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I hop off Dusty’s back just after dark and lead her back to the barn. Its lights are shining like a beacon, visible for miles. Untacking her only takes a few minutes. After I finish brushing her, I release Dusty into her stall.
When I turn around, Caleb is leaning against the adjoining stall’s door, just inside the barn’s entrance.
My heart stutters, then picks up in double time.
“You said I could come over whenever,” he reminds me.
“I know. I just didn’t think you would.”
“No?” Caleb straightens. Steps closer.
“Did you win?” He’s still wearing his baseball uniform, and I really wish he weren’t. Especially now that I have the memory of all those muscles pressed against me.
“Yeah,” Caleb responds, then smiles.
I tilt my head. “What?”
“I threw a no-hitter.”
There’s a buoyant note to his voice, some barely restrained excitement. “That’s good, right?” I surmise.
His smile grows. “Yeah. It’s good.” He takes a few steps toward me.
I suck in a deep breath. Caleb doesn’t stop until he’s only a few inches from me. I can see the darker flecks of blue in his eyes. The shadows beneath them.
“I’m really good at blocking distractions out,” he tells me.
His warm, hard body is pressing against mine now, but I don’t feel trapped. I feel protected. Shielded. Safe.
“But do you know what I keep thinking about, Lennon?”
Caleb’s hand coasts down my side, landing on my waist.
“This.”
He kisses me first. But I’m expecting it. There’s no surprise or uncertainty. Shivers race up and down my spine as tentative touches turn hungry. Fierce. Ravenous.
I learn that when I suck on his lower lip, he groans.
We don’t pull apart until “Lennie!” echoes across the front yard. Caleb and I survey each other for a minute, both out of breath.
“Be right there,” I shout back.
“This mean anything to you, Matthews?”
“Idon’t go around kissing random people, Caleb.”
He realizes what I’m referring to immediately. “I wouldn’t have touched her, if I’d known you were coming that night. If I’d known you’dcare, Lennon.”
“I never said I cared.”
“Right.” He glances down, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll see you later.”
Caleb is halfway down the barn aisle before I speak. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”
He slows. Stops. Turns.
“Okay.”
