Linc nodded. “Yeah. I try to keep things light and fun.”
“Hence Dave and Busters.”
“She loved that, man. Her face was like a kid’s at Christmas.”
“Where have you taken her since? I haven’t seen much of you these last weeks. On the ice, in school and off with Cleo, that’s your MO.”
Linc paused, glue gun in mid-air and narrowed his eyes. Was his friend speaking in subtext? Had he really been gone that much?
“Nope.” Russ held up his hand like a stop sign. “This isn’t me giving you shit. I’m genuinely happy for you. I just want to catch up. I’m not used to this new in-a-committed-relationship, Lincoln Scott. I miss my wing man, that’s all.” He gave a small shrug that poked at Linc’s heart.
“I’m sorry, man. I guess I have been a bit wrapped up in Cleo these last few weeks.”
Russ shook his head. “I get it. It’s all shiny and new. I’m not complaining, or being needy – I really am just curious about what you’ve been up to.”
Guilt pooled in Linc’s stomach as he continued gluing flowers onto the end of pencils and pens. “We did mini golf, thrift shopping for books, we hit up the art institute again…”
He tapped a fingertip on his chin. “Oh, we went out to Twin Spirits distillery and took a tour. We got her some M gin and some Mamma’s Moonshine for you and me. I hid it though, can’t have you drinking it all before we have a guys-only night. We went garage sale-ing last Sunday morning.”
“How are you fitting it all in? You must be exhausted.”
“Not really, it’s fun. It’s nice to be with someone who knows all my deep and dirty secrets.”
“Did you tell her you applied for the art competition?”
“Okay. It’s nice to be with someone who knowsalmostall my deep and dirty secrets.”
Russ arched a brow and narrowed his gaze.
“Don’t look at me like that, Russ. I don’t want to get her hopes up, or have her feeling responsible for my disappointment when I don’t get picked. This is easier, I’ll tell her if anything comes of it, and if not…”
He shrugged. “She doesn’t need to know.” He slipped the last pencil into the jar and straightened the bow one last time before setting it onto the bedside cabinet. “Done.”
Russ opened his mouth, and Linc reached over to cover it with his hand. “Nope.”
Russ shirked his palm. “You don’t get to cover my mouth just ‘cause you don’t think you’re gonna like what’s about to come out of it. That’s not how this works.”
“I can feel your side-eye energy right now, man. I don’t need the words.”
“I think you’re confusing me with Morrison’s sister. No one has side-eye energy like her. It physically burns your skin. Look, I know you don’t want to hear it… but for someone who claims to tell Cleo everything… Linc, you need to tell her this too.”
Unease churned in his gut. “I don’t want to disappoint her.”
“But you won’t. I get that this new and vulnerable Linc is scary and doesn’t quite feel comfortable yet, but she isn’t like everyone else and we both know it.”
Linc clenched his jaw and stood up, picking the bouquet of stationery up from the table.
“Fleeing the conversation?”
Linc nodded. “Going to drop this off before she gets out of work.”
“Linc?”
Lincoln paused, turning his chin to his shoulder.
“You gotta let someone all the way in eventually.”
The idea sent a shiver rattling up Linc’s spine. He walked toward the door.
