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“Okay, let’s do this. Let’s become Trekkies,” Jordy says.
I laugh, biting at my smile.
These two are starting to make me feel whole again. They make me forget the mess around me. As long as I focus on them, I’ll be okay.
* * *
Jordy jumpsoff the couch and runs to the window, pulling back the curtain. “It's Mom!”
I jerk away from Caleb. “I should go.”
“Use the back door,” he says.
I run toward the glass door in their kitchen, but skid to a stop and turn to see Caleb standing right behind me. “My shoes.”
Jordy pokes his head into the kitchen. “She’s opening the door. Hide.”
Caleb takes my hand and pulls me further into the kitchen. He opens the pantry. “You can hide in here.”
“You have got to be kidding me,” I say. “There’s barely enough room for the broom, let alone me. I won’t fit.”
“There’s plenty of room. See, look,” he says, stepping inside. He turns around to face me.
“Caleb?” Mrs. Park calls.
He grabs my hand. I collide into him as he closes the door.
There’s no space between us, and it’s completely dark, forcing me to focus on the beat of his heart. It’s beating as fast as mine, if not faster. I can’t help but wonder if it’s beating that fast because of being so close to me or because he’s afraid of being caught.
I muffle a chuckle into his shoulder.
“What?” he whispers.
“This is ridiculous,” I say.
He laughs. “Would you rather have my mom find you?”
“I’m pretty sure having her find me in your kitchen would be better than having her find me in here with you.”
He wraps his arms around me, pulling me closer. “Well, I prefer this.”
My cheeks warm.
Footsteps flood into the kitchen.
“I need your help with something,” Jordy says on the other side of the door, talking to his mom.
“I need to put away the groceries first,” Mrs. Park replies. “Where’s your brother?”
Caleb’s breath tickles my skin, seconds before me leaving a soft kiss on my lips.
Goosebumps ripple up my arms, but I don’t pull away. For a moment in this dark space, it’s just us.
The handle to the pantry rattles, shattering the illusion.
“Cale—” I whisper.
He kisses my bottom lip to quiet me, teeth grazing it as he pulls back.
