"Oh." Caleb was distracted by Gabe's smile. He hadn't even realized that not leaving is pretty much exactly what he just implied. He hadn't been thinking at all, honestly, beyond introducing Gabe to new bands. "Right."

He absently chews at his lower lip. The promise of a steady job making good money is so hard to pass up, but is it really worth it? He'll have no one in Portland, and at least here, in Siren Cove, he has the one friend who he's felt a meaningful connection with in his whole life.

And maybe he's being presumptuous, but he feels like Gabe needs him. He needs someone to look out for him and have his back, someone who grew up in the same community who knows what it's like.

And maybe he needs Gabe, too.

"Do you want me to?" he asks softly, almost afraid of the answer. If he's reading things wrong.