Page 29 of False Start

“So make friends with the freshmen.”

“Yeah. I guess I can.” He sounds so resigned, and I hate it. I can’t help but feel like this is my fault, but then I feel his lips morph into a smile against my skin. “Tell me about you. It seems like you’ve made a lot of friends. I barely got a word in at dinner.”

I laugh. We ran into two people I knew and sat with them, but he’s being dramatic. I didn’t even know them that well, and we barely chatted. “I like it here,” I say, still feeling a little pang of guilt. “It’s a whole new world for me, and while you hate that no one knows you, I kind of love that.” I cringe, waiting for that hurt, but it doesn’t come.

He lifts his head, and he’s genuinely smiling at me. “That’s good. It’s great to see you so happy, Austin. I hated seeing you sad.”

“I know you did. I want you to be happy too though.” And it’s true. I think—I know—that if he doesn’t cheer up soon, I’m going to have to do something. I can’t stand the thought of sacrificing his happiness for my own.

“I will be.” He snuggles into me, holding me close, and I close my eyes, relaxing into the moment. “So, any dates?”

I laugh. “You couldn’t resist, could you?”

“Nope,” he says, popping thepin an obnoxious way I, of course, find endearing.

“I actually have a date next Friday.”

I feel his entire body tense, and his eyes lift to look at me when I open mine. “Really?”

“Yeah. He’s nice. You’d like him, Vaughn.”

“Your type?” His jaw is tight, and I know he’s worried, but he doesn’t need to be. The guy is actually smaller than me—not that I think guys on the smaller side can’t be dangerous, but I feel safe with Justin.

“He’s great. Kind of on the nerdy side, which has me intrigued.”

Vaughn snorts. “He taking you to a museum?”

I laugh. “Close. Bookstore.”

“Gag.”

I laugh. “Shut up. I’m excited. First date and all that.”

I watch his throat bob, and his eyes cloud over with more worry and tension, but thankfully, he doesn’t ruin it for me. He just nods his head. “Call me after and tell me all about it.”

I smile. “Promise.”

And that’s it. There’s no more interrogation, and I’m relieved—but okay, maybe a little surprised he doesn’t have more questions.

Disappointed?

Not like I wanted him to grill me, but I thought there would be more to it.

But this is good. We’re finally getting to a healthier relationship.

This is good.

Good. Good. Good.

Maybe if I say it enough, I’ll believe it too.

15

VAUGHN

I’m feeling a little better after my night with Austin. I mean, I felt sadder than I ever had when he was actually going to make me sleep in his roommate’s bed, but when he offered to let me join him—all felt right in the world.

I’m man enough to admit I needed a good night of cuddling with my best friend. That’s not weird or anything. And if it is, whatever, I’ll own it.

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