Page 63 of Dear Mr. Brody

Me: Are you working?

Van: I’m grading papers in my home office. Does that count?

Me: It doesn’t. But unfortunately, it’s not a dick pic.

The three dots popped up at the bottom of my screen, and the smile on my face would have made Marcos nauseous.

Van: The real thing is better anyway.

Me: I think this is where I’m supposed to say something humble, but my dick is pretty awesome.

Me: Are you blushing?

Van: See for yourself.

He sent a selfie and I laughed. His cheeks were, in fact, pink, and I wanted to kiss the shy smile on his lips.

Me: If I wasn’t stuck at the Urgent Care with Marcos, I’d invite myself over.

Van: Is everything okay?

Me: He has the man flu, or pneumonia. I’m not sure yet.

Van: That sucks, I’m sorry.

Me: He’s a miserable prick when he’s sick. Would I be a terrible friend if I left him to fend for himself?

Van: I wouldn’t say terrible, but...

Me: You’re supposed to convince me to come over, not be my moral compass.

Van: I’m not sure how accurate my moral compass is these days.

Me: Are you having regrets?

Van: No and yes. But that’s my own battle. It has nothing to do with you. I don’t regret you, Parker. Just the circumstances.

I lost nothing if we got caught, but Van, he had everything to lose.

Me: I feel selfish for wanting you. For asking you to risk your job for me.

Expecting a text and not a call, it startled me when my phone rang in my hand. Van’s name, in bright blue, lit my screen.

“Hi.”

“You’re not selfish,” he said, and fuck, I loved the quiet, low rasp of his voice. “I want this as much as you do.”

“It’s three months until the semester is over,” I reminded him. “I can handle three months of take-out if every date ends like last night.”

His chuckle was soft and warm, and I wanted to wrap myself in it. In him.

“We can go out on dates, but probably not near campus. Atlanta is a pretty big city.”

“When do I get to see you again?” I asked, not giving a shit if I sounded needy.

“Is tomorrow too soon? “

“Hell no. If my stupid ass roommate wasn’t dying of the flu, I’d be there right now.”

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