❝Not into fancy clothes, I'm rockin' baggy jeans

Gettin' too close for comfort

But comfort is what I need.❞

- Anne-Marie, Perfect.

I eyed the last piece of pizza that stayed in the box, and I knew Kaleb's eyes were on it too. I brought my eyes to Kaleb's, narrowing them as I spoke up, "So, you're saying I should throw myself at him?"

"No, Rae," he rolled is eyes. "What I'm saying is, be there—"

"I told you he's only there for a job. He never orders anything, so how do I be there?" I said the last two words mimicking him.

"Who says you have to stop going to ask him if he needs anything. That's what I'm saying, Rae, be there. At least, let him tell you he wants you to stop coming to meet him. Until then, keep going. Keep asking."

"Just ask what he wants?"

"Yep. He'll get used to how you come every time. He'll get used to your presence."

I nodded slowly, "Right. Got it."

"Also, don't try too hard. Don't try to make conversation like you've been doing. Just do your duty."

"But if I don't make conversation, I'll never know his name, and he'll never know mine because I haven't gotten my name tag yet. Don't you get it? I want him to be the father of my kids."

Kaleb burst out laughing.

"What's funny now?" I rolled my eyes.

"Oh, the look on your face is. You look so serious. Rae, relax. You really shouldn't try too hard. It's a turn off. I know where this will all lead to if we stick to the plan, so, let's do that?"

I bit my lip as I went quiet before finally looking at Kaleb, "Are my boobs okay?"

He grabbed my shoulder and nodded, "They are perfect. I was only pulling your legs when I said what I said earlier. I mean, sure, some guys have a preference for boobs—" He slapped my hand away as he spoke, seeing that I had reached to take the last piece of pizza. He reached to take it and I slapped his hand away too.

"I should be the one to take it. I remember while I was eating a slice, you were on your second piece."

"It's not my fault you were eating too slowly."

"Just leave it, Kaleb."

"I paid for the pizza, I should eat last of my money."

"You're a guy, for Pete's sake. You should be a gentleman. How do you even have a girlfriend?"

"One, I'm hot-"

Cocky idiot.

"- Two, of course I would be a gentleman and impress Sydney or whatever girl that's not you. You know darn well I won't try to impress you."

"Of course," I mumbled. "You can't take a dump in Sydney's house."

The door opened and Kaleb's mom, Phoebe poked her head in, "Kaleb, Hudson wants to talk to you. Call him before the day ends-"

While Kaleb nodded and said an 'okay', I remembered that I hadn't called, my parents even after Tanner had told me to. I had to call them at least tonight or tomorrow morning.

"-Renée, you have to stay for dinner. I looked online for healthy dinner recipes and I saw one I know you and Kaleb will love."

"Really? What is it?" I asked her, a smile on my face.

"Beef stew and spinach pitas," she said proudly.

"Sounds good," Kaleb said.

"Exactly what your dad said. I can't wait for you guys to try it," her eyes sparkled before they fell on the box of pizza between us.

"Something tells me you're both arguing on who should take the last piece."

I rolled my eyes, "Tell Kaleb to just give it to me," I turned to see him chewing on something, wiping the corner of his mouth and I immediately looked down at the box.

Empty.

"You greedy human, you ate it!" I shrieked and Phoebe chuckled, closing the door and leaving us which was good because I was so ready to pounce on Kaleb.

I let out a sigh as I threw my bag on the counter in the kitchen, seeing Tanner seated and working on the island table.

"Hey," I greeted.

"Hey? Don't I get a hug or something?" He looked up from his laptop, a silly grin on his face and I tiredly walked to him and wrapped my arms around him.

"You hungry?"

I shook my head, "Nope. I had dinner at Kaleb's and the food was great and so satisfying."

"Well you look tired."

"Tanner, I'm so confused," I countered, hopping on the long stool by the island table, facing him.

"What's up?"

"So Logan asked me out on a date tomorrow night and I totally forgot I agreed to go out with him. I just remembered when he texted me on my way home from Kaleb's," I said.

"So," he dragged the word, "Why are you confused?"

"I don't like Logan that way. I don't want to go on the date," I explained.

"Why did you agree to go, then?" His eyebrow was raised.

"The yes just came out!" I threw my hands up in the air.

"That's tough," he sighed. "But I think you should go."

"I don't like him that way," I rubbed my temples.

"Well you said yes. You never know what could happen. You just might fall in love with the way he eats," he chuckled.

I wanted to tell him about the guy at the bakery by I didn't, so I sighed and nodded before getting off the stool and grabbed my backpack from the counter.

"Love you," I told him, walking to my room.

