Page 83 of Should the Sky Fall

“Damn. You weren’t kidding.” He snickers. “It’s kind of funny.”

“I guess,” Dawson admits begrudgingly. While this whole thing is messing with him, he does find amusement in Cal’s antics.

“I still don’t like him.”

Dawson rolls his eyes. “Will you stop stalking me, at least?”

Kieran ponders it for a moment, sharp eyes glued to Cal who’s just being handed his finished drink and looking like an overgrown puppy that just got a treat. “Yeah, seems like you’re safe.”

“Like I’ve been telling you repeatedly?”

“Shut up and place your order. It’s your turn.”

Dawson gets his usual chai and an almond croissant, then nods at Kieran. “Having your usual?” Not that he deserves anything for this stunt, but they always treat each other when they’re somewhere together. It’s hard to break a habit.

“Yup.”

Dawson adds an order of a medium cup with two sugars and goes to pay. He hasn’t even turned on the app on his watch when Cal pushes up next to him.

“I’ll do it,” he announces, pulling out his phone. After a few quick swipes, he places it on top of the card terminal to pay.

Dawson smiles. He had to remind Cal how to use the digital wallet, but he only had to show him once before he picked it up again.

“Did he just buy me coffee?” Kieran asks, appalled.

Dawson gives him a blank look. “You do realize whenever I paid for something it was his money, right?”

Kieran clearly never thought about it like that, because his nose scrunches with distaste. “Yeah but…weird.”

“Well, get over it.”

A loud moan snatches both their attention. They look at Cal to see him sipping his hot chocolate with a blissed out little smile.

“This is amazing,” Cal says to Gabe, making him preen. Then he starts on the donut, his cheeks bulging like a chipmunk.

Dawson sighs. “Great. Now it’s official. He’s addicted to sugar.”

“Beats alcohol addiction, in my opinion,” Kieran mutters. It’s a tasteless joke, but Dawson lets out a small chuckle, because the situation is rather ridiculous.

“When you put it like that…”

“Where do you want to sit?”

“Actually, we need to head out.”

Kieran eyes him critically. “You gonna eat and drink while you drive?”

Cal jumps in before Dawson can answer. “We’re going for a walk.”

Kieran looks at Cal as if he speaks a foreign language. “For a walk.”

Cal nods, smiling as he sips his chocolate. “On the beach.”

“On the beach.” Kieran looks at Dawson. “You’re going for a walk on the beach.”

“Yes,” Dawson says irritably. “A walk on the beach. It helps build up Cal’s lung capacity.”

“Right,” Kieran says in that way that makes it clear how much he thinks this is bullshit. He takes Dawson’s elbow. “A word, Dee?”