick of her long black hair.
“She is,” Rand agrees, speaking up for the first time. His amber eyes crinkle in the corners as he looks down at her. “Mei could open up her own bakery.”
“But I won’t, because I have a family business to inherit,” she interjects, not appearing particularly bothered by the concept. “My parents literally named it after me, so it’s left to you lucky few to enjoy my delicious hobby.”
There’s just enough time for each of us to finish eating a cupcake—the breakfast of champions—before the morning bell rings, and we all scurry to our classes. Felix and Connor walk with Nolan, escorting him to his first class despite his protests that he’s sick, not an invalid. Despite my general worry about him, I can’t help but find humor in his plight. Since the first day I arrived at Twin Cedar Pass High School, at least one of the guys has walked me to my classes like someone is going to jump out and attack me at any moment. At least they are equal opportunity overprotective. Rand follows Mei, clearly intending to also walk her to class. He’s at least stealthier about it, distracting her with questions about baked goods as they go.
For Donovan and me, it’s another fun-filled morning with Mr. Harris for pre-calc. We walk side by side through the halls, his hand at the base of my spine under my sweater. It’s both a very normal couple-like thing to do and terribly distracting, because it reminds me of all the other places he’s touched me, and all the places I want him to touch me. Since that infamous night, we haven’t had a chance to do more than steal some make-out time here and there, both of us focused on Nolan’s declining health.
Before we enter class, Donovan slips his fingers into the waistband of my skirt, pulls me back, and crowds me against the wall. Once again not caring about anyone around us, he slides his hands down to the curve of my ass as he leans down to murmur against my ear. “You look so fucking hot right now.”
“I, uh… Thank you?” I whisper, the phrase turning into a question toward the end. His nearness, particularly like this, has a way of scrambling my brains.
His teeth graze the delicate flesh of my earlobe, causing tingles to skate across my skin. “I want a night where you’re all mine.”
“Oh?” I wheeze, my hands pressed against his firm chest, though I’m unsure if it’s to hold him at bay or pull him closer. “What about Nolan?”
“We can finish by sleeping at his place,” he answers, wearing a smirk that makes me question how much sleeping we’ll actually do.
My head nods like it’s not quite attached to my neck. “Okay.”
“Good.” He stamps my lips with a hard kiss. “Now, let’s go before I decide I can’t wait.”
∞∞∞
When I get out of my last class for the day, I expect Connor to be waiting for me, ready to claim his birthday request as soon as possible. Instead, I find Kaleb standing across from the door, his eyes tracking every person who leaves until he sees me. He waits for me to approach, almost like he half expects me to walk past him.
“Hi,” I say, tugging on the bottom of my sweater, because I’m at a complete loss on what to do with my hands.
“Hi,” he echoes, the deep bass of his voice a rich sound that makes me think of distant thunder. “Can I walk you to your locker?”
Nervous energy churns in my stomach as I nod. “Sure.”
Neither of us move, and I try to read what he wants to say in his expression. All I can grasp is that same warring indecision. At least it’s real. After taking a fortifying breath, he offers me a proverbial olive branch by holding out his hand. Just like all the times before, he allows it to be my choice. Tears sting my eyes as how much I’ve missed his touch wells up inside me. Greedily, I take it, lacing our fingers together before he can change his mind. Now firmly attached, he begins to lead the way while I resist the urge to wrap myself completely around his arm like some lovesick leech.
“I want to apologize for this morning,” he states, glancing down at me. “I promised in my letter that I wouldn’t leave again, and I did.”
“Kaleb, you were uncomfortable because of what Donovan said and needed time to yourself,” I reason, squeezing his hand. “You’re here now, talking to me like you promised. That’s what matters.”
“Columba mea, I don’t know what I’m doing,” he confesses quietly, his gaze on the quickly emptying hallways. “Donovan makes it all sound so simple, but I’m not built like he is. I’m not like the others.”
I refrain from telling him that Donovan said the exact same thing to me when we decided to start dating, knowing the comparison won’t be helpful in this moment, but it’s almost laughable how similar they are. Two sides of the same coin and brothers in all ways that matter.
Giving in to some of my leech-like urges, I lean into him as we walk, breathing in his scent of sandalwood and well-worn paper. “I don’t want you to be like the others. I want you to be yourself.”
He snorts with derision. “I’m not sure I know who that is either.”
An idea sparks in my brain, and my magic immediately hums with delight to be used. “Do you want me to tell you?” I offer, craning my neck so I can watch his reaction. Why are all the boys I like so tall?
Kaleb stops in his tracks, his brows low and eyes intent as he looks down at me. “What do you mean?”
After quickly glancing around to make sure no one is listening, I whisper, “I’m a spirit witch, remember? I can literally see your soul. If you want, I can look and tell you the core of who you are, how it manifests, or in what ways you choose to follow it or deny it. That’s on you.”