"Love you!"

"I can't believe I forgot I had a date with Logan tonight," I said to Kaleb the next day. "Why didn't you remember?!"

"What are you on about, Rae, I already told him you wouldn't be able to make it."

My eyes widened at his words, then I grabbed my phone from under my pillow and tapped the screen, seeing a text from Logan

I smiled and looked up at Kaleb, "You told him I was ill?"

"Yep," he nodded. "And that you were too ill to text."

"You're my lifesaver!' I flung my arms around him.

"Yeah, I know, now get ready because we're hanging out today."

"Yes!" I said excitedly, "And I'm in the mood for some frozen yogurt."

"I crave ice cream so bad. We should go to Salt and Straw," he paused. "Right now, I need to go steal a waffle from Tanner. Don't take too much time, Rae, seriously."

I rolled my eyes as he made his way out of the room.

More than half an hour later I went down the stairs dressed in a somewhat baggy high waist jean tucked in with a small T-shirt.

"Aw, look at you looking good in your grandma jeans," Kaleb said from the refrigerator, taking out a gallon of milk.

"They're called mum jeans, idiot," I walked to where his plate sat on the counter, taking a bite of his half eaten waffle, "Let's leave already."

Just then, Tanner came into the kitchen, "Kaleb completely ate my waffles."

"They were good," Kaleb gulped down his glass of milk, "Thanks man."

He looked at Kaleb, shaking his head before he let out a breath, "You two should just be safe," then he turned to look at me, "And be back on time to prepare for your date."

"Yeah, about that," I said slowly, "Its cancelled."

"Well, good for you, and bad for you because Kendall is coming over."

"I'll go to Kaleb's to chill, then."

Me and Kaleb sat in Salt and Straw, a strawberry yogurt with almonds and white chocolate in front of me while Kaleb spooned a chocolate Brownie ice cream into his mouth. We had spent at least ten minutes deciding on what to get exactly.

"We have to get Tacos after," Kaleb spoke, sounding funny as he tried to talk through his teeth freeze.

"That's like a tradition," I chuckled, shaking my head as my eyes darted to the counter before widening. Immediately, I turned to Kaleb, "That's him."

"Who?" He asked in confusion.

"The guy from the bakery."

Immediately, Kaleb turned to look in his direction, "His shoes are cool. That's what I've been trying to bribe Hudson into buying for me."

"Yeah..." I said absentmindedly.

"What's on your mind right now?"

"I can't believe he's here."

"You should go talk to him. Just a simple greeting will do. Nothing extra."

"Are you sure?" I swallowed.

"Of course. Don't forget the rule. Be there. Let him know you're around."

"Okay, do I look fine?" I patted my cheeks.

"There's yogurt in your hair and there's a tear by the side of your T-shirt."

I gasped and looked down at my T-shirt, my hand in my hair, "Why didn't you tell me before?!"

"Because I'm just kidding," he laughed and I let out a breath, rolling my eyes. "You're an idiot."

"No, but you will be if you let him leave that counter without you saying something to him."

"Yeah, fine. I'm going." I got up from the seat. Taking a deep breath, I slowly made my way to the counter where he now stood, tapping his fingers against the marble counter waiting to be attended back to. I was just going to say something when I heard his voice, "Shouldn't you be working today?"

My heart skipped a beat and I licked my lower lip, a smile forming on my face as I retorted, "Shouldn't you be doing the same?"

He shrugged, "I get to have off days."

"So do I," I repeated his action, looking at him in the eye while he stared right back, "I see..."

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"I-"

"I mean, I know you're here to get yogurt or ice cream, so I kinda know what you're doing here... I- I was just surprised you're... here." I knew I was babbling and that was something Kaleb warned me against doing.

He looked at me, amused before chuckling. It was the first time I'd seen him smile or even hear him laugh so lowly and it made me feel giddy.

"I could have been here for something else, but yeah, ice cream," he said and I was going to tell him I came for frozen yogurt but that seemed a bit irrelevant, so I said instead, "Right, uh, I have to go now. Have a good day?" I walked away, a smile on my face.

I got back to my seat to see Kaleb on my yogurt and I pulled it back to me, glaring at him.

"How did it go?" He grinned.

I took a spoon of yogurt, "I think it went okay. I kinda rambled at a point but that aside, he actually smiled. Like, he chuckled," I sank low in the seat. "He's so cute."

"That's a bit of progress,"

I looked back to the counter where I left him standing but he wasn't there anymore, though I caught him walking to a seat by the window, two tubs of ice cream in his hands as he got to a table where a girl with red and puffy eyes sat.

I didn't even know who she was but my heart broke for her.

●