“How’s Felix’s hand? I’ve been sick, I haven’t been in class.”
“It’s better. He’s been taking care of it really well.Mostof the time. In that first week he tried to over-exert himself, but I stopped him.” Jacob stopped, suddenly self-conscious. Wasit weird that he was mother-henning his best friend so much? Everybody back home was used to it, but city people seemed baffled by it sometimes.
“Good,” Jack said, thankfully unbothered. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, looking out for him. That kid should wear a leash, with all the trouble he gets into. One time—” He stopped, coughing suspiciously loudly. “Uh, anyway. Glad he’s doing okay.”
Jacob frowned. It sounded like Jack had been about to share a Felix anecdote. Jacob didn’t even know Jackhada Felix anecdote. And didn’t Felix do the same thing a few days ago? He’d started talking about Jack the Hot TA, then suddenly changed the subject.
“Since when do you two hang out?” Jacob asked, his hands tightening around the handlebars.
Jack’s brows shot up. Then he chuckled, and Jacob was infuriated to see he had a dimple. He was Felix’s type, Jacob supposed: tall and muscly with great eyes.Andhe was smart.Andhe could appreciate Felix’s degree a hell of a lot more than Jacob could.
But he couldn’t appreciateFelixlike Jacob could. Nobody did. Jacob had known him his whole life, and loved him for all of it. He just hadn’t realized until this year, because he was pathetically repressed.
Jack is straight,he reminded himself.Quit being jealous.
“Right,” Jack said slowly. “You’retheguy. Forget I said anything.”
The guy,Jacob thought, his heart pounding a mile a minute. Did Felix say something about him? Oh god, did Felixcomplainabout him?
“He said he wouldn’t sleep with you,” Jacob blurted. “He said you're straight, and…”
He wanted to explain the list. How Felix had promised not to sleep with anyone until it was over. But he’d never told anybody about his sex life except Felix, and the words died in his throat. He suddenly felt like he was naked, all his stupid desires flopping out over the damn motorcycle.
Jack rolled his eyes. “We’re not sleeping together. Even if I did bat for your team, that kid isn’t my type.”
“Kid? You’re, like, three years older than us,” Jacob said.
Jack ignored him, as he always did when people pointed out his age. He ran a hand through his greasy hair, wincing when it caught on a tangle and he had to yank it free.
“If he didn’t tell you,” he said, wiping his hand on his stained tank top, “I don’t want to get in the middle of anything. See you, math guy.”
“I’m doing a stats degree,” Jacob called after him. “It’s more than math!”
Jack didn’t reply. Jacob didn’t blame him.
He stood there, white-knuckling the handlebars for a full minute after Jack left.You’retheguy. It sounded significant. It couldn’t be what Jacob hoped, obviously. Felix didn’t date, let alone fall in love. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. Right?
Then again,Jacob thought,neither were you.
Somebody cleared their throat beside him.
Jacob jumped so hard he almost fell over, having to plant his feet so he didn’t drag the motorcycle with him.
“Hi,” said the saleswoman. “Can I help with anything? You look… stressed.”
“I’m fine,” Jacob croaked. He climbed off the motorcycle, feeling like an idiot. He barely got ten seconds of riding it, but he didn’t have any urge to try it now. It wasn’t fun without Felix cheering him on.
CHAPTER 17
One week.
One goddamnweek, Felix reminded himself as he let his head thunk onto the library table. Then the semester ended, and life as Felix knew it ended as well.
It didn’t matter how many times Jacob assured him that nothing would change. That they still had two years of college left, and even when they graduated, they’d still be best friends. But Felix knew the truth. Hell, even if they did live together, things would change. Because now Felix knew what it was like to have Jacob inside him. He knew what it was like to get everything he wanted…almost.
His phone pinged. Felix grabbed it, eager for anything that would distract him from Jane Austen. She was a baller, but there was only so much old-timey speak he could take.
It was Shane. He’d attached a link to the apartment they had viewed last week—plus the lease.U sure u don’t wanna see it before u sign?The text read.They said u can come by next week before they need ur signature.
