Page 48 of First Kiss with a Mothman

Chapter

Fifteen

MORT

After opening the fridge and scrutinizing the contents, I decide against drinking the last can of Boowery Beer. Distracting myself with water should be fine. My frat brothers need to restock the fridge, and I’m moving away from the booze for now. I want to be completely sober tonight.

For my date. With Arie. My first real date, and his first as well.

I try not to shiver with anxiety and retrieve a glass from the top cabinet. After pouring some tap water from the sink, I take several big gulps. Then, I pace around the kitchen. The only thing that distracts me is more letters hanging off the cubby attached to the fridge; they’re all addressed to me.

More mail from my old agent. What could they possibly want? I’m not the Hollywood mothboy anymore. I really ought to read the letters, but I’ve been too stressed and preoccupied.

I’ve been busy growing closer to Arie. Will he even want me if he learns about all the terrible things I did to become a child actor?

Before I can spiral, I hear various voices walk in from the back. I break my gaze from the letters on the fridge and pace toward the sink. The pledges and brothers enter the kitchen, harkening to the sounds of various bags being placed on the table. It seems the grocery run went well. They’re discussing how to make gelatin shots, and their eagerness screams ‘pledges’. Also, I don’t recognize them, so they must be new.

The only one I recognize strides right up to me. “Well, la dee dah, aren’t you a fancy one?”

I shoot Caleb an unimpressed look and grunt in response. He directs the pledges to scatter throughout the house, then proceeds to move beer into the fridge. “Drink?”

“No, thanks.” I turn back to the sink and focus on the water in my hand. I’ve never been this anxious, not even years ago when I knew thousands of folks were watching me through a camera. Then again, I had the unwavering naive confidence of a child performer back then.

“I like the fit.” When I turn around, Caleb wipes my shoulder. I glance down to make sure I have no lint on my blazer. “It’s very impressive.”

“Thanks,” I murmur.

He studies me and grins. “It’s really good to see you in the kitchen, man.”

I shrug. “I wanted water.”

“This dude must be pretty special to get you to wear fancy schmancy clothes and leave your attic at all.”

My cheeks warm and I rub my face. “I…totally leave my attic sometimes.”

“Going to class and work don’t count.” Caleb stores away more groceries, his tail swishing the whole time. After a beat, he shoots me an amused look. “Having a hookup buddy suits you.”

I bristle. “He’s not just a…” The words die in my throat when I realize Caleb has checkmated him into admitting how I actually feel.

“Oh?” He leans on the sink and puts his hands into his pockets. “So you’re really into him, huh? Glad you got rid of that no-relationships rule.”

“It was never a rule, I just…” I turn and toss out the water I didn’t drink. “Never…”

“Never liked anyone before?”

“Never thought anyone could want to be with me,” I murmur.

Caleb shoots me a perplexed look. “Dude, people lust after you. You were a celebrity for a little while.”

I shake my head, not wanting to think about my childhood. “It’s not about lust. Arie is…”

“That cute blind guy likes you for who you are, prickly antennae and all.”

We both snicker. “Something like that.”

“Aw.” Caleb brushes off more lint from my shoulder. “Well, I’m sure your date will go great. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. If he agreed to your date, he clearly sees something in you.” His smile falls, and he looks down. “Poor choice of words on my part, but you know what I mean.”

“Thanks, man.” Caleb’s words have made me feel marginally less nervous, so we pound fists. “How are things with your human boy toy?”