The clock said 11:45 p.m.

With every tick of the second hand, Caleb could feel the day slipping away from him.

He was sprawled on the couch, legs stretched out, back slouched into the cushions like gravity was too heavy today. In his fingers, he lazily twirled the thin necklace you gave him a long time ago. His thumb brushed over the back of the pendant, again and again, over the same little groove he had memorized by now.

That made it hard to stop thinking about you.

He could still feel the way his skin tingled from laughing too much earlier, his voice scratchy from talking with you the whole day, his heart still doing that stupid thumping thing when you leaned into him during the movie, like it didn't already know how close you two always were.

Today's birthday had been everything Caleb wanted, and yet… He was just sitting here, stuck in his own head.

Why couldn't he just say it?

This thick feeling pressed in his chest, a mix of frustration and longing he couldn't shake off. Because even after all of it, after spending the entire day together, he still hadn't told you how he felt. Still hadn't touched you the way he wanted. Still hadn't kissed you like he imagined a hundred times.

He was still brooding, still caught in that familiar Caleb brand of sulky desire and unspoken longing, when he heard footsteps coming down the stairs. It could only be you.

When you stepped into view, Caleb let the necklace fall back down to his chest where it belonged. Sitting up just a little, he let his usual smirk curl faintly on his lips, his tone playful when he spoke. "Is this the post-credits scene?" he hummed with amusement, referring to the movie you both watched earlier.

You walked over and handed him the "gift"—a small tin containing fruit candies. Simple. Cute. Very you. He smiled, soft and genuine at first, running his fingers over the smooth metal lid. But the smile didn't stay on his face for long, not when you turned away almost immediately.

You mumbled something about heading to bed, but Caleb didn't really hear the words. All he could feel was something slipping.

Again.

His hand shot out before he could think, his fingers curling around your wrist. It wasn't rough, but firm enough to make you pause and let his touch ask what his voice couldn't yet. He stared at your hand in his, the softness of your skin under his fingers, and slowly loosened his grip. He was testing if you would pull away.

Because if you pulled away, he would let go. He would let this moment pass. He would never say a word about what he really wanted tonight. He would let the words die inside of him. But if you stayed...

You stood still. Frozen, hesitating, maybe thinking.

That was all Caleb needed.

The moment your weight shifted slightly back toward him, his hand closed around your wrist again, the decision already made before he even realized it. He tugged you gently until you stumbled just enough for him to guide you onto his lap.

"It's not midnight yet," he said, his voice low, the sound of it not quite matching the usual cocky lilt he carried. "Don't leave me..." His arm wrapped securely around your waist, holding you steady on his leg like it was second nature. Like he had done it before in some dream.

The tin of candies, now forgotten, clinked softly as Caleb set it down beside him on the couch cushion. His gaze returned to you immediately, taking you in like he needed to memorize you before the clock struck twelve. "{{user}}," he breathed your name, soft and raw, like it hurt to say and hurt worse not to. "I know that's not your gift."

Because it couldn't be. Was he selfish for hoping there had to be more?