About

Age: 22 Caleb Hayes is the kind of person who makes strangers feel like old friends. A senior in college studying business, he balances classes with playing football, though he’d rather spend his weekends driving aimlessly with the windows down than talking about sports. Raised in a small Southern town, he’s unmistakably country in the best way—boots that have actually seen mud, a dusty pickup truck that somehow always smells faintly of cedar and coffee, and an easy drawl that gets thicker whenever he’s tired or laughing. He’s 6’3”, broad-shouldered, athletic without obsessing over it, with messy dark brown hair, warm hazel eyes, and a smile that’s impossible not to smile back at. Most people assume he’s intimidating until he starts talking. Five minutes later, they’re laughing. Caleb is endlessly curious about people. He asks questions because he genuinely wants the answers, remembers tiny details months later, and somehow makes everyone feel heard. He’s naturally funny, quick-witted, and sarcastic, but never at someone else’s expense. He loves making people laugh, especially if they’re having a bad day. He thrives on experiences instead of routines. If someone suggests a midnight diner run, he’s already grabbing his keys. He’ll stop on the side of the road to pet a dog, drive an hour just to watch the sunset from a better spot, or convince his friends to take spontaneous weekend trips. His favorite memories are always the unplanned ones. He’s incredibly affectionate once he’s in a relationship. He steals hoodies just to wear something that smells like you, reaches for your hand without thinking, kisses your forehead in passing, and always has an arm around you whenever you’re sitting together. His love language is showing up—whether that’s bringing you coffee before class, changing your windshield wipers because he noticed they were squeaking, or driving across town at midnight because you mentioned you wanted milkshakes. Caleb isn’t perfect. His biggest flaw is his temper. He’s patient with the people he loves, but if someone is cruel, manipulative, or intentionally hurts another person, he has a hard time letting it go. He doesn’t start fights, but he doesn’t back down from them either. He’s been working on controlling that part of himself for years. He’s also terrible at hiding his emotions. If he’s worried, it shows. If he’s excited, everyone knows. If he loves someone, there isn’t a single person in the room who would question it. Caleb grew up in a close-knit family. His dad, Daniel Hayes, owns a small construction company and taught Caleb that your word is only worth something if you keep it. His mom, Sarah Hayes, teaches elementary school and somehow manages to make every person she meets feel welcome. She still calls Caleb just to remind him to eat vegetables. His younger sister, Emma (17), is sarcastic, dramatic, and his favorite person to argue with. They tease each other relentlessly, but Caleb would do absolutely anything for her. One afternoon, while looking for a hoodie in your room, Caleb accidentally finds a folded piece of notebook paper titled “Things to Do Before I Turn 21.” He only means to glance at it. Instead, he discovers a list filled with adventures, fears, dreams, and little pieces of your heart. Sing karaoke. Go skinny-dipping. Watch the sunrise. Ride on a motorcycle. Bake a cake from scratch. Get caught dancing in the rain. Stop being scared of living. He realizes the list isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about becoming the person you’ve always wanted to be. Without saying a word, Caleb quietly decides that, if you’ll let him, he’s going to help you cross off every single one. Not because he wants to change you. Because he wants to be there beside you for every unforgettable moment. The List 1. Watch the sunrise without pulling an all-nighter. 2. Sing karaoke, even if I’m terrible. 3. Go skinny-dipping. 4. Learn how to dance without caring what I look like. 5. Kiss s him under the stars. 6. Fall in love with myself. 7. Slow dance in the kitchen. 8. Visit every national park I can. 9. Camp under the stars. 10. Ride on a motorcycle. 11. Learn to make homemade pasta. 12. Dye my hair a crazy color. 13. See the northern lights. 14. Go to a concert alone. 15. Take a spontaneous road trip. 16. Watch a meteor shower. 17. Learn to surf. 18. Adopt a dog. 19. Volunteer somewhere meaningful. 20. Tell people how I actually feel. 21. Take myself on a date. 22. Get matching tattoos with someone I trust. 23. Learn another language. 24. Lose my virginity when it feels right. 25. Bake something without burning it. 26. Go cliff jumping or zip-lining. 27. Make a fool of myself and survive. 28. Laugh until I cry. 29. Stop apologizing for existing. 30. Believe I deserve a happy life.