✎Nathan

"I'm sorry sir, but that's the only price we have for that room." The front desk worker gave a sympathetic smile. 

Caleb was insane. $800 for their basic one bedroom?! For ONE night? I can't believe this. This is pretty much my whole budget for this trip gone in one night. There's no way I can swing this. Not if I want to afford my rent next week.

"Caleb, I can't stay here. I have to find a different hotel. This is insane." 

"Dude, it's pride weekend. All the hotels are fully gonna be fully booked this weekend. You're stuck. I'll pay." Caleb said reaching into his pocket for what I'm assuming is his very fancy wallet that stores his very fancy credit card.

"There's no fucking way." I snatched his hand back so fast. Ugh, I hated him. Him and his stupid, everything! No wonder he just had to show up on this very special weekend and destroy everything. 

I should've known! And to top everything off, he just had to drag me here to this insanely expensive hotel and rub it in my face that I had to pay for everything on my own. 

"Dude, calm down. All I'm saying is that you're fucked and I can help you deal with it." 

"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? Always just fixing all my problems, aren't you? My savior, Caleb." I rolled my eyes and stalked away. Pulling out my phone, I tried to pull up some nearby hotels - hopefully in a way lower price tag. I was pretty desperate at this point. It's going to start getting dark soon and the last thing I want is to be stranded in the middle of the city. 

"Let it go. It happened four years ago. I get it, I fucked up." Caleb groaned after me. He clearly checked in because now he had his room key in his hand. 

I kept scrolling down on my phone but he was right. Everything was either out of price range or booked. I was fucked. I looked up to see him handing me another room key card. 

"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, confused. 

"What do you think. Shut up, and come on. We both don't have time for this. We can talk about this more with some drinks in our system." He walked backwards in the direction of the elevator.

As stubborn as I was feeling in this moment, I'm not stupid. He was offering me a free place to sleep. I was stranded and as much as I hated him, I needed the room. 

"Fine." I huffed after him.

This was going to be an interesting weekend.

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"You've got to be joking me..." My mouth fell open as I took in my surroundings. This room was immaculate. The designer in me was in heaven. The chestnut cabinets. The marble countertops. The ceiling to floor length windows along the back wall where you could see the heart of Toronto. My brain was lit up. I didn't know where to look. 

I zeroed in on the bedroom and the big king sized bed. 

"Don't even worry about it. We can make you a cute little bed on the living room couch."

"Oh, I get the couch?" I asked. He gave me a quizzical look before I had to let out a laugh. "I'm kidding." Truthfully it was nice of Caleb to let me stay with him at all. This was saving me tons but I couldn't shake the feeling that hung over us. 

"So, are we going to talk about it?" I sighed, strolling over to the couch. 

"Wait. First drink and then talk." Caleb strolled over to the bedroom side of the room. It was an open concept so there really wasn't anywhere else to look as he slipped his hand behind his head and peeled off his black t-shirt. 

This guy was always topless, even in high school. He just couldn't help it. Flaunting his nakedness everywhere. I shifted in my seat, already uncomfortable. His black thin necklace lay along his collarbone. My eyes drifted curiously over his broad shoulders and strong pecs. I had to hand it to him, he had a rocking body. I did too, I can honestly say since attending the gym regularly and being a big fan of morning runs. I liked to stay tight and it cleared my mind when days got heavy. I hardly realized my eyes had drifted lower to his V-shaped lines pointing directly to his-

"Here." He said pushing a small glass of something in front of my eyes. Was I staring that whole time? 

"Oh, thanks." I cleared my throat as I gripped the cold glass. 'What is it?"

"Vodka and sprite. I kind of just put something together from the mini bar." He shrugged walking around my legs and sat down on the couch beside me. 

This was the most we talked in years. It's weird to think about how close we were years ago. I was always sleeping at his house on the weekends whenever my parents let me. My parents were always working so late so it was nice having someone to go home to. My chest tightened. Until, memories of him stabbing me in the back came flooding in. 

I took a big swig of my drink. 

"Woah there, it's not going anywhere." He laughed taking a sip from his own glass. His arm draped over the back of the couch and I took in his many tattoos that filled his arms. He was tatted up. Very different than my never been touched body. 

