Page 19 of False Start

It’s early in the morning, and the sun is just starting to crack through my window, but I’m not in any hurry to get out of bed today. Nowhere to go or to be. But I do sit up when I hear a weird noise outside my window and nearly have a heart attack when I see my best friend’s face appear before he taps on the glass.

He’s wearing a t-shirt and sweats. His hair is all mussed, and I’m not sure he even went to bed last night, but the bastard still looks mouthwatering as I walk over in my boxer briefs to openmy window. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be passed out in a tent on your property?”

Vaughn’s parents don’t mind him having friends over in the pasture to party occasionally, and I know that’s where a lot of our class was headed last night after prom.

He climbs in through my window fairly gracefully but nearly bites it on the landing. Still when he stands upright, he’s all smiles. “Nope. Since you wouldn’t go out with us last night, I’m here. Right where I’m supposed to be.”

Doesn’t he know he’s killing me when he says stuff like that? I watch shamelessly as he strips out of his shirt and sweats, his briefs clinging onto his delectable ass as he makes his way to my bed. He peels back the covers and climbs in.

“Come on.”

Damn him. I can’t say no. I walk toward the bed, trying to think about the periodic table in my mind so I don’t get hard, but it’s impossible when he pulls me into his cool skin.

“Warm.” He snuggles into me.

“I’m sure Vanessa was warm this morning. Please tell me you didn’t ditch her in the tent?”

He snorts, his face buried in my neck. “Of course not. I took her home and walked her inside like a total gentleman.”

And then you came to cuddle practically naked with your best friend.But I don’t say that out loud. I know what we have is special to Vaughn. It’s special to me too, even though it’s torture.

“How was it?”

“What, sex with Vanessa?” I nearly choke on my own spit as he pulls back enough to watch me, confusion written all over his face.

“No. Have I ever asked about that?”

He just shrugs and then pulls me back into him. “What then?”

“Prom,” I say, exasperated. I cannot with him sometimes.

“Oh.” He chuckles. “Fine. We danced, and we went to my place and drank, partied. I wanted you to be there.”

Again, my stupid heart kicks up when he says things like that. “I’m sorry. Prom just isn’t my thing.”

“You think if you had a boyfriend, it would be?”

He seems to be a little obsessed with me dating lately. Ever since he found out I was gay, it’s like his number one worry. Making sure that I don’t look on apps and that I really know someone before agreeing to be alone with them. He’s in full-on protective mode, that’s for sure. It would be endearing if it wasn’t driving me so insane.

“I don’t know. But it doesn’t matter because I don’t have a boyfriend, and high school is over in two weeks.” And I cannot wait. But I’ve seen the hurt look on Vaughn’s face when I’ve said that out loud, so I refrain.

“Graduation night, you have to come over. We’ll sleep in the same tent. I’m not taking no for an answer.”

I huff and fall onto my back from my side, but his big body follows mine.

“Promise.”

“Vaughn...” I start to argue, but he lifts his head, and I look at those pouty lips and sad, determined eyes.

“Promise me. Just you and me on graduation night. I think Christie Shaw is having a party at her place. So it won’t be loud and annoying.”

God, that’s even worse somehow. It’ll be just Vaughn and me alone.

“I don’t know... Shouldn’t you spend that night with Vanessa?”

“She’s sleeping over at Katie’s house, since Katie is going to New York for school. She’s going to miss her.”

I nod, swallowing hard because I do want to get every second I can with Vaughn this summer. It’s selfish and wrong becauseI’m still hiding this big secret—and part of me is afraid he’ll never talk to me again.

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