Page 121 of Shut Up and Jingle Me
I lean against the doorway, watching him move around the small space like he owns it. It shouldn’t hit me the way it does—how ordinary this all feels—but it does. The smell of soap, the steam curling into the air, the sound of him humming under his breath. It’s stupidly perfect.
He catches me staring in the mirror. “What?”
“Nothing,” I say, turning and grabbing my shirt from where it landed on his desk chair. “Just didn’t know mornings could be this good.”
He grins, tugging my hoodie over his head. It’s way too big on him, sleeves halfway down his hands. “You mean you didn’t know mornings could come with sex and charm?”
“Right,” I mutter, slipping on my joggers. “Charm.”
He pulls on his boxers and jeans. Followed by socks and shoes. I move slower as I get ready, watching him more than anything.
He laughs, grabs his beanie, and shoves it on his head. “Come on,” he says. “If I don’t get my peppermint latte before noon, I’m going to combust.”
“You say that like it’s my problem,” I mutter, grabbing my coat.
He just grins. “Everything about me is your problem, Calder. You made it that way.”
He’s not wrong.
Outside, the air’s cold enough to sting, and the walk across campus wakes me up faster than any coffee could. Eli keeps brushing his shoulder against mine, talking about practice drills, about the new assistant trainer, about everything except what last night meant. And maybe that’s fine. It’s enough just tobehere.
The café is warm, windows fogged, the smell of espresso wrapping around us. He orders his latte with extra whipped cream; I go for straight black. We’re waiting when a voice behind us cuts through the chatter.
“Well, would youlookat that? Our resident Grinch in the wild—and holding hands, no less.”
I don’t even turn. “Luke.”
“And me,” Daniel adds, sounding far too pleased with himself.
Eli lights up immediately. “You guys come for caffeine or for the free show?”
Luke smirks. “Why choose?”
Daniel leans his elbow on the counter, grin wicked. “We’ve been waiting for this moment since the calendar shoot, by the way. Finally! The slow burn pays off.”
Eli laughs into his cup. “Told you he’d come around eventually; no one can resist me.”
Luke stage-whispers, “Didn’t realizehe’dcome around quite so literally?—”
“Luke,” I warn, my tone enough to make him snicker harder.
Daniel waggles his eyebrows. “Relax, Calder. We’re happy for you. You’ve officially entered your soft-boy era. Character development, baby.”
Eli’s laughing so hard he almost spills his drink. I take his cup before disaster strikes. “You two finished?” I ask.
Luke and Daniel share a look that meansabsolutely not. If I thought Eli was a menace, I’m pretty sure his friends are exactly the same.
“Enjoy your latte date,” Luke calls as Daniel tugs him toward the door. “Try not to melt the ice off your heart all at once, Grinch!”
Eli’s still grinning when they’re gone. “They like you.”
I stare down into my coffee. “You have a funny definition of ‘like.’”
“They didn’t bite,” he says, nudging me. “That’s affection. For them.”
I huff a laugh despite myself. “They’re menaces.”
“They’re my menaces,” he says proudly, taking his latte back.