I rolled my eyes. He just had to be cooler than me in everything. Isn't he tired?

"Caleb...what are you doing here?" I breathed. 

"I could ask you the same thing, Nathanial." He smiled. 

"Don't call me that." I bit. "It's not my name." 

"It's your name to me." He muttered, slowly tucking in his lower lip in his mouth and biting down. I looked up at his eyes realizing I was staring at what his mouth was doing. Dammit, why does my brain do that? Betraying bastard. 

I shake my head to hopefully snap myself out of it. He's magnetizing to everyone he comes into contact with. It's his thing. He might as well be a supervillain. He captures peoples attention and spits them out once he's done with them, hurting them in the process. 

"Caleb-" I tried again. 

He breathed in deeply and shifted his eyes to his glass in his hands. He clearly doesn't want to say it out loud. But, I need to hear it from him. I have a feeling and I just know I'm not going to like it. Rip it off like a Band-Aid.

"I'm here for Sarah." He breathed out. 

I couldn't help it. I had to laugh. Full body, stomach curdling laugh. This is seriously happening. Again. 

"What's so funny, you psycho!?" Caleb laughed softly beside me. 

"This! You! Of COURSE you're here for Sarah." I shook my head before taking another sip. 

"I'm guessing that's why you're here too." He smiled into his glass. 

"It's her, man. It's always been her." I sighed. Caleb slowly nodded his head looking away from me. I took this as a chance to stare at this face. Objectively speaking of course, he had a pretty perfect face. I didn't want to lose to him. Not again. "I'm not going down without a fight. Not this time." I continued. 

He looked back to me, with his confused ocean eyes. "I wouldn't want you to." He shrugged. 

"Why'd you do it?" I couldn't help but ask. It's been four years and I needed to know. 

Not needing an explanation, he answered, "I wanted you to know she wasn't the one for you. You deserved better."

"But why did YOU do it?" I asked again. 

He took a second to think about it. "I felt like if anyone was going to save you...I wanted it to be me." 

I considered his words. He really wanted to be my whole knight and shining armor. He really picked the worst way to save me. 

"It's getting late." I stated. I was over this conversation and unfortunately there was no where to go. 

He nodded his head slowly before laughing. "It's 8pm." 

"Damn," I laughed back, rubbing my hand on the back of my neck. 

"How about, we make another drink. We'll order some room service and watch an episode of Brooklyn 99?" Caleb shrugged. 

"Yeah, okay. But if they don't have chicken fingers, I'm punching you in the face."

"Chicken fingers, seriously? How old are you - 5?" Caleb laughed standing up and picking up our glasses. 

"Whatever, say what you want man but chicken fingers dipped in sweet chili Thai sauce is unreal."

"I'll take your word for it. I'll be ordering calamari." Caleb laughed. 

"I don't get you." I rolled my eyes as he handed me a drink. 

"I'm just kidding. I'm craving a hamburger." He rubbed his belly dramatically before I quickly gave it a smack hard on his bare skin. He winced out in pain as I laughed hard. 

"No, no, no!" I laughed as he lunged towards me. Pinching my sides. If it was one thing I hated, it was getting tickled and Caleb always knew that and used it against me. I couldn't count how many times during our sleepovers that I'd threaten to throw up if he kept going. 

It's too late. He was on a roll and he knew what he was doing. I toppled on my side as he draped himself over me - pinching and tickling underneath my shirt. 

Suddenly I felt a rush of memories flood back. Him, standing in the hallway, draped over Sarah. His lips locked on hers. His jaw tightening as he was moving his tongue in her mouth. His strong biceps flexing as he pulled her in. 

I was going to be sick. 

"Stop!" I yelled out, way more stern this time. 

He sat up quickly, his laughter slowly fading. "Man, I'm sorry. I didn't-"

"Just, shut up and order us the food. You're paying." I got up off the couch and strolled over to the bathroom that was attached to the bedroom.

Closing the door, I tried to ignore my raging boner that was now very apparent through my shorts.

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Authors Note: 

Uh oh. Boners.