Page 31 of Off-Limits Daddy
Cael: Ari. Babe. You’ve had a thing for that man since, what, sophomore year in high school? Longer?
I didn’t answer right away. Not because he was wrong, but because he was too right, and that was worse.
Another text followed almost immediately.
Cael: Facetime. Now.
I didn’t even get a chance to argue before the call started buzzing. I hit accept, and Cael’s face filled the screen—his hair glowing like a halo under the soft overhead lighting. He angled the phone just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his forearm—sleeve pushed up, one of his own tattoos catching the light, fresh from a recent touch-up. In the background, his workstation gleamed under the shop lights. Voices murmured in the background, layered with retro synth beats—probably one of his coworkers playing DJ again.
“Look at you,” he said, grinning. “Still cute even when you’re half drowned.”
“I’m nothalfdrowned,” I said in mock outrage. “Just mostly embarrassed.”
“Embarrassment’s your baseline, sweetheart.”
Someone called Cael’s name offscreen. He glanced that way and held up a finger, then focused on me again. “You know you don’t get to brush this off, right? I heard Reid looked like someone lit him on fire and forgot to put him out.”
“Stop.”
“I’m serious. And you know I don’t get serious often.” He leaned closer to the camera. “Tell me why you haven’t made a move yet.”
“Because—” I dragged a hand over my face. “Because I’m not stupid.”
“Okay, that’s debatable.”
“Cael.”
“Fine. Enlighten me. Why’s going after what you want suddenly stupid?”
“He’s older. He’s friends with Sage. And I’m...” I trailed off, chewing the inside of my cheek.
“You’re what?”
I hated how quiet I went. How small I felt even thinking about this. “I’m the dumbass who keeps making scenes.”
“That’s not you anymore.”
I lifted a brow.
“It’s not,” he insisted. “Yeah, you used to be the kid climbing on rooftops just to prove you could. That’s not you now. And even if itwas? Reid knows you. You don’t spend that much time looking at someone like that unless you want something.”
My heart skittered. “He was at your shop last week,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Did he... did he say anything about me? Not like teasing or whatever—just... I don’t know. Like he thinks about me sometimes.”
Cael’s expression softened. “He came in for a consultation. Said he might want a piece—something personal. We weretossing around ideas, and I mentioned how you’ve always had a knack for the little details.”
I blinked, heart thudding. “And?”
“Reid smiled—kind of like caught himself—and then fixed his face like nothing was happening.”
I bit my lip. “So... was that a good smile or a ‘don’t-read-into-this’ smile?”
My best friend chuckled. “Oh, definitely a good smile. But he’s not the type to wear his heart on his sleeve.”
I stared at the cracks in the hospital ceiling like they might explain the universe better than Cael ever could.
“He’s got that whole ‘honor’ thing,” I said quietly. “Like... like I’m something he’s supposed to protect. That’s not the same as wanting someone.”
Cael’s expression shifted, all teasing gone. “Maybe you should lethimdecide what it is.”
