Page 47 of Well That Happened

It smells like him in here. Like cedar soap and clean laundry and something warm I can’t name.

I sink onto the edge of his bed, still fully in costume. My corset digs into my ribs, but I barely feel it. Everything insideme’s gone tight and shaky, like my body’s waiting for another blow.

Then there’s a knock.

“Rilee?” His voice is gentle.

I don’t answer.

The door creaks open anyway.

He steps inside, careful, closing it behind him. “You okay?”

“Nope.”

He doesn’t speak. Just walks to where I’m sitting on the bed, crouches in front of me, and rests his hands on my knees.

“Did something happen?”

I shake my head.

“Want me to just sit here?”

I nod.

So he does.

No pressure. No fixing.

Justthere.

And somehow, that feels like the safest thing in the world.

“Want to talk about it?” he asks quietly.

I shake my head, but then my throat tightens and the words are out before I can stop them.

“I kissed Grayson.”

Caleb doesn’t flinch.

Doesn’t even blink.

Just… stills.

For a beat, he says nothing.

Then, “Okay.”

I search his face, bracing for disappointment, judgment,anything.

But all I see is something quieter.

Not surprise.

Not anger.

Just… confirmation.

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