Page 85 of Should the Sky Fall

Dawson flips him off and nearly spills his drink when Cal manifests next to him.

“Everything okay?” he asks with a frown.

“Jesus, you gave me a scare,” Dawson laughs breathlessly.

“I’m sorry,” Cal says. “You looked upset.”

“Kieran is just being a shit,” he explains, but Cal looks confused. “He was worried about how we’re handling the…situation.”

“Oh. That’s nice of him.”

“Uh-huh.” If only Cal knew. “Ready to go?”

“Yeah.”

“Wait, what’s that?” Dawson points at the paper bag in Cal’s hand.

Panic flashes across Cal’s face.

“The donut.”

“If that’s the donut, why is there chocolate on your lips?”

Cal wipes his mouth, but it’s no use. Dawson snatches the bag, opening it. “Cal!” He dangles the chocolate donut in front of him like evidence of crime.

Cal sputters. “Gabe made me take it!”

“Hey!” Gabe calls out indignantly. “You weren’t supposed to tell!”

“I’m sorry! I panicked!”

Dawson is seriously starting to rethink his choices. “Gabe, stop enabling him.”

“But he looked so sad.”

“Gabe…”

“Gosh, you’re such a slavedriver!”

“I wasn’t going to eat it now,” Cals says guiltily.

“Good. Then you won’t mind if I keep it and give it to you later.”

Cal pouts all the way to the beach, but at least he looks a little happy about his hot chocolate. Because Cal now loves hot chocolate, of course he does.

“Hot chocolate, huh?” Dawson asks with a chuckle.

Cal hums happily, extending the cup to Dawson. “Want to try?”

Smiling, Dawson shakes his head. “I’ve had it. I know it’s good.” He raises his own cup. “I prefer chai, though. Try it.”

Cal takes the cup, his expression intrigued. He seems thoughtful as he takes a small sip, then a bigger one. “It’s…strong. But good.” He gives an approving nod.

“Yeah, lots of spices. This is Zeke’s recipe. He doesn’t go easy on the cardamon.”

“Gabe wrote you a message,” Cal says, turning the cup in his hand.

“He did?” Dawson reaches for it. How did he miss it? Probably because he was too preoccupied with getting Kieran off his back and making sure Cal doesn’t eat himself into a sugar coma.