“I don’t know,” Josh admitted. “Ever since Charlie’s—what happened Ethan?”
“Yeah, you seemed in a good mood before last call.” Kellan’s voice grew closer.
What had happened was I’d made the biggest idiot of myself in front of Grey. I’d barely let him tell me his name in return—which, of course, I’d already known—before fleeing the scene and going back to the table where Kellan and Josh had been waiting.
I could still remember the confusion that had crossed his face as I’d said, “Well, bye,” and left him at the bar. His surprised look was emblazoned in my mind, like he was standing right in front of me as I lay in bed sulking. And what was worse, I couldn’t quite pinpointwhyI cared so much that I’d made afool of myself. It wasn’t like he was the type of person I would typically try to impress. Yet there I was, in bed, replaying my greatest humiliation, like I had been for the past two days.
“Whatever it is, do you think you’re maybe being a bit dramatic about it?” Josh asked kindly.
Thatgot me to remove the covers from my face and glare at him. “How dare you?”
Kellan came over from where he’d been standing behind Josh and sat at the foot of my bed. He didn’t look as worried as Josh, but he was used to dealing with my theatrics. Over the years, it had usually fallen to him to help me get through things while Josh was busy with his much more rigorous coursework.
“Hey, man,” he said in the gentlest of tones. “Whatever happened, it’s okay.”
No, it wasn’t.
“And before you try and fight me on that,it is.”
Whatever.I huffed at him instead of speaking.
“So, what do you say you get out of bed, and we go get some coffee before class?” he continued.
As much as I didn’t want to leave the safety of my covers, I knew he was right. They both were. It was the first day of class. And even if it was syllabus day, I had a history of doing poorly as soon as I permitted myself to skip one class.
“I could go for coffee,” I said slowly.
“Great!” Josh clapped behind Kellan. “Sounds like you two have it figured out. I’ve got to get to A&P.”
Josh left, and seconds later, I heard the door to the apartment close.
“Well, someone’s in a hurry.” I sank farther into my covers.
“He was already running late,” Kellan pointed out.
I didn’t say anything in response. I was grateful Josh had stalled his going to class for me. He was nothing if not punctual under normal circumstances.
“I’m giving you twenty minutes to get dressed,” Kellan said.
I nodded.
He got up and headed to the door, where he paused. “Oh, and, Ethan?”
“Yes?”
“You should probably hop in the shower while you’re at it.”
Showered,dressed, and coffee in hand, I walked through campus with Kellan. It was a pleasantly warm late-August day, and the students milling about showed it. People lay out, reading under the shade of trees. Groups enjoyed food in the sun, and frat boys threw water balloons at each other in a field. Everyone was still in the semester’s honeymoon phase—enjoying being out of the house and not yet bogged down by piles of coursework. As I watched, campus security went to yell at the frat boys over their water balloon fight, earning them several balloons in the face as the guys ran to freedom.
I chuckled in spite of myself. Kellan shot me a hopeful look.
“Feeling better?”
I shrugged. “I guess.” That was as close as I could get to admitting that I was.
“Good.” Kellan seemed to take my words as true. “Anyway, I’ve got to get to class.” He pointed to the math building.
I grimaced. Somehow I’d almost forgotten that we were actually on our way to class, caught up as I was in the ambiance of campus. “Fine.” I did my best to not let it come out as a whine. I mostly succeeded.
