Page 27 of Fame & Chaos

“Hm?”

“You’ve been on the same page for ages.” She looked up slowly and smirked when she caught me watching her. “You’re not studying at all, are you?”

I shut my textbook completely. “Nope.”

Her laugh was soft and knowing as she set aside her own notes. “That bad?”

“Indi,” I said, dragging my gaze over her slowly. “You’re wearing my shirt and basically no pants. I never stood a chance tonight.”

A blush spread across her cheeks instantly, but instead of looking embarrassed, she bit her bottom lip and crawled across the couch toward me.

Every muscle in my body tightened.

“You know,” she murmured, stopping directly in front of me. “You say things like that and then act shocked when I can’t concentrate either.”

Jesus Christ.

I rested my hands carefully on her thighs, trying to keep at least some control over myself while she settled onto my lap. “You’re making this really hard for me,” I admitted quietly.

Her eyes darkened slightly with amusement.

“I think that’s the point.”

I groaned softly while she laughed and brushed her fingers through my hair.

A few months ago, we’d been best friends, pretending not to notice the tension between us. Now she was sitting on my lap in my clothes, looking at me like she wanted me just as badly as I wanted her.

And to be honest, that realization still messes with my head every single day.

While she studied downstairs, I spent over an hour getting the room ready. I changed the sheets three times because none of them felt right. Lit every candle she liked until my room smelled like vanilla and sandalwood, cleaned the disaster zone that was usually my floor, and even dug out one of her favorite CDs despite the fact that I thought the band sounded like dying cats.

But Indi loved them, so that was all that mattered.

I needed tonight to be perfect for her.

Because she deserved perfect.

When we finally walked into my room after dinner, she stopped dead in the doorway and looked around slowly before turning back to me with the softest expression I’d ever seen on her face. “You did all this for me?”

I felt ridiculously nervous. “Yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly. “Do you like it?”

Her smile widened instantly. “I love it.” She stepped further into the room, glancing around at the candles and music. “But why?”

My stomach dropped.

Because suddenly my brain started spiraling into panic.

What if I’d assumed too much?

What if she wasn’t ready for this?

Apparently, my face gave me away because Indi burst out laughing softly.

“Oh my God, Caleb.” She walked over quickly and grabbed my hands. “Relax. I know why.”

“You do?”

“Yes.” She grinned. “I was teasing you.”