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“And you never mentioned it?”
“Back then, I didn’t think you’d ever end up at Clarkson. I didn’t think you’d ever meet Sophie.”
“So you hid it because you thought I’d never find out?”
Caleb starts to look pissed. “Find outwhat, Lennon? There’s nothing to hide. Has she hit on me? Yeah. Have I done anything except make it clear to her I’m not interested? No. I thought you trusted me.”
“Ido. It’s just weird that you never mentioned it. Never mentioned her.”
“You never said anything to me about that journalism guy you keep hanging out with.”
“Eric? What does he have to do with it?”
“He’s into you, Lennon.”
“He’s just friendly,” I say, annoyed he’s dragging Eric into it. Aside from Caleb, he’s the person who’s made me feel most welcome at Clarkson. Without him, I wouldn’t have even met Abby, Amanda, and Joe. Or gotten advice on journalism electives. “He’s never hit on me.”
“Oh, yeah? So he’s never asked you to hang out, just the two of you?”
I flush, recalling Eric’s suggestion after class. “That’s different. We were talking about the fellowship I told you about. It was school-related.”
“How is it different? Sophie was at Mayfair because she’s a student athlete, same as me. It was sports-related.”
“Fine.” I look away. “Forget I said anything about it.”
Caleb grabs my hand and tugs me to a stop, his annoyed expression softening. “Iwantyou to tell me when you’re upset about things, Len. There’s nothing more terrifying than when you shut down and shut me out. It’s kind of funny, actually, that you’re jealous.”
I glare at him. “Funny?”
Instead of flinching from the warning in my voice, he smiles. “I haven’t touched another girl since the first time you kissed me. So yeah, it’s funny you’re jealous.”
“You mean since we started dating.”
“No. I mean since the first time you kissed me.”
“In high school? But that whole summer, and you were here—single—all fall…”
He shrugs. “I was in love with you, Lennon. I wasn’t interested in anyone else.”
I step closer and kiss him, the sudden rush of love so overwhelming it needs an outlet. Love is a word made up of actions.
The rest of the walk to Caleb’s truck is peaceful. We don’t argue very often. Maybe that’s because we spent the first few years of high school exclusively communicating that way. Maybe because the first few years of college only allowed limited time together, and neither of us wanted to spend it discussing anything unpleasant. This is the closest we’ve come to a fight in a while, and storms make you appreciate the calm more, when it finally arrives.
“My mom keeps bringing up Thanksgiving.” Caleb is the first to speak, once we’re headed back toward campus. “I thought she’d back out and decide to stay in New York, but she’s still leaving me voicemails about it.”
“Oh,” I reply. Thanksgiving isn’t all that far away, I suddenly realize. “Do you want to go?”
Selfishly, I’m kind of hoping he says no. Caleb’s relationship with his parents is complicated. Partly because they thoroughly disapprove of me.
“Only if you want to.”
I give him a wry smile. “I’ll go if you want to. But Cassie invited me to spend it with her family, so if you’d prefer to go alone…”
“I’m not going without you, Lennon.”
“Okay. Then let’s go.” I have no family members left due to lots of unfortunate circumstances. I don’t want Caleb losing his by choice. I’ll go and be pleasant, even if I want to hide every time Mrs. Winters looks at me. At least Caleb’s father mostly ignores my presence. “Is there skiing?”
“In Aspen?” He laughs. “Yeah.”
