Caleb's response genuinely caught me off guard. He'd always treated me like a younger sister, occasionally teasing me but never crossing any boundaries.

But today's "joke" felt like it had gone a step too far.

Alex, too, seemed surprised. His gaze shifted between the two of us, scrutinizing the dynamic. Meanwhile, Caleb walked right up to me, ignoring Alex entirely. "Let's head inside," he said casually.

I gave Alex a polite nod and followed ...