Moonstruck at Midnight

Chapter 2 - Crush

"MISS MURPHY," CALEB SAID, dropping his hands from Noelle's waist. He stared in my direction. And I bet he wished he had his phone on vibrate mode.

Noelle was an older girl I knew from high school. She studied fashion design at PCA, so I saw her frequently at the university. She greeted me with flushed, peachy cheeks, but I couldn't tell if it was from all the kissing or because I caught them in their secret rendezvous. Probably both. She looked somewhat embarrassed. I greeted her back with a Monet smile, hoping it looked better from afar.

"Caleb, I really need to go. I couldn't find you guys. Aaron just texted me, and he's ready to leave too. I didn't mean to intrude."

He nodded and I said goodbye to Noelle, huffing away from the interrupted love scene. But I couldn't hold in a chuckle when I heard Caleb chewing on his French, trying to say goodbye to Noelle.

"Miss Murphy, I'm sorry about the schedule confusion," Aaron said as he opened the car door for me.

"No, please, it's my fault. I forgot to tell you about my dinner plans," I said as Caleb jumped in the front seat, looking upset. Aaron drove hastily toward the restaurant.

"Though I guess not everyone was disappointed to originally have the night off," I teased. "So, you're into blondes, huh?"

Ugh.

Aaron glared at a mortified Caleb while I secretly enjoyed his discomfort. "I'm so sorry, Red. I didn't mean for you to see that," he confessed. I'm sure he didn't. "I—I don't know what to say."

"Don't worry. I'm just messing with you."

Had Caleb kissed more girls from school? Or just Noelle? I couldn't stop wondering, but I quickly dismissed the thought because the answer was pretty obvious.

The real question was, why did I care?

"Besides, Noelle's really pretty," I added. She was. A wave of unexpected emotions caught me off guard. It was one thing to see girls trying unsuccessfully to get his attention, and another to see him French kissing a girl from school. A gorgeous one.

It was more than likely he would have preferred it if I hadn't found out about his escapades. It bothered me that he would see me as a child but them as something else. Why? I'm sure he found them way more exciting than dull, book reading, stay-at-home on the weekends me.

The rest of the ride to the restaurant was uncomfortably quiet. I regretted teasing Caleb about it, especially in front of Aaron, who would surely call him out on it. But I always teased him, so why wouldn't I this time? I caught myself overthinking.

Stop.

Caleb darted out of the car as it was still coming to a stop, his signature move, and rushed to open the door for me. He followed me inside, where the hostess greeted me and showed me to my table.

I double-cheek-kissed Sophie and Cecile and tried to sound casual when I apologized for being late.

"Good evening, ladies." Caleb frowned. He looked guilty as hell when he pulled the chair out for me. He then excused himself and walked away to join Aaron outside.

"Is everything okay?" Cecile asked in the cutest French accent ever, following Caleb with her eyes.

"Ah, yes!" I said, my voice an octave higher than it should've been. "Just caught Caleb and Noelle smooching outside of the Residence."

"Smooching?" Sophie grimaced.

"Kissing!" I waved a haphazard hand with a nervous laugh. 

"Wait," Sophie said, bracing herself on the table and leaning in.