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CALEB

I’ve been in love with my best friend since high school and she has no idea.

The past year felt like a blur, our schedules weren’t aligning, and I was an idiot for letting the communication between us die down.

I’ve missed her more than I’m willing to admit.

But now that she’s moving back, I’m determined not to let it happen again.

“Question. Why the hell are you in a neon pink hoodie?” The deepest laugh erupts from Amir, as he walks into my living room.

I was helping him along with his friends from medical school to pick out a suit for his wedding and we decided to chill at my place while Tia and Maya had…somewhere to go earlier. I forgot where. To be honest, whenever my sister talks to me it goes in one ear and out the other.

“Because it’s comfortable,” I replied dryly, as I walk over to my couch, digging for the remote that’s always somehow stuck between the cushions.

“You look like a tall bottle of Pepto-Bismol.” He sneers.

He’s around 6’4, deep brown skin with a taper fade. I swear he’s been this height since we were fourteen.

“Oh, how funny.” I pull the remote out and plop down, turning the TV on.

His phone dings and he’s quiet for a moment before rounding the couch, sitting next to me. “You want to go to that nightclub downtown?”

“I’m flattered that you’re asking me on a date, but I don’t know if I’m in the mood tonight.” I chuckle to myself, flipping through the channels.

“First of all, you’re definitely not my type.” Amir looks at me like I’m a wad of gum underneath a shoe. “And second, Tia texted me because Amelia’s back in town and they’re over there right now.”

My thumb pauses, hovering over the button as my heart beats faster and faster. Why the hell didn’t he start off with that?

She’s back in town? I heard she was coming back but I didn’t know it was going to be this soon.

“I’ll tell them you’re not coming then?—”

“No,” I interrupt him mid-sentence, already standing and tossing the remote onto the couch. “Give me a minute.”

“Thought you weren’t in the mood?” he calls out from the living room all smug.

“What? I can’t change my mind?” I shout out from my room, quickly slipping on a black hoodie and jeans. Ruffling my hair enough to make it look presentable for her.

A few spritz of cologne. Gotta make a good impression.

About thirty minutes later, I’m walking toward the front entrance with Amir when a hand suddenly rests on my shoulder.

I turn to see a young man smiling at me as he raises his phone.

“Can I get a photo with you? When I found out you got signed with the Vipers, I legit threw a party at my dorm, dude.”

Fans coming up to me will never get old. It’s a reminder of the accomplishments I’ve made in life this far, even though my father constantly tells me otherwise.

I nod, as we snap a quick photo. “Damn, I appreciate that. Hope you didn’t get into trouble with the RA?”

“Uh…the next day I did.” He shrugs, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “But it was totally worth it.”

“What’s your name?”

“Tyler. I’m actually trying to go pro like you next year hopefully,” his voice trembles with excitement.

“Nice to meet you Tyler.” Chuckling, I pat him on the shoulder a few times. “You will go pro, just gotta stop throwing parties and pissing your RA’s off.”

“Will do. Thanks.” He snickers, running back over to where his group of friends are.

“Caleb! Do you and Vanessa Noles still talk?”

“Any comment on the rumors?”

“Have you seen Vanessa since?!”

I halt in my tracks, flashes blinding me before I even make it through the damn doors. The questions hit me from all angles, cameras getting shoved in my face, I can’t see a thing except white bursts of flash.

“Hey, back up,” Amir shouts, grabbing my wrist and dragging me inside. Security shutting the doors before they enter the premises. The bass slams into my chest, vibrating throughout my body, and drowns whatever Amir’s saying to me right now. I nod absently, but I’m not truly listening.

It’s been an entire month since I made headlines, and it still hasn’t died down. Not even close. I’ve never been caught in a scandal before, sure I’ve been in the press about women I was suspected of dating, but this is worse.

No matter what I do, it keeps haunting me.

It all started when pop diva Vanessa Noles invited half of Hollywood to her album release party. Athletes, actors, reality stars, you name it. Things got a little heated between us for a minute and after…all hell broke loose.

The private rooftop was packed with bodies, clinking glasses, and pop music blasting over the speakers. I had a whiskey in hand, the burn crawling down my throat as I found a quiet spot inside, waiting for my best friend to finish flirting with every goddamn woman here.

“Are you avoiding me?” a soft, familiar voice called out.

When I glanced up, it was her. Vanessa.

Her perfume filled the air. It smelt expensive. A smooth mix of cinnamon and honey. Sweet, like her. We chatted a few times at these events, but nothing more. She was just easy to talk to amid the chaos.

“Nah,” I said, taking a small swig of my drink, eyes drifting to the tall window overlooking downtown LA, where brake lights stretched for miles. “Just needed a breather.”

Vanessa groaned and stepped beside me, her hip brushing mine as she followed my gaze. “Do you ever get tired of socializing and all the parties we’re practically forced to attend?”

“Do I?” I huffed with a small chuckle.

“You’re not one to lie, huh?”

“There’s no reason to.” I looked over at her. Blue silk dress, brunette hair, silver sparkly eyeshadow she’s known for. She looked gorgeous, no denying that.

She took my whiskey, brought the glass up to her lips and took a small sip. I couldn’t help but watch her, my hands resting casually along the railing behind me.

