I'm Not Yours

20. Treacherous

"This slope is treacherous. This path is reckless. This slope is treacherous...I like it"

Act...normal...

Diego and I head back outside, clean plates in hand, as I try to forget what just happened. I try to not think about the fact that my brother nearly caught Bucky and me in a very compromising position, or that while Bucky was hiding my brother insinuated that he was jealous of Caleb giving me a gift, or that in front of one of my two friends with benefits I had to have a conversation about another guy and whether I may or may not have considered dating him.

God I'm messy.

But like I said, I'm not thinking about that, and instead just focusing on enjoying the wonderful party my friends and family made for me.

"Where's Bucky?" I ask, looking around and not seeing him.

Obviously, because I know exactly where I left him. But no one else knows that so I have to play dumb.

"He spilled his drink on his shirt and went to change." Clint says as he takes the plates from me and starts setting them up.

What?! That's the excuse he gave? Changing a shirt takes no time at all, why was he trying to do so much with so little time. Wait...did his shirt have a stain when we were in the kitchen? Well considering what we were doing I can't imagine I would have paid too much attention to anything that wasn't his fingers inside of me.

I look over at Steve and see his lips pressed together, trying to contain a smile as he helps set up the table. I'm starting to think he knew exactly where Bucky was and what he was doing.

I'm about to go ask him about when I see Cisco over on the other side having a conversation with Caleb. And while I can't hear what they're saying, based on how tense Caleb looks, I can't imagine it's anything good.

I immediately rush over before Cisco says anything stupid, if he hasn't already done so. "What are you doing?" I say, giving him the biggest look of disbelief.

"What?" Cisco asks, trying to feign innocence. "We're just talking."

"I can see him sweating from over there." I say, grabbing Caleb's hand and pulling away from my brother, who apparently finds this all amusing. I'm sure me taking Caleb by the hand isn't going to settle any suspicion that apparently both of my brothers have, but I could not let Caleb get grilled by Cisco when there isn't even anything going on.

"Thank you for that." Caleb chuckles out when we're far away enough. He was putting on a good front, but you could tell he was a little uncomfortable.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't think he was going to go 'protective brother' on you." I say, realizing I should have known this might happen considering the conversation I had with Diego. This is so much more embarrassing considering there is nothing actually going on between us.

Caleb smiles, not seeming as bothered about this as I am. "It's okay. It actually wasn't that bad. I just didn't know what to say to him." He hesitates, letting out a nervous laugh before continuing. "He asked if we were dating, to which I answered no. But then he asked why not and I didn't really know how to answer that."

Oh my god I'm gonna kill him.

I can feel my cheeks heat up with embarrassment at the fact that I put Caleb in this situation. I can't fully be honest with him, but I should just be upfront that, at least right now, nothing is going to happen.

But before I can work up the nerve he continues. "Cali, I know I haven't brought it up again, but I hope you know it's not because I'm not interested anymore, because I am." Oh shit. "I just know you've been dealing with a lot since that mission and I wanted to give you support without any pressure." I'm an awful person. "Just know that I'm here whenever you're ready...if you're ever ready...or want to...I didn't mean to assume..." He nervously rubs the back of his neck. "Shit." he whispers, clearly not wanting to have said the wrong thing.