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Avery’s eyes widened. “Protect me? Why on earth do I need someone to protect me?”
Brett’s expression changed, as if he searched for words that wouldn’t come. What had the beta alluded to?
Avery narrowed his eyes as he took a half step closer. “Why did you say that, Brett?”
“That stick up your ass might break off one day. You might need someone to fish it out. You’retoodamned serious. I would balance you with a little fun.”
“You don’t understand the wordlittle.”
“Nothing in life should be done in small measures,” Brett replied.
“Exactly. Which is why I’ve put my all into myeducation.”
“Pfffft.”
“Why did you bother with college if you didn’t plan to learn anything?”
Brett shrugged. “A good waste of my father’s money?”
Avery rolled his eyes, and when he looked back at Brett, anger mounted. Life and the luck of birth gave Brett the very thing he’d fought so hard for—the very thing that might sendhimto prison. He’d spent years ignoring Brett’s apathy, but he couldn’t ignore it a second longer. “Do you haveanyidea what I’ve sacrificed to be here? You’ve been handed this opportunity… only towaste it?”
Brett didn’t answer, his teeth clenching.
“Are they going to keep paying for you to play? How much longer will this last before they pull the plug, Brett?”
Brett’s smile faded. “I don’t need this crap. I get it enough at home.”
Avery had gone too far. He loved Brett and enjoyed the guy’s friendship. The last thing he wanted to do was push a friend away. “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my place.” He shook his head. “I’m stressed. The end is near, and it’s as much exciting as it is terrifying. I’ve got four finals on the horizon, and I’m not prepared as well as I want to be. I shouldn’t have taken all of that out on you.”
Brett nodded, casting his gaze on the ground.
“I care about you, Brett. I do. I worry about you, too.”
“I always land on my feet. Perhaps I’ll continue to wait tables and land myself a sugar daddy at the restaurant.”
Brett took the job when his parents turned off his credit cards in a fit of rage—and he’d begged Avery to join him there. Avery needed the extra money to help pay for incidentals, so he’d agreed. Of course, Brett’s parents eventually turned the credit cards back on and Brett had planned to quit.
Avery enjoyed the money—and the part-time job the owner had soon offered him to take over the bookkeeping—so he’d remained.
Brett stayed on, too, and Avery had been sure it was because of him. They had fun working together, plus the tips were exceptional. They’d covered Avery’s expenses for the whole of his education.
“Come on, get real. Your parents are going to lose their minds when they find out you’re not graduating.” Avery shook his head again and continued on toward the library. Brett had confided in him earlier that week. He didn’t have enough credits to graduate with the rest of his class. He’d played too much in the early days, failed a couple of classes, and would be stuck going back for another semester.
If his parents paid for it.
Avery’s grades allowed for scholarships. Had it not been for those, there was no way his tips would’ve covered tuition and fees.
“I have a few more weeks before they find out.”
“And then what?”
Brett growled.“Let me worry about that!”
Avery eyed him a moment. “Fine. I’ll leave it alone.” He turned, his new trajectory moving him away from Brett. Over one shoulder, he called, “I’ll see you at work Saturday night.”
Brett stood stock still, watching him walk away.
In that moment, Avery sensed they were moving on different paths, those journeys taking them farther and farther apart. And he hated it.