“That’s what I like about you.” She handed the glass back, her perfectly manicured fingers brushing mine, making my mind go fuzzy. I should probably take it easy with the alcohol.

“Probably shouldn’t say that.” I took a sip and glanced back out the window again.“Your boyfriend might pop up.”

“Oh…we aren’t exactly together right now,” she said, barely above a whisper. Her pinky interlocked with mine and my body tensed. “We’re sort of on a break? No one really knows, though.”

She’s been dating Cam West for the past two years, the producer behind all of her latest hit songs. A beast on the drums, from what I’ve seen online. I’ve never met the guy but he seemed pretty solid to me.

“Sort of?” I asked, suddenly invested in her love life.

She sighed.“He wanted to work on his album and I needed to work on my upcoming tour.”

“Sounds like an excuse to me.”

“An excuse for what?” she asked, her voice dipping into something seductive that made me clear my throat.

“To see other people.”

“And what’s wrong with that? Space can be a good thing, right?” Her thumb began rubbing slowly across the back of my hand, stirring up some pretty inappropriate thoughts. Damn liquor.

Then she moved in front of me, took my drink, and set it on the floor. When she rose again, her chest brushed against mine, and my gaze dropped…only for a second.

“Have you ever done something that you might regret, but”—she ran her tongue along her bottom lip subtly, keeping those dark amber eyes locked on mine— “you didn’t want to stop?”

Her hands pressed against my chest. I forced myself to lean back an inch, my pulse pounding in my neck.“I have.”

“I’m sort of in the mood for that right now.” A gentle curve lifted her mouth as she closed the gap again, leaning in slowly, cautiously.

This is a bad idea...someone could see us.

“I don’t do messy…” I murmured, even as my mind screamed at me to stop and walk away. But my feet were cemented to the ground.

“Me either,” she whispered. Then her lips were on mine, warm and soft.

Alcohol was fuzzing my brain and for a second I kissed her back.

Then I heard the faint sound of a shutter or maybe I imagined it, but either way it was enough for me to tense up and pull back. “We shouldn’t.”

And want to know what happened later that night? Some influencer posted a photo and we were completely visible in the background when someone opened the doors.

I didn’t even hear the damn thing open.

Cam saw it. He was pretty pissed off and started shading me on his story, and his loyal fans joined him.

Now I’m labeled as being a homewrecker.

I knew I shouldn’t have kissed her back then, but I got too caught up in the moment. They were on a break but the public didn’t know that. As far as they were concerned, I was indulging in an affair, just another reckless “stereotypical” athlete who didn’t give a shit who he hurt.

And that moment? It cost me.

The truth didn’t matter anymore. No one cared. They took the story and ran with it like a goddamn marathon.

Vanessa’s team told her to stay quiet. “Let the rumors die down,” they said.

She went on tour shortly after and that was all it took to wipe the whole incident from everyone’s memory. She was no longer seen as a “cheater” but rather going back to her rightfully claimed beloved pop princess title.

And don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her, she didn’t deserve any of the hate we got, especially since they really were on a break. It was mutual and Cam pulled a dick move for doing that to her.

But me? I didn’t get off the hook that easily. It didn’t matter if I told the truth at that point, Vanessa couldn’t back me up even if she wanted to. So I took the fall.

To this day, every other comment I get is still in connection to Vanessa. People asking if I’ve broken any other homes lately.

Amir and I step further into the dim club, immediately spotting Tia and Maya talking at the booth across from the bar. We excuse ourselves between everyone on the dance floor until we reach them. I need this night out after all.

“Is this seat taken?” I joke, walking up to their table and?—

Holy shit, she looks even more beautiful than I remember. Her long curly hair, tawny bronzed skin, and full plump lips.

“Caleb!” Amelia beams, rising to her feet. My eyes rake her up and down before I pull her into the tightest hug I can, snaking my arms around her waist, pressing her body closer to me. I breathe her in, smelling her shampoo, strawberry, her favorite scent. Glad that hasn’t changed.

Man, I’ve missed how perfectly she fits in my arms, like fitting the final puzzle piece.

I reluctantly pull back enough to meet her chocolate brown eyes. “Hey beautiful, how’ve you been?”

“I’m better now that I’m back.” She looks up at me, smiling. “I’ve missed you.”

That catches me off guard for a moment. I was hoping she wouldn’t be pissed that we haven’t talked much this past year. It’s not like I didn’t want to. That was never the case. Football’s been kicking my ass and I’ve barely had time to breathe.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Most definitely.” She nudges my shoulder and I bite back a grin. “Congrats on being Rookie of the Year, by the way. Driftwear is huge.”

Driftwear’s one of the biggest athletic clothing brands in the country.

They reached out to our general manager because they wanted to feature me on their cover for Rookie of the Year and officially name me as their global ambassador.

It’s a goal many athletes want to achieve and I still can’t believe it’s happening.

“Thank you.” I hold her gaze before she turns to Amir to give him a swift hug.

Then we all squeeze into the booth like some sardines and Maya says something that makes Amelia laugh until she’s clutching her stomach, and I can’t help but stare.

God, I’ve missed that laugh. It’s my favorite sound.