What does it mean when the guy you like wants to fight for you more than you want to fight for yourself?he asked.
Macey was the first to answer.It means you’re crazy about each other, you idiot.
Connie was next.Is this about Mal?
Nina brought in the rear with the question probably all of them were thinking:how did the test go? Is that what this is about?
Come on Nina,Connie texted, with a whole string of concerned emojis behind.
Elliott was pretty sure he was turning into that emoji so he couldn’t really blame her.
Not great. And yes. He doesn’t believe it.Elliott texted back.
Of course he doesn’t. I only met the guy once for like a millisecond, but he doesn’t strike me as the type to let injustice go, Nina responded.
Not you too,Elliott sent.
All of us,Connie said loyally.We got your back, baby bro. And we’re glad someone else does too.
Elliott made a face. Then glanced up from his phone to see Mal staring at him intently.
“What?” he said.
“I was right—but no. Who were you talking to?”
“The sister chat,” Elliott said, groaning. “They approve of you, by the way.”
“Do they?”
Mal didn’t ask why they knew—or if theyshouldknow. He just took it matter-of-factly that they did and that it was alright in his book. Of course, his sisters weren’t here. His sisters weren’t Coach Blackburn.
“They like that you’re fighting for me.”
“Did you ask them whyyouwon’t?” Mal questioned, raising an eyebrow.
“No.” Elliott hesitated. “Do you really think that the grade is wrong?”
“Yes,” Malcolm said, all the certainty in the world coalesced into one single word.
Elliott wished he could borrow a little of that.
“But,” Mal continued, “I don’t know how to prove it. We need to get some people on our side. I don’t know if my word is going to count for anything, because we’re—”
“Friends?” Elliott asked, actually finding himself close to smiling.
Mal shot him a look. “We’re not just friends, Ell.”
“No,” Elliott finally had to agree.
“And really, I’m just a student. Your tutor. And your uh . . .” Mal trailed off, apparentlynowat a loss for words now that he was being forced to actually put a label on it.
“My boyfriend?” Elliott teased gently.
Mal nodded once, with all that ironclad assurance. “Yes. Exactly.”
It was impossiblenotto smile now, even with all the dread and uncertainty swirling through him. And impossible not tokeepsmiling when Mal grinned back. Like they were sharing a precious secret, andGod, it felt like they were. He knew why it had to be a secret, at least for now, but he hoped it wouldn’t have to stay like this for much longer.
And frankly, considering the way they apparently looked at each other, maybe theycouldn’tkeep it a secret for much longer.