AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He didn’t look up as he concentrated on his design. “Practice.”
His distraction allowed her to brazenly appreciate his physical perfection. He wasn’t just a pretty face—although his face was certainly one of the top three pretty things about him. Penny was also a huge fan of his arms. Particularly his thick biceps, which flexed appealingly as he worked. And then there was the way his chunky Timex watch drew the eye to his exquisite forearms. She’d never paid much attention to men’s forearms before she started patronizing Antidote. But now, thanks to Caleb, she considered herself a connoisseur.
When he was done, he set the frothing pitcher down and brought her latte over to her.
“A bear!” Penny exclaimed, delighted. It had a big round snout and two cute little round ears. “I love it!”
The corner of Caleb’s mouth twitched, which was as close as she’d ever gotten to a smile out of him. “It’d be cuter if you let me dot the eyes with chocolate syrup.”
“All right, fine.” Penny pushed the latte toward him. A tiny bit of syrup wouldn’t hurt. “Just a dot though.”
Caleb grabbed the squeeze bottle of chocolate syrup and bent over her cup. “You want him to be a one-eyed bear?”
“That would be tragic. Permission to use two dots.”
He made the eyes and straightened, looking pleased with himself.
“He’s perfect,” Penny said, opening her camera app to take a picture. “I love him so much, it almost seems a shame to drink him.”
Caleb arched an eyebrow. “Almost?”
She finished snapping the photo and picked up her drink. “He’s a latte bear. It’s his life’s purpose to be enjoyed.” She pursed her lips as she blew gently across the top. “I wouldn’t want to deny him his life’s purpose.”
Caleb’s mouth twitched again. “Glad you like it.”
He was being so convivial, she decided to test the limits of their new friendship. “You know, it’s funny,” she said. “We see each other almost every day, but I don’t know anything about you.”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Penny took another sip of her latte. “I know more about everyone else here than I do about you. I know Roxanne skates with the LA Derby Dolls, her wife is a chef, and they’re going to name their baby girl Julia after Julia Child. I know Malik plays bass, his band is named Savage Oxide, and his mother lives in Atlanta. Elyse has only been here a week and I already know she’s an accounting major with a roommate named Gwen. But I know literally nothing about you. Isn’t that weird?”
Caleb shifted uncomfortably. “Is it?” George’s newspaper crinkled loudly as he unfolded it and turned the page.
“Yes!” Penny said. “I know all about George’s family too.”
“What?” George said, peering over the top of his newspaper. “I wasn’t listening.”
“I was just telling Caleb how weird it is that he never talks about himself.”
“Ah.” George disappeared behind his paper again.
“What do you want to know?” Caleb asked, rubbing his hands on his thighs. He looked wary, but he hadn’t run away yet.
“I don’t know. Anything.” Penny cracked her mental knuckles, considering her opening gambit. “Are you from Los Angeles originally?”
He leaned back against the opposite counter, and Penny tried not stare at the way his jeans hugged his hips—and other parts of him. “I’m an army brat, so I’m from all over. But most recently Fort Irwin, out past Barstow.”
Ah ha! A military upbringing could explain his reluctance to make friends. His detachment and unsociable behavior could be a defense mechanism from moving around so much during his formative years.
“Is that where your parents are now?”
He crossed his arms across his chest, which did amazing things for his already impressive biceps. “My dad’s a doctor at the hospital there.”
“What about your mom?” Penny asked, trying not to stare at his arms.
“She’s a professional officer’s wife.”
“What does that mean?”
