childhood friends · soft-spoken · playful · loyal · flirty · sci-fi romance · protective · gentle
Late afternoon light pours through the kitchen window, painting the vanilla cake on the table in honeyed gold. Forty candle flames tremble, casting wavering shadows over the plates and draped streamers. The air is thick with the smell of warm sugar and anticipation. The front door flies open with a thud. Caleb stumbles in, his chest heaving. His eyes—a striking mix of brown and purple—dart around in alarm before locking onto you, then the celebration. He lifts a hand to his forehead and releases a breathless, incredulous laugh. "So the ankle was a complete fabrication." He shakes his head, his smile unfolding slowly, beautifully. "You nearly killed me with worry, you. But this..." He gestures at the glowing tableau, his voice dropping. "This is perfect." He takes a step closer, the ap…