“My friend’s aguy,” I explain. “He’s called Nick.”
“And I assume Nick is sleeping on the old air mattress that probably doesn’t inflate anymore?”
“Yes.”No.“And he says he can sleep on the floor, too. His bed is really hard.”
I freeze the second those last words leave my mouth. How would I know what Nick’s bed feels like if I haven’t been in it?—
“Don’t worry. I can patch up any leaks,” Dad says, putting my nerves at ease a little. “Anyway, your flight gets in while Mom and Iwill be at work, so we’ll probably see you two the day after, since you’ll be jet-lagged as usual.”
“Yeah.” I laugh nervously, trying to lift my mood. “This’ll be a first for Nick, so I’ll have to see how he handles the time difference.”
“Your friend’s ambitious, isn’t he?” Dad’s smile is audible, even through the phone. “Coming to China for his first major trip?”
“Uh…” Swallowing the lump in my throat, I try to think of something that won’t sound too suspicious. “Yeah, he is. Nick’s a funny guy.”
“Great. I’ve gotta run, but I’m looking forward to meeting your friend.”
We sign off, and I walk back to the desk Claire and I are sharing. She has her headphones on, frowning at her tablet, so I don’t disturb her. I still have assignments due after the break, so I work on those to get them out of the way, since I luckily don’t have any more finals.
Nick still has two left—one in a few days for a course requirement, and one for his Chinese class that he’s taking right now.
God, it’s already past seven. Poor guy. Whoever schedules any kind of test past six p.m. needs to take a good, long look at their life. I have Nick’s exam schedule, and I pull it up, noticing that his final is in the exam center down the road from the library, and that it wraps up in fifteen minutes.
We haven’t seen each other too much this week, although it’s all relative—I’ve already been at his place twice since Monday, but that’s compared to essentially alternating nights at each other’s places for the two weeks prior. So needless to say, I could use a hookup. It might make me a lazy fuck, but having Nick ride my dick until my eyes roll into the back of my head sure beats taking care of myself.
I shut my laptop and pack up, pausing when Claire takes her headphones off.
“Where are you going?”she asks.
My cheeks heat, even though I could technically lie and say I’m going home. “Gonna meet Nick. His exam ends soon.”
She sighs, smiling through it. “You’re doing this for a hookup?”
“He’s still my friend. Come on,” I groan as I sling my backpack over my shoulders. “We’ve both agreed to stay casual.”
The skepticism in Claire’s eyes is impossible to ignore. “Okay.” She nods, pursing her lips. “Whatever you say. Have fun.”
I will, I don’t say, heading out instead.
I’d do this for any friend. I’vedonethis for friends before, meeting them after exams, and I’ve had the same done for me. This is nothing more than an innocent, friendly gesture.
Friend.
I repeat the word in my head, even if I don’t need to convince myself.
The choir of commiserating criers in the exam center bathroom is audible even from the main hall, and they sure aren’t the most pleasant soundtrack. I just hope Nick wraps up his exam soon so I don’t have to bear this for any longer than needed.
There’s movement at the door, and I jerk my head up to see Nick sauntering out, his long jean-clad legs propelling him toward me. My mind works in slow motion—he brings an arm up to adjust the backward baseball hat he’s wearing, and he smiles as soon as he notices me.
Jeez, that hat is so fucking hot. Part of me wants to steal it.
Maybe he has spares.
It feels like it takes forever for him to get closer. I don’t know what it is about his backward hat, but holy shit, he looks so damn hot in it, and I can’t stop looking.
Something annoying tells me to close the distance and kiss him right here, but I banish the intrusive thought from my mindalmost as soon as it registers. Instead, I greet him with a punch to the shoulder.
“Hey, how’d it go?” I ask Nick in Mandarin.
