Page 25 of Forever We Fall

I expect he’s feeling weird about sleeping in my bed most of the night. I open my lips to tell him it’s not a big deal when his lips part. I clamp mine shut.

“Will you go into town with me?”

That was unexpected. My mouth kind of gapes like a fish.

“I’d like to buy a computer. I notice you have a nice one, and you’re pretty good using it if you can get that stuff on there when no one else in this place can.” The apples of his cheeks go pink.

“That stuff?” I smirk at him.

“You know what I’m talking about.” He waves me off. “Anyway, I was wondering if you’d go help me pick one out. I had one back home, but my…” He swallows and straightens his shoulders. “My mom picked it out. I don’t even know what brand it was. I just used it. And I’d appreciate your help.” He gasps as though that’s as much as he’s spoken in a long time.

It’s the fastest he’s spoken and the most animated I’ve seen him.

“Sure,” I say, instead of what I want to say.

I’d love nothing more than to help you. It would bring me the greatest joy.

“Thanks.” He stands, and I’m stuck in the doorway, mesmerized by the way he moves to his bed and squats down. I try my best to avert my gaze from his full ass, but I am only human. A deviant one at that. “Here.” He tosses something.

I catch it and stare at a protein bar like it’s a gold bar he just gifted me.

“Eat that, and then grab a shower. We’ll head out whenever you’re ready.”

“Sure,” I say again. Suave for certain.

“I’ll finish this essay.” He points at the desk with nothing more than a history book, two sheets of paper, and a pen.

“On a Saturday?”

“Yeah. I’ll explain later.”

“Sure.” I nod.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes.”

No, I’m trying to hide my excitement so I don’t freak you out. So I’m freaking you out in a different way.

“Absolutely.” I wave him off. “You?”

“Yep.” His gaze is narrowed on me like he doesn’t believe what I’ve said…with great cause.

I turn and close the door gently behind me in hopes that it will open again sometime. Leaning against the closed door, I practically inhale the protein bar, not caring at all that I’m inside the bathroom doing so. When it’s done, I take the quickest shower of my life and throw on casual clothes. I grab my wallet and holler through the vents.

“Ready.”

“Meet you in the hall,” he calls back, and I nearly jump up and down. I know it’s nothing to get excited about, but it’s progress. Huge progress for him, and it makes me fucking happy.

“Yep.” I’m out there before him, waiting like this is a date or something.

It’s not. You know it’s not.

He comes out and hesitates after locking his door.

“What is it?”

His gaze scans left and right, and then up and down the stairs near his door. No one is around, though we can hear people in the lobby. Students are always in the lobby.

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