Page 31 of Up In Flames
“That you are, my friend. And I love it.”
“So, is that the only thing you wanted my opinion on?”
“Actually, that wasn't it.” I leaned in. “I assumed the guy writing to me was a Wraith Lord, but I'm starting to think it's Caleb.”
“Oh, shit. That's your ex, right? He's human.”
“Yeah. He keeps giving me these sad looks.” I grimaced. “But that could be because I've been avoiding him.”
“Because you think he's the secret letter guy?”
“No, because Taroc doesn't like him. That normally wouldn't be a problem, but we're still settling into our mating and he's very sensitive right now. I explained it to Caleb the other day, and he seemed to understand but—” I looked up just as Caleb walked in. “Fuck, there he is. Tell me if I'm being paranoid.”
“All right.” Graysen leaned on his elbow and shifted slightly since he was sitting on the outer bench, facing the wall.
As Caleb walked by with Albert, he looked over at me with that same sad expression he'd been wearing lately. Graysen grunted and went back to eating.
I waited until Caleb was at the buffet before I asked, “So?”
“Well, he's absolutely into you,” Gray said. “But I don't know if he's your secret letter man.”
“Why not?”
“Because that guy is a fucking wimp.”
I snorted a laugh. “Don't be a dick.”
“No, I'm serious. You said the letters were sweet, then sexy. They really got to you so I'm assuming there are some strong words in them.”
I thought about it. “They were a little bittersweet at first, maybe even sad, but now that you mention it, they did get stronger.”
“They got stronger, not more wimpy?” Graysen lifted his brows.
“Yeah. He says stuff about where he wants to take me and what he'd do if I were his.”
“Where he wants to take you, eh?” Gray waggled his brows.
“Not like that!” I slapped his arm. “Like out, on dates.”
“He mentioned taking you on dates? Where?”
“Uh, he never names places, just talks about places that are warm, even now, in the dead of winter.”
“Caleb is from here, isn't he?”
“Yeah.”
“How would he know about places like that? More importantly, how would he take you there?”
“Shit, you're right!” I slapped the table in revelation and it just happened to be when Caleb was walking by.
He flinched and looked at me.
“Sorry,” I said. “Hey, Caleb. You remember Graysen, right?”
“Uh, yeah.” Caleb's sad face shifted into hope as he veered to our table. “Hi, Graysen. How's the recruiting going?”
“Oh, it's fucking great.” Gray slapped Caleb's arm. “How are you, Caleb? You guys almost done rebuilding?”
