Page 53 of Always Red (Chasing Red 2)

I tensed. His hand tightened against mine as he threw me a worried look.

“It’s actually a dinner party. It’s my birthday.”

His birthday?

I groaned, covering my face with my hands.

How did I not even know his birthday?

I’d never asked, and he’d never told me. Birthdays just didn’t hold good memories for me.

“She throws a party for me now and then at our house. My mom still lives there. You’ll be able to see where I grew up. There’s a lake in the backyard,” he continued excitedly. “I can take you to see my cottage on the property. It’s a small one. Ben, my…dad, and I built it.”

Now I was the one who squeezed his hand to offer comfort.

“When is your birthday?” I asked quietly, ashamed.

His face fell. “You don’t know when my birthday is?” He pouted.

I worried my bottom lip, but then I saw his lips twitch from trying to suppress his lau

ghter.

“Caleb!”

He laughed. “I was born June 25. A big, healthy, handsome baby boy. I know when your birthday is. It’s September 15, isn’t it?”

I felt my shoulders tense.

“I asked Kar,” he clarified. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask about your birthday before. I’ll remember it from now on.”

He threw me a quick look, his eyes searching my face, checking if something was wrong.

“It’s okay, Red,” he said after a moment.

“When is the party?”

“I don’t know the exact date yet, but it’s after finals. So it’s perfect. You have time to get me a gift.”

I pursed my lips to keep from grinning again. “Who’s going to be there?”

“Vampires and werewolves,” he teased. “Just people, Red. I’ll be there beside you as long as you want me to.”

“Will you chew my food and spoon-feed me too?” I fluttered my lashes at him.

He looked blank for a few seconds before he threw his head back and laughed.

Caleb parked his car in the underground garage of his building, got out, and opened my door for me. He reached for my bag before he grabbed my hand and led me to the elevators.

When we entered his apartment, his hand tightened around mine, and I looked up at him.

He was grinning.

I knew how he felt. I was home. We were home.

“I’m just going to get something to drink.”

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