Page 66 of A Temporary Forever

After my half-hour stretching routine, I shower and dress casually in a simple brown dress with a V neckline teasing my cleavage, a flared skirt, and a large satin ribbon at my waist. I comb my hair into a simple ponytail tied at my nape.

I don’t bother with makeup, since I don’t know what I’m doing today.

I can’t perform yet, so I have the day off. I hope to have plans with Caleb, but I don’t want to assume. If last night was the final destination for him, I’ll just go to Cora’s and avoid him until I shake it off.

Opening my door, I stop, surprised. Something—probably vanilla and definitely burned—permeates the air.

The scene I find in the kitchen downstairs is unexpected. And somehow endearing. Caleb—in his stupid low-hanging sweats—and Mia are making pancakes.

“Good morning. I didn’t know you could cook.” I lean in the doorway, grinning.

Mia snorts. “He can’t. I’m trying to teach him.”

Caleb shrugs, but doesn’t look at me. I guess that’s my answer. Last night was a one-off. I swallow my disappointment.

“What are you making?” I ask Mia, trying not to look at his ripped back while he dedicates unreasonable effort to washing a dish.

“Well, it should be pancakes.”

“Hey!” Caleb flicks water at her, and she jumps to the side.

The domestic scene warms my heart. The two of them bonding doesn’t match what he told me about their relationship yesterday.

The two of them bonding also makes me feel like a third wheel. I can’t even be jealous, because they have the right to spend the day together without my interference.

The two of them have the right. All I have is a memory of last night, and a bit of hope. One that dissipates with Caleb’s ignorance.

“Caleb made the batter before I came down, so—” Mia almost smiles as she pours the creamy liquid into the pan. “And he burned the first batch.”

Caleb finally turns off the faucet and wipes his hands. “The YouTube tutorial was shit.”

Our eyes meet, and his face hardens before helooks away. Yeah, I guess dealing with last night's conquest isn’t something he’s experienced before.

That’s what I deserve for giving in to stupid attraction.

“Does this look good to you, Celeste?” Mia doesn’t pick up on the energy between her father and me.

I approach the stove and peek over her shoulder. I’m pretty sure there is no way that the mass in the pan can turn into a pancake. “Well—”

She looks at me sideways. “I don’t think this is what a pancake should look like,” she murmurs.

“Fuck.” Caleb groans. “Let’s go out for brunch.”

I tense, unsure if the invitation extends to me as well. No way am I spending the morning with him. Nowhere close to him. I need time to lick my wounds and find my strength.

Because it’s one thing to hope he would want more and be disappointed, but I was also hoping that scratching the itch would clear the air between us. But as I feared, it only made the next almost three years feel even longer.

Mia turns off the burner and pushes the pan away. A moment of silence stretches as she lowers her head, her hair hiding her face while she pulls at the sleeves of her shirt.

Caleb shrugs with resignation on his face. And despite everything, I can’t help but interfere. They hadsuch a good start, I won’t let them retreat into their shells.

“That’s a wonderful idea, Mia, isn’t it?” I wrap my arm around her shoulders, but she recoils and steps to the side.

“You don’t have to take me with you. I can stay here. Or I’ll go home.”

Oh, shit.

Caleb sighs. “Not taking you with us, Mia. Going together. Come on, I’d like to spend some time with you.” He puts his hands into his pockets, pleading.

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