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“So, this is a date?” Marcus’s smirk grew as Jack felt himself get more self-conscious under the inquisition.
I wish. “No, just getting my phone back.”
“And yet you spend an hour getting ready ‘just to get your phone back.’ Yeah, that’s so you.”
He shrugged. “It wasn’t an hour.”
“Ha!” Marcus nearly leaped off his bed. “I knew something’s going down.”
Seeing how excited his brother was, Jack laughed. “Okay, I’ll tell you, just keep it quiet.”
Marcus rolled his eyes. “That’s me, Gossip Girl. Just tell me what’s up. You know I’d tell you if it was me.”
“Only because you’d want my advice.” Jack grabbed a pair of socks and sat on his bed, facing Marcus. “I don’t really know….”
“Aw, c’mon—”
He threw the clean socks at Marcus, hitting him squarely in the nose, then stifled a smirk at the startled look that passed over his brother’s face. “Shut up and let me finish. I gotta leave soon, so if you wanna find out, zip it.”
Marcus tossed the socks back. Jack caught them with a grin and slipped one on each foot as he spoke. “I don’t really know what’s up, but I thought there was something there. He was a bit too friendly for a straight guy. Which means, given how well I spot my own kind, he is totally straight and was just being nice.”
“Too friendly? What’d he do? Grab your junk?” Marcus grabbed his crotch for emphasis.
Jack retrieved his sneakers. “Bro, you’re too much. I just meant he…. I don’t know. I’m probably being fuckin’ stupid, but he smiled at me more than once, bought me a mocha, and didn’t seem upset when I sat down with him.” On the other hand, Ed didn’t try to make him stay, either.
“From that you determined he’s into you?”
“Dude, I already said he’s probably not, but….” Jack stared at his black Adidas Sambas, refusing to look up. Before he put them on, Marcus joined him on the bed. A nudge came to Jack’s shoulder.
“Sorry. This is just out of left field. I’m just checking that you’re not… I dunno, grasping because he doesn’t go to school at Harrison.”
Jack could feel Marcus staring at him. “Look, if—and I know it’s a big if—if he’s gay and he’s interested, I just want to look good. If he’s not, I wore my so-called ‘ass jeans’ for nothing and I’ll be home by ten.”
Smiling, he turned and shrugged. What was bad about trying? Nothing, that’s what. Not to mention he seriously needed to get himself out there more. No more freaking out. No more not getting his damn number.
Marcus rested back on his elbows. “Okay, Jackie Boy, just making sure.”
“Thanks, Marcusy.” He reached over for a pillow and swatted his brother in the head.
Marcus grabbed him before he could get away, throwing him back onto the bed.
“Hey!” Jack said, shoving Marcus away. “I didn’t spend an hour getting ready for Tall Hot Guy for you to ruin my look.”
“Thought it wasn’t an hour?”
“Whatever.” He stuffed Ed’s phone in his pocket and adjusted his shirt.
Marcus rolled off the bed before Jack could get to the door. “Are you sure this is okay? I mean, you don’t know this guy at all, and you’re going to a parking lot to meet him?”
“Yeah, it’s cool. The shopping center is open till ten. I’ll be fine.” Jack held up his hand, and the two slapped hands and ended with a shoulder bump. “And do not follow me, Marcus. I swear I’ll never forgive you if I see you show up.”
Avoiding Jack’s eyes, Marcus moved to his bed. “I won’t.”
Unconvinced, Jack moved around, putting both hands on his brother’s shoulders. “I’m serious. I better not see you there. I’ll be fine.”
“Okay. I won’t follow you. Besides, I’ve gotta write my speech, and then I’d better study for phil—that Vanessa is going to tear through my arguments like Play-Doh if I don’t.” Jack let go of Marcus. “But if you two do more than just exchange phones, shoot me a text letting me know you’ll be late.”
“Are you serious?”
Marcus shrugged. “The world’s full of crazies. I just need to be sure my brother’s okay. We’re family, right?”
A scramble came from behind him, and Jack turned to see Seth Williams and Billy Dorgan clearing the doorway.
“You guys talking formal stuff?” Billy said just before he and Seth tackled Jack onto the bed.
Jack fell back hard, making the mattress spring. Billy still had his hand against his stomach.
“Holy shit.” Billy pushed against Jack’s abs. “What the hell do you have under your shirt?”
Jack smacked the hand that tried to lift up his shirt. He didn’t want it crinkled for his… phone exchange. “Fuck off, Billy. Only guys who play on my team get to feel me up. And no. We are not talking formal stuff.”
Billy laughed and jumped off the bed. Eighteen and still a freshman, he’d been Jack’s little brother when he pledged in the fall. “Well I can’t wait for it.”
