He stood remarkably close, a proximity I had never experienced with Caleb before. His face hovered barely an inch from mine, and I could feel the warmth of his breath caressing my skin. Despite my previous assumption of him being a perpetually warm-blooded individual, the tip of his nose grazing my cheek revealed an unexpected coolness. A shiver ran down my spine, a stark contrast to the warmth emanating from his breath, which carried the soothing scent of mint. It was a different fragrance, a departure from his usual aura. The vanilla undertones were strangely appealing, even though I harbored no affection for Caleb. I had grown accustomed to his presence and perhaps comprehended the reasons behind his years of aloofness, but liking him remained off the table.
Feeling peculiarly entrappe
