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I step closer to Caleb, chewing my bottom lip to keep myself from smiling.
“So as you know, that was Jimmy. Over there in the back, that’s Sean. Sean say hi,” Caleb says.
Sean waves.
I wave back.
“I thought you were the drummer,” I whisper.
“I mess around with them at home. They’re a good stress reliever, but I usually play guitar and sing with these guys.”
My toes curl as excitement flows through me.
I’m going to hear his voice again.
“Make yourself comfortable,” Caleb says, pointing at the sofa pushed into the opposite corner from the instruments. “We take breaks a lot, but if it’s ever too much, just tell me. I won’t be mad if we have to leave early.”
“Sounds good,” I say.
I sit as he gives Sean a high five before picking up his guitar. He brings the strap over his head, letting the guitar rest on his shoulders. His eyes meet mine, catching me staring at him, and he smiles.
My gaze drops to the floor momentarily, but at soon as he strums the first chord, I’m hooked. He’s about to play, and I can’t look away. I’m mesmerized. By him. His voice. The way his bangs sway to the music. By the way he’s consumed by the melody.
Every time he steals a glance in my direction, my heart speeds up. I find myself wishing he was sitting next to me.
I want him closer.
CHAPTERNINETEEN
Caleband the boys spend the next hour playing through their song list for the dance. I have to admit, they sound amazing. Everyone at the dance is going to freak out when they hear them.
I wait patiently on the couch, listening to them and occasionally scrolling through my socials until Caleb’s phone rings.
He answers, running over to the staircase where it’s quieter. “Hey, what’s up?”
A minute later, he walks back into the room. All of the color in his face has drained.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, jumping up off of the couch.
“We have to head back,” he says. His voice is quiet.
“Is everything okay? Who called?”
“It was my mom.” He rocks his jaw, lowering his eyes. “She has an interview.”
“What’s so bad about that?” I ask.
“It’s for a position in Portland.”
I stagger back. Chest heavy.
Portland is over an hour away from here. Caleb and his family have lived next door to us for as long as I can remember, and I can’t even imagine what’s going through his head right now. If it were me, my mind would be racing in a million different directions. I’d be falling apart.
He’s holding it in, staying calm, but I don’t buy it.
We say goodbye to the guys and head to the car. He’s quiet for a long time, keeping his focus on the road ahead.
“Did you know about it?” I ask.
