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When I get to the boys’ room, I let myself in as usual. I don’t see Aaron, but I hear the shower running, and I smell coffee and head toward the decadent smell.
“Hey, Rae Rae.”
I turn and smile at Joel as I pour myself some coffee. “Hey, Joelskies. A here?”
He nods and points to the en suite bathroom. “Shower. I’m surprised he didn’t shower in your room.”
“He doesn’t out of respect for Lila.”
“Yet he stillsleepsin your room.”
A devilish grin grows on my lips. “Well, Lila’s not in there.”
He laughs. “What about Sarah?”
I shake my head. “She wasn’t there last night. Hooking up with some pre-med guy.”
Joel’s face falls for a second, but he quickly hides it. “Ah.”
I push past the weirdness of that moment. I probably shouldn’t have said anything. When nothing happened with him and Sarah after prom, I wondered if they both had moved on. Clearly, Joel hasn’t.
“Why are you surprised that Aaron came back here?”
He moves closer to me and lowers his voice. “I gave him some shit last night about how he could still play baseball.”
My eyes go wide and my hand immediately connects with his shoulder, smacking him hard. “You’re a jackass. You were on the team with him. You saw how bad it was.”
He sighs. “I know. But I always feel like if he got the right help, gave therapy more of a chance, he could play. And, honestly, he’s still a great hitter. With practice, he could switch positions or maybe learn how to throw differently. He’s miserable without baseball. I want him to have it again.”
I soften slightly. “I know. I do, too, but this is his path to walk. You being a jackass about it won’t help.”
He runs a hand through his hair and leans back against the counter. Then he grabs my coffee mug and takes a long sip.
I softly kick his leg. “Rude.”
He smirks at me. “I know. I apologized this morning. He… said it was fine.”
I roll my eyes a little. “That’s his new favorite word.” Joel looks at me with concern. “Don’t worry, we’refine.”
“Convincing.”
I shrug as we hear the shower turn off. Joel catches the time and says, “Shit, I gotta go.” He kisses the side of my head and squeezes my arm. “I’m here if you need anything. Love ya.”
“Love you too, Joelskies.”
He walks out the door and I lean back against the counter. I grab my coffee, close my eyes, and take a long sip.
Aaron really does make the best coffee. He could open a coffee shop. I should tell him that.
“What are you doing?”
I jump and flash my eyes open. “Oh, uh, reveling in your coffee. Thinking you should open a coffee shop,” I say, staring at Aaron in his white tee and gray sweats.
Mm. Gray sweats.
You’ve been reading too many romance novels.
Aaron’s staring at me kind of blankly and kind of like he’s annoyed. I fight the urge to ask if he’s okay. Those words are starting to sound dumb. Not to mention it’s become a useless question.
