Page 70 of Escape Velocity
They walk back to the truck in silence and Callum drives Mason back to his place in silence. A comfortable one, where they’ve aired everything out to each other.
Mason doesn’t know what’s next, but they kissed each other. They feel the same way. Maybe Callum only realized in that moment how he felt, or maybe he’s always felt that way, but now they know.
They’re in a delicate state, where things could go any which way, and they’re on the precipice of everything changing.
Callum has an entire career in the big leagues and Mason can’t have a life any more different. He can’t launch himself into the scrutiny of the media and Callum’s team and coach probably wouldn’t let him.
Mr. Brown would lose it on Callum, and Mason’s parents would probably do the same if they ever found out.
How could they keep what they had without everyone else torpedoing it for them?
Maybe there was nothing to be had. Maybe one kiss was all they needed, and they have to move on. Maybe a relationship is insurmountable for them to get invested in.
But he can’t stop thinking about how good it felt. How right it was. How intimate it was.
To kiss in their secret hideout. Where no one else mattered except for them. Like they were always meant for each other, even after all this time.
There’s something there, something that couldn’t be avoided. It begs to be explored, and Mason isn’t sure where it would lead him. It terrifies him. All he knows is physics and staying in his own head. Living out in the real world was uncharted waters.
He glances over at Callum, who looks back at Mason with a heated smile, and Mason’s hands tingle with anticipation.
His childhood love is here with him and he wants to kiss him. And he did.
That’s all he knows, and that’s all he has to work with.
It’s a new Callum problem he has to solve. One he’ll figure out the solution to.
Eventually.
20
MASON
The restof the weekend passes with no appalling disturbances from Mason’s family or Joel.
He feels giddy on the drive back to campus.
His dad going on about how much he loves Joel doesn’t even deter him.
There’s so much opportunity in his future with Callum before he returns home for Thanksgiving next month. At least there’s one thing he can look forward to when he goes back home.
Even if everything hits the fan, at least Callum will be there.
It’s been such a long time since he has.
He breathes a sigh of relief when he walks into his dorm room and sees his bed and his desk.
He plunks all of his bags down and runs over to his bed.
“I missed you,” he says as he flops onto it onto his stomach and does a snow angel in it.
He smiles, loving how much he feels more relaxed and being out of Northwood and away from his family.Montgomery is starting to feel like home, and he isn’t sure he ever wants to leave.
The door opens.
“What are you doing?” his roommate’s disembodied voice asks.
Mason jolts out of his daze and picks himself back up, seeing Simon’s concerned stare from the doorframe.
