AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Caleb snorted as he dropped into his armchair. “No. Luke and Ananda are working until close. And even if they did need a hand, I’d ask Peyton to come in before making either of you go in.”
Ravi smiled, then winced and touched his bandage before dropping his head back. He was staring up at the ceiling as he signed, “I liked Peyton. He was nice.”
Caleb waited for Ravi to lift his head up again. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. Bodhi yelled at me already, so you don’t have to.”
Caleb blinked, then stared at Bodhi who lifted his chin defiantly. “Both of you are assholes. And youbothknow what you did.”
Caleb had no defense against that. It was true. He leaned over his thighs and met Bodhi’s gaze, which didn’t stay on Caleb’s for long, moving restlessly to settle somewhere near Caleb’s chest. “I’m sorry.”
“You already said that,” Bodhi answered back with steady hands. “And I already forgave you.”
Caleb took that as the signal to drop it, and he nodded, then looked over at Ravi. “Wren invited you over to stay at his place for a while. Until we’re sure your grandparents are gone.”
“Me?” Ravi asked, his eyes widening.
“Both of you,” Caleb said.
Bodhi’s face fell. “Me too?”
“He said you can if you don’t want to stay here,” Caleb interjected quickly, leaving out the part where Wren had implied it was Caleb that might want him gone. The last thing he wanted was for Bodhi to think he wanted that.Ever. “He said he has movies and a blanket fort. And he’ll definitely have snacks.”
“Do you want me to—” Bodhi started.
“No.” Caleb couldn’t stop himself from answering before Bodhi’s hands could finish moving. “I don’t want you to leave. But he invited you, and I promised him I’d ask.”
Bodhi chewed on his lower lip, glancing over at Ravi before he said, “I told him.” He was pointing at Ravi.
It took Caleb a second to understand what Bodhi was saying, then his cheeks went pink. “That’s fine.”
“Is it?” Bodhi looked terrified and Caleb remembered telling Bodhi he didn’t want anyone to know right away. And it had nothing to do with being ashamed or even afraid. He just didn’t want Bodhi feeling pressure from anyone.
Caleb looked at Ravi. “Anything to add?”
“Don’t be a dick,” Ravi said. “I’ve barely forgiven you for the way you treated him. Even if I don’t have a leg to stand on.”
It was fair. “I like your brother. And this isn’t a rebound. I’m not lonely. I was barely with Cameron by the end, and I was fine with living alone. I fell for him because he’s amazing.”
Bodhi was hiding half his face by the end, which made Caleb want to laugh…and also maybe pull him into his lap and kiss the breath out of his lungs.
Ravi smiled softly. “I didn’t say I thought it was a rebound.”
“I know,” Caleb said, “but that’s what everyone’s going to assume.” He met Bodhi’s gaze. “I don’t care what other people think, but I don’t want it to get to you. And I don’t want you to doubt me.”
“I don’t usually care about that sort of thing,” Bodhi told him simply.
Caleb felt a warmth in his chest because while he’d heard that a lot from a lot of people, this was the first time he believed someone. “So, Bodhi. You want to stay?”
“Yes.”
He grinned wider before looking at Ravi. “And you want to go?”
“I’ll grab an Uber,” Ravi said. “Is he home now?”
“At the shop. Send him a text and he’ll come pick you up,” Caleb said, not feeling bad for volunteering Wren as a ride. “Beware he’s a huge gossip, so he’s going to want to know exactly what happened to you.”
Ravi laughed and rolled his eyes. “That’s why he and I get along.” He stood up, moving stiffly, his face pulled in a grimace. “Can I shower?”
